Coaching Central - In Solihull - Apr 2026

• What does it mean to ‘share knowledge’ with our clients?
• When can it add value — and when might it cross the line into advice?
• How do we recognise the difference in the moment?

Join us for an in-person session where we will be led by Amanda Bolger, ICF PCC coach supervisor, and ICF mentor, exploring what ‘sharing knowledge’ means in coaching conversations, while staying true to the ethics and values of coaching. Together we will consider the potential benefits, the possible pitfalls, and how coaches can navigate this area thoughtfully and ethically.

Why this conversation?

Last August, the ICF introduced an update to the Core Competencies including a small wording change within Competency 7 that quickly caught the attention of many coaches. The word “knowledge” was added to sub-competency 7.11: Shares observations, knowledge and feelings, sparking a lively discussion across the coaching community.

What this looks like in practice

As a coach, you’ll recognise the moment — when you feel the pull to share something you know and pause to consider whether it will support the client’s thinking, or tip the conversation into advice.

To help us explore this further, we’ll take a closer look at Michael Bungay Stanier’s model from ‘How to Tame Your Advice Monster’, using it as a lens to reflect on our own coaching practice. When does our “Advice Monster” show up? How do we notice it — and what helps us keep it in check?

You’ll leave the session with:

• Reflections on what is already working well for you in this space
• Greater awareness of how to recognise when your own Advice Monster is stirring
• Practical ideas for taming your Advice Monster when the temptation to advise appears

This session isn’t just for ICF coaches; it’s for any coach who is curious about how and when sharing knowledge can support the client without slipping into advice.

Parking is free and there is a large car park.

We'll be meeting in the The Garden Room, (turn right through the main door, walk past the bar and the Garden Room is on your left).

Our meeting starts promptly at 7:30 and ends at 9:00pm with time to chat afterwards. Please aim to arrive a few minutes early to get settled in and buy a drink from the bar beforehand (if you wish).

Amanda Bolger is an ICF accredited Professional Coach (PCC) who works with senior people across a wide range of private and public sector organisations.

Amanda has been coaching since 2001 and her HR background combined with knowledge of organisational development ensures she enables leaders to maximize performance at work, successfully manage change, transition and build resilience.

She has a particular interest in career development and working with people on-boarding into new roles as well as working with ‘introverts’ to enable them to be successful in the extrovert world of work.

Amanda is a Coaching Supervisor and is an ICF Coach Mentor – working with coaches to achieve accreditation and re-accreditation at ACC and PCC level.

We're a friendly and welcoming coaching group established in 2017 for coaches based in the Midlands (and beyond when we're online!). The group is run by two local coaches, Rachael McNidder and June Hogan.

All professionally trained coaches are welcome, regardless of level of experience (that includes trainee coaches). Come along to meet like-minded coaches, make useful connections and develop your coaching knowledge and skills.

Our aims are to inspire and support professional coaches, to encourage learning and growth, and to uphold ethics and standards within the coaching profession.

For all other details about Coaching Central including meeting dates, click here for our website.

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Host or Publisher Rachael from Coaching Central