Susan Britton MCCICF Award-Winning Coach Educator, Neuroscience-Informed ICF/SHRM Coach Training, INSEAD Executive Masters in Change, Advocate for Evolutionary Shift from “Red Zone” to “Blue Zone” for Leaders, Coaches & Fellow Humans

Coaching Woo-Woo? Not With Neuroscience!

Name: Coaching Woo-Woo? Not With Neuroscience!
Uploaded: 2025-10-29T05:00:42+00:00
Duration: 1 min 17 s
Channel: Susan Britton MCC
Description: In this excerpt, Susan Britton MCC reflects on the common perception that coaching is dismissed as "woo‑woo" and argues that effective coaching must…

29 Oct 2025 · 1 min

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1:17

In this excerpt, Susan Britton MCC reflects on the common perception that coaching is dismissed as "woo‑woo" and argues that effective coaching must blend the humane, relational side with rigorous, analytical strategy. She describes her experience working with C‑suite and VP executives who often resist relational approaches, and explains how the emergence of neuroscience has validated her intuition. By revealing how the brain’s fight‑flight‑freeze states diminish thinking and relating capacities, she sees neuroscience as a powerful tool to help skeptical leaders understand and embrace coaching, thereby facilitating meaningful change.

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I felt like coaching was seen by a lot of people as just kind of woo-woo-ish. And I knew that you had to have the people piece of it. You had to have the humane relationship piece of things. And you also had to have the hard science, analytical, logical, rational strategy piece. And I would work with a ton of executives, coached a ton of of C-suite VP executives who wouldn't wanna touch the relational side. And I knew in my heart of hearts that that was so important. And so when neuroscience started coming around, I felt like, my gosh, I've been vindicated. We now know what happens to your thinking capacity and your relating capacity when you're in that sort of red zone fight, flight, freeze. State. So I was fascinated, not only because it made me feel like I was right, which is a little bit hubris or, you know, whatever, but I'll admit it. But I was fascinated that I just thought, okay, if this helps people buy into coaching to understand what's really happening in your brain to be able to affect change, then wow, this is absolutely a better way.