It’s Not Your Session

My musings on coaching continued this week - but not just the kind I do in boardrooms or leadership workshops.

The other kind.

I’m a qualified running coach through England Athletics, and I help lead a regular group on Monday, Wednesday, and Saturday mornings. It’s something I love - being outside, running together, and helping people reach their goals.

This is a photo from one of our sessions this week - a hill session, reps up and down. You’ll spot me well behind the group. That’s intentional. I’m not there to blast ahead. I’m there in support - watching form, pacing encouragement, giving feedback. It’s not my workout. It’s theirs.

When you go through the England Athletics coaching programme, there’s something they tell you early on that’s always stuck with me:

“It’s not your session.”

You’re not there to do your own speed work.

You’re not there to prep for your next 10K or marathon.

You’re there to support.

To structure.

To encourage.

To make sure the runners get what they need - not what you need.

That framing changed how I showed up.

And recently, it’s got me thinking about my other coaching hat - the one I wear when I’m working with leaders.

Same Philosophy, Different Terrain

When I coach leaders, I often say the same thing to myself:

“It’s not your session.”

It’s not about proving something.

It’s not about adding value for the sake of it.

It’s about creating space - structured, thoughtful, and intentional - where someone else can do the thinking they need to do.

Coaching, whether in running or leadership, is about being in service of someone else’s goals.

In running, yes - there’s more input. More advice. I might talk cadence, training plans, posture, nutrition. That kind of coaching is a bit more directive by nature.

But even then, the core principle is the same:

Create the right environment for growth.

Two Coaches, One Mindset

For a long time, I saw these as two completely different coaching identities.

Running coach.

Executive coach.

Different worlds. Different skill sets. Different goals.

But the more I reflect, the more I realise they overlap in the most important ways.

In both, I’m helping people move forward - on their own terms.

I provide structure, support, and accountability.

And I stay out of the way just enough for them to own their progress.

The Real Work

So whether we’re talking about hill sprints or hard conversations with the CEO, my role as a coach is never about me.

It’s about being present.

Paying attention.

Creating a rhythm that supports forward motion.

Because it’s not my session.

It’s theirs.

And that’s exactly how it should be.

Thinking about working with a coach?

If you’re facing change, challenge, or a decision that needs some headspace - I’d love to talk.

Coaching is where the pressure lifts, the noise drops, and clarity starts to emerge.

📩 Get in Touch’ or visit www.taggartpeople.com to explore more.

Let’s create the space you need to move forward - in whatever direction is right for you.