Chris Goldson: Coaching confidence and rescuing brilliant people from being beige

What stops brilliant people from speaking up?

For many of us, it isn't a lack of knowledge or expertise. It's confidence. More specifically, it's the story we've been telling ourselves for years.

In this episode of The Coaching Clubhouse, Adrian Last sits down with presentation coach and qualified coach Chris Goldson to explore how coaching transformed the way he helps leaders, presenters and teams communicate.

Chris spent more than 30 years helping organisations tell compelling stories for brands including the BBC, Virgin Radio, Absolute Radio and ITV. But it was learning to coach that fundamentally changed his approach—not by teaching people what to say, but by helping them discover what was stopping them saying it in the first place.

Together they discuss:

• Why coaching is different from teaching

• The surprising reason most presentation nerves have nothing to do with presentation skills

• The stories we tell ourselves that hold us back

• How great questions create confidence

• Why curiosity beats having all the answers

• Chris's philosophy of "rescuing brilliant people from being beige."

Whether you're leading meetings, pitching ideas, speaking on stage or simply trying to contribute more confidently at work, this conversation is full of practical insights that every leader can apply.