What does it actually take to coach high performers — and what platforms should coaches be building on in 2026?

In this episode of The Coach Trap, Greg sits down with performance psychologist and entrepreneur Dr. Al Philip Neri — a man who went from immigrant roots and youth corrections to a PhD in performance psychology and the founder of Cohesion HQ.

They go deep on why high performers hate group coaching, the critical difference between culture (a feeling) and cohesion (a system), how AI should — and shouldn't — be used in your coaching business, and which social platforms are actually worth your time as a coach.

Dr. Al also unpacks his new book The Execution Advantage — a framework built on behavioural analytics, alignment, and calibrated pressure that coaches can use to help clients move the needle fast.

Whether you're stuck spinning your wheels on social media or trying to figure out how to retain high-performing clients, this episode is packed with no-nonsense, field-tested advice.

What you'll learn:
— Why high performers don't fit in group coaching and what to do instead
— Cohesion vs. culture: the difference that changes everything
— How to use AI as a thinking partner, not a replacement
— Which platform is actually right for your coaching niche
— The sieve strategy for turning DMs into real conversations
— Why vulnerability sells and where to use it

Chapters:
00:00 Introduction to Dr. Al Philip Neri
02:38 Dr. Al's Journey to Entrepreneurship
04:16 The Importance of Personal Experience in Coaching
05:30 Understanding High Performers in Coaching
09:35 The Dynamics of Group Coaching vs. One-on-One
12:57 The Power of Books in Coaching
19:28 Cohesion as a System vs. Culture as a Feeling
20:22 AI in Coaching: A Tool for Growth
25:37 The Risks of AI in Human Interaction
26:37 Navigating Social Media for Coaches
28:09 Identifying the Right Platform for Your Audience
30:40 Creating Effective Engagement Strategies
33:05 The Power of Vulnerability in Online Spaces
35:20 Leveraging Substack for High-Level Content

Resources mentioned:
The Formula for a Balanced Life by Dr. Al Philip Neri — https://www.amazon.com/s?k=The+Formula+for+a+Balanced+Life+by+Dr.+Al+Philip+Neri
The Execution Advantage by Dr. Al Philip Neri — https://www.amazon.com/s?k=The+Execution+Advantage+by+Dr.+Al+Philip+Neri
Cohesion HQ — https://cohesionhq.com

Connect with Dr. Al Philip Neri:
LinkedIn — https://www.linkedin.com/in/alphilipneri/
Website — https://cohesionhq.com

Whatever you do — don't fall into the coach trap.
www.coachtrap.co.uk

Most coaching fails before it starts — because it focuses on technique while ignoring the mind running the show. Zahir Ibrahim, CEO of A-Clarity, shares how his journey from civil engineer to leadership coach was built entirely on inner transformation, and why that shift is the one most leaders never make.

In this episode you'll discover how childhood experiences quietly drive leadership behaviour today, what vertical development and the self-authoring mind actually mean in practice, and why fear is the invisible force behind most leadership styles — and how naming it changes everything.

Zahir also unpacks the role of inner child work in creating leaders who don't just perform, but genuinely connect and inspire.

Connect with Zahir Ibrahim:LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/zaher--ibrahimWebsite: aklarity.com

Join our free community of coaches building real businesses: skool.com/thecoachtrap

Want to share your story on The Coach Trap podcast? Apply here: gbsc.kit.com/thecoachtrappodcast

I can work with the title alone and infer from the source material we've already covered. Here's the full description:Most coaches don't fail because they lack skill. They fail because they never make the shift from practitioner to business owner — and the market has no obligation to wait while they figure it out.Jonathan Maltby has spent 12 years watching coaches fall into the same traps. This video breaks down exactly where the 90% get stuck and what the coaches who survive — and thrive — do structurally differently.What you'll take away:Why staying a generalist is the single most common reason coaches stall — and how specialists consistently out-earn and out-position themThe pricing mindset that keeps most coaches undercharging long after they should have moved on from itHow the coaches who make it approach sales conversations differently — without scripts, pressure, or pretending to be someone they're notThe Coach Trap book is coming. Get on the waitlist →coachtrap.co.uk/coach-trap-book/Want to work through this inside a community of coaches building real businesses? Join us free →skool.com/thecoachtrapTo find out more about Jonathan Maltbyhttps://www.linkedin.com/in/johnathanmaltby/#CoachTrap #BusinessCoaching #CoachingBusiness #NicheCoaching #CoachingPricing #EthicalCoaching #CoachingForCoaches