Next week, I’ll be lucky enough to be trained in psychological espionage skills by operatives from intelligence agencies around the world.
I’ll be honest — I’m a bit nervous.
I’m not a spy... I’m a coach.
But I know that if I can learn from professionals who use these techniques in the highest-stakes environments imaginable, I can find powerful ways to make them relevant for myself and my clients.
My clients won’t need to gain a terrorist’s trust and infiltrate their cell…
…but they might need to navigate a cliquey workplace where alliances and motives aren’t always clear.
They won’t need to spot a lie that could unravel a national security emergency…
…but recognising the truth beneath an “I’m fine” from their teenager might just change their relationship.
They won’t need to profile a suspect on the run…
…but understanding personality patterns and communication cues could help them connect, lead, and inspire on a deeper level, whether its recognising a boss' need for intellectual validation or a partner's need for humour during a challenging conversation.
For me, this is what this unique training is about — not pretending to be an agent, but learning how the psychology of espionage can reveal new dimensions of empathy, influence, and authentic human connection.
I can’t wait to share what I learn.
👉 What’s one “unlikely” field you think coaches could learn from?