S5 Episode 35: Learning Coaching Presence through Improv with Andrew Cain

Claire Pedrick and Andrew Cain are in conversation about why improv skills make great coaches. They discuss how stepping into the unknown can lead to discovery, the importance of partnership in coaching, and the value of creating a playful and open environment for breakthroughs. Andrew shares his journey into improv and how it has shaped his approach to coaching, the need to unlearn perfectionism and how to embrace mistakes as part of the learning process.

Key Takeaways:

• Improv allows us to step into the unknown and discover new insights.
• Some lessons can only be learned through experience, not books.
• Going into a liminal space can lead to valuable discoveries.
• Coaching is about partnering with people in their journey of not knowing.
• Breakthroughs in coaching often come from playful exploration.
• Treating people as poets and geniuses fosters creativity.
• Everything in improv is disposable, allowing for flexibility.
• Creating space for emergence is crucial in coaching.
• Unlearning perfectionism opens up new possibilities.
• Mistakes should be embraced as part of the learning process.

Sound Bites:

• "Improv helps us step into not knowing."
• "We can't learn everything from a book."
• "There's value in going into the liminal space."
• "Discovery means partnering with them in not knowing."
• "Everything is disposable in improv."
• "Improv is about unlearning rather than adding more."
• "Breakthroughs in coaching are not linear."

Contact:

• Contact Andrew Cain through playconnect.co.uk
• Contact Claire by emailing info@3dcoaching.com or check out our Substack where you can talk with other listeners.
• Check out Showstoppers on YouTube

Promotional Information:

• THECOACHINGINN 10% off Coaching with Presence online if you sign up before 15 July 2025
• The online programme will be Tuesdays 09.15-11.30 (UK) 11th | 18th | 25th November 2025
• The next onsite programme is November 2025 in Warwick, UK

Further Information:

• Subscribe or follow The Coaching Inn on your podcast platform or our YouTube Channel to hear or see new episodes as they drop.
• Find out more about 3D Coaching and get new ideas and offers in our weekly email.

Coming Up:

• Writing a coaching or leadership book…

Keywords:

improv, coaching, presence, discovery, creativity, partnership, learning, transformation, experimentation, vulnerability

We love having a variety of guests join us! Please remember that inviting someone to participate does not mean we necessarily endorse their views or opinions. We believe in open conversation and sharing different perspectives.