What Packing for Tuscany Taught Me About Coaching Mastery

I’ve been packing for La Dolce Vita for Coaches this week, and it’s made me stop and think.

Because when I looked at what I was packing,  alongside the clothes were stories, colour cards, LEGO bricks, journals, and that slightly battered notebook where the best ideas tend to land mid-espresso.

And I realised that this is exactly what coaching is like.

Many think that coaching is about packing tools and techniques.

But what leads to mastery is gathering moments, insights and ways of being that shape who we are as coaches.

That’s what La Dolce Vita for Coaches is for me.

It’s a space to pause and reconnect with what coaching really means when we’re not trying so hard to “do it right.”

There’s something about Tuscany that makes that easier.

Maybe it’s the sunlight bouncing off the old stone, or the gentle rhythm of conversation over coffee.

And in that space, the magic happens.

That’s when Competency 2: Embodies a Coaching Mindset , suddenly makes sense on a whole new level.

It’s not about theory.

It’s about presence. The kind that comes when you finally stop rushing.

We’ll be playing (yes, playing!) with LEGO® Serious Play®, exploring metaphor through colour, and walking reflective “passeggiatas” through the gardens.

Because when we’re playful, our defences drop.

When we’re quiet, we start to hear what’s underneath the words.

And when we’re together, really together, reflection becomes natural.

I’ve seen so many coaches rediscover their confidence not by adding more, but by noticing what’s already there.

That’s coaching mastery.

And that’s also what mentoring is for me. It’s not about fixing or grading, but creating a space where awareness can grow

with  a blend of curiosity, compassion, and courage that invites something new to emerge.

Preparing for the event has reminded me how important it is for all of us, me included, to step back sometimes.

To replenish and let coaching breathe again.

So as I finish my packing, I’m thinking about the coaches who’ll join me there and how much I’ll learn from them too.

Because that’s the sweet life. It’s not just sunshine and gelato, but the sweetness of slowing down enough to notice.

💭 Where might you need more space right now — in your coaching, or in yourself?

Until next time,

Cath

P.S. Registration for the next La Dolce Vita for Coaches will be opening soon. If you would like to be added to the waiting list email me at cdaley@cathdaley.com. I’m sure the places will go quickly!