What AI Can't Replicate: Dr Marcia Reynolds on Coaching Presence and the New 2nd Edition of Coach the Person Not the Problem

Watch the interview above. Dr Marcia Reynolds, Master Coach and author of Coach the Person Not the Problem (2nd Edition, Berrett-Koehler Publishers), joins me to talk about what's new in this edition, what coaching presence really means, and why AI has actually pushed us to become better coaches. Links and a free companion toolkit are at the bottom of this page.

I've interviewed a lot of coaches. What caught my attention in this conversation wasn't just what Marcia knows. It's her excitement about what she's still learning. That energy is real, it's contagious, and it's on full display here.

A Book That Earned a 2nd Edition

When Marcia's publisher said the 1st Edition had sold 100,000 copies across nine languages and it was time for a 2nd Edition, her honest first reaction was: "What else do I have to say?" She sat with that question, and then the answer came flooding in. The science has deepened. Our understanding of what we're actually doing in a coaching conversation has sharpened. And one question in particular keeps pushing forward: will AI replace us? Rather than sidestep it, Marcia addressed it head-on in a completely rewritten introduction, not defensively, but with a clarity about what coaching is that goes well beyond technique.

The Presence Piece, and Why It Now Comes First

The biggest structural shift in this edition is that presence has been moved ahead of the skills chapters. If we don't understand what we're already creating before we open our mouth, the skills we layer on top are built on uncertain ground. Here's the neuroscience, in Marcia's words:

"The brain sees the coach as the socially dominant person in the conversation. And we always regulate to the socially dominant person. Whatever you're feeling, my emotions are going to regulate to that."

This is co-regulation, and it's biology, not metaphor. AI can simulate warmth, but it can't be warm. Without real emotional presence there's no co-regulation, no genuine safety, and the kind of challenge that actually shifts something simply won't land.

"It Felt Like We Were Just Having a Conversation"

After a demo session, a participant told Marcia: "It felt like we were just having a conversation. Then all of a sudden I had a breakthrough." Her response: "Yes. It should feel that way." The more present and natural the coach, the more profound the impact, and paradoxically, the less it looks like coaching from the outside. As Marcia puts it:

"I take in from you, I give it back. I take in from you, I give it back. I'm not thinking. My reflections and my questions come out of my curiosity."

The coach tracking whether they've met the next competency is not fully present with their client. The two things are genuinely in competition with each other.

If you read that and thought "I want to coach like that — how do I get there?", that's exactly what the 2nd Edition of Coach the Person Not the Problem is written to answer. This is the book that takes you from understanding the concept of presence to actually embodying it, so that the conversation flows, the challenge lands, and the breakthrough happens naturally — not because you executed the right technique, but because you showed up in the right way.

Get the Book and the Free Toolkit

Coach the Person Not the Problem, 2nd Edition (Berrett-Koehler Publishers) launched on 3rd March 2026. Purchase through Dr Marcia's website and you'll also receive a free companion toolkit with highlights from every chapter and practical guidance on how to use them.

• Buy the book on Amazon and get the free toolkit >>
• Visit Dr Marcia Reynolds' website — covisioning.com

If you found this valuable, you'll love what's coming through our emails over the next few weeks — coaching presence, the business of coaching, and some exciting things we're building for the community. Subscribe here if you're not already on the list.

About Dr Marcia Reynolds

Dr Marcia Reynolds, MCC, PsyD, is president of Covisioning LLC and a pioneer in the coaching profession. She was the 5th global president of the International Coaching Federation, is recognised in the ICF Circle of Distinction, and has consistently ranked in the top 10 coaches globally with Global Gurus. She has coached and trained in 47 countries, and her books, including the international bestseller Coach the Person Not the Problem, have appeared in Fast Company, Psychology Today, and The Wall Street Journal.

Visit Marcia at covisioning.com

If you enjoyed this article, You May Also Like:

• How to Challenge Your Clients For Breakthrough Results! by Marcia Reynolds, PsyD, MCC
• How to Have More Coaching Breakthroughs by Dr Marcia Reynolds, MCC

Contributing Author:

Dr Steve Jeffs is a Master Certified Coach (MCC), business psychologist, and leadership transformation expert with over 20 years of global experience. Before becoming a full-time coach, Steve led large-scale leadership assessment and development programs, organisational change initiatives, and cultural transformation projects across the Middle East, working with government bodies, multinationals, and high-growth businesses. His early career as a registered psychologist and management consultant continues to shape his pragmatic, systems-oriented approach to coaching and leadership.

Today, Steve serves as Director of Coaching at The Coaching Tools Company, where he brings together his expertise in psychology, strategy, and personal development to create practical, impactful tools for coaches and leaders alike. He is also the host and co-founder of The Coaching Edge Podcast, and co-Founder of The Guiding Matrix, a company dedicated to helping coaches grow sustainable businesses while expanding their leadership capacity. 

With over 5,000 coaching hours, Steve has worked with executives and teams in more than 20 countries, including in the UK, UAE, KSA, USA, Egypt, South Africa, and the Philippines. His coaching clients include leaders from organisations such as HSBC, Siemens, Roche Diagnostics, STC, Etisalat, Sanofi, and Dubai Holding. As one of the first MCCs in the Middle East, Steve has also trained and mentored over 1,000 coaches globally and continues to supervise coaches through their credentialing journeys.

Steve is a multi-award-winning coach, recognised globally for his work on leadership and innovation—including honours from the World Innovation Congress and CHRO Asia. He is co-author of Stuck No More: Practical Self-Coaching for Everyday Problems and Shift Up: Strength Strategies for Optimal Living, and is the creator of multiple strengths-based assessments and coaching tools, including the StrengthsMultiplier™. With a Doctorate in Leadership and a Master's in Organisational Psychology, Steve blends deep psychological insight with practical coaching to help individuals, teams, and organisations thrive.

Originally from Australia, Steve now lives in the UK having worked in the UAE for over a decade, bringing both global perspective and deep regional understanding to his work. When not coaching or creating tools, you’ll likely find him exploring deep caves or shipwrecks—he’s a certified technical diver and cave explorer who brings the same spirit of curiosity and courage to his coaching and leadership work.

Learn more about Steve & see all their articles here >>