Podcast
Lead With A Coaching Mindset Podcast
Hosted by Damian Goldvarg · EN
The best leaders don’t have all the answers - they ask better questions, listen deeply, and inspire their colleagues to find their own solutions. Lead With A Coaching Mindset is a podcast for modern leaders who want to get the best out of the people in their team.
This podcast will challenge you to lead with more curiosity, humility, and partnership, so you can navigate complexity and enhance wellbeing, satisfaction and engagement in your organization.
We talk with leaders who are walking the path and share real stories of what it looks like in practice.
15episodes
Episodes
Newest firstAll episodes
E24 | How Does Presence Impact Your Leadership?
2w ago00:19:36Tap to summarizeIn this episode we unpack Chapter 6 — The Present Leader — and explore what it really means to lead from the here and now. We dive into how presence goes beyond confidence or authority and becomes a practice of intentional attention: noticing what’s happening around you, within you, and in your conversations. We discuss the two main sources of distraction leaders face today — the external world and their internal dialogue — and how both can pull focus away from effective leadership. We also explore the connection between presence and listening, and how paying attention to what is said (and not said) helps build trust and stronger relationships.Through real examples, we highlight common blind spots, the importance of humility and curiosity, and how leaders can stay intentional, navigate discomfort, and make more aligned decisions in complex environments.➤ 📘 Pre-order the book: Lead With a Coaching Mindset — http://bit.ly/orderLeadwithaCoachingMindset➤ 🌐 Learn more: goldvargconsulting.com➤ 🔔 Subscribe & stay tuned: Hit “Subscribe” on your listening platform so you don’t miss future episodes!
Transcribe →E23 | How to Cultivate Trust in Working Relationships
May 400:22:55Tap to summarizeIn this episode we dig into Chapter 5 of Lead With a Coaching Mindset and explore why trust is the bedrock of effective leadership. We define ethical, earned trust and walk through how trust gets broken — and how it’s deliberately rebuilt. You’ll hear practical strategies leaders can use every day: be consistent between words and actions, show up present, honor confidentiality, model vulnerability, and lead with curiosity and empathy (not sympathy). We also unpack Brené Brown’s BRAVING framework (Boundaries, Reliability, Accountability, Vault, Integrity, Non-judgment, Generosity) as a handy checklist for trust-building, plus how mirror-neuron empathy and emotional presence influence team relationships. Expect concrete tips for repairing damaged trust, creating psychologically safe spaces, and becoming the kind of leader people willingly follow.➤ 📘 Pre-order the book: Lead With a Coaching Mindset — http://bit.ly/orderLeadwithaCoachingMindset ➤ 🌐 Learn more: goldvargconsulting.com ➤ 🔔 Subscribe & stay tuned: Hit “Subscribe” on your listening platform so you don’t miss future episodes!
Transcribe →E22 | How to Develop Cultural Competence
Apr 2000:12:49Tap to summarizeIn this episode we dig into Chapter 4—contracting, agreement, and creating conditions for cultural competence. Damian and Elaine define culture (beyond nationality: age, generation, faith, ability, subcultures) and explain why diverse teams outperform homogeneous ones: more creativity, stronger problem-solving, broader market insight, higher engagement, and a healthier employer brand. We unpack practical leader behaviors—curiosity before judgment, avoiding stereotyping, learning local norms, apologizing when you err, and deliberately contracting team norms so differences become productive rather than divisive. Real-world examples (including cross-cultural surprises with Japanese colleagues and coaching subcultures) illustrate the paradox: learn cultural patterns, yet treat every person as unique. Leaders should set clear agreements, model cultural humility, and create safe spaces for dialogue so diversity fuels innovation rather than friction.➤ 📘 Pre-order the book: Lead With a Coaching Mindset — http://bit.ly/orderLeadwithaCoachingMindset ➤ 🌐 Learn more: goldvargconsulting.com ➤ 🔔 Subscribe & stay tuned: Hit “Subscribe” on your listening platform so you don’t miss future episodes!
Transcribe →E21 | How to Successfully Onboard New Members in your Team
Apr 600:13:52Tap to summarizeIn this episode we unpack Chapter 4 — the coaching agreement — and why clear onboarding and intentional contracting set the foundation for every coaching relationship inside organizations. We walk through practical steps leaders can take: clarify expectations and communication channels, tailor support to each new hire, connect people into culture, set measurable goals, and create ongoing learning opportunities. We also cover hybrid/remote nuances (you must be more deliberate when people aren’t co-located), how to repair weak onboarding (“you’re never too late”), and the “tango” truth: onboarding requires both manager and employee to be intentional. Practical, bite-size ideas you can use this week to make new hires—and existing teammates—feel set up to succeed.➤ 📘 Pre-order the book: Lead With a Coaching Mindset — http://bit.ly/orderLeadwithaCoachingMindset➤ 🌐 Learn more: goldvargconsulting.com➤ 🔔 Subscribe & stay tuned: Hit “Subscribe” on your listening platform so you don’t miss future episodes!
Transcribe →E20 | Why do I Doubt Myself Even When I know The Answer?
Mar 1600:18:34Tap to summarizeIn this episode Damian and Elaine continue Chapter 3 — Mindset Is Everything: Developing Your Inner Coach. They explore how our inner conversation either supports or sabotages progress, and Damian shares a personal story about discipline, self-trust, and the habits that built his own inner coach. We dig into Pam McLean’s framework—presence, emotional awareness, boundaries, systems, courage, and embodiment—and practical steps to regulate emotion in a VUCA/BUNNY world (volatile, uncertain, complex, ambiguous → brittle, anxious, non-linear, incomprehensible). The conversation also tackles modern supports: when to seek help, how AI “agents” might augment leadership, and simple daily practices leaders can use to cultivate mindfulness, reflective space, and better decision-making. Tune in for actionable tips on listening to your inner voice, creating nonjudgmental reflective time, and inviting others to help you grow — because leadership starts from the inside out.➤ 📘 Pre-order the book: Lead With a Coaching Mindset — http://bit.ly/orderLeadwithaCoachingMindset➤ 🌐 Learn more: goldvargconsulting.com➤ 🔔 Subscribe & stay tuned: Hit “Subscribe” on your listening platform so you don’t miss future episodes!
Transcribe →E19 | Creating Space for Thinking: The Leadership Habit that Makes a Difference
Mar 900:16:12Tap to summarizeIn this episode we dig into Chapter 3 — Mindset Is Everything: Developing Your Inner Coach. Damian and Elaine define a coaching mindset as a way of being: trusting people, committing to continuous development, creating intentional reflective space, staying alert to culture and context, and bringing your authentic self and intuition to the work. We cover practical tactics leaders can use today — short weekly learning rituals, free industry briefs, quick coaching moments during a walk or commute, and Nancy Kline–style rules for reflective spaces (silence, good questions, place, and non-interruption). Learn how to move conversations from present → future and surface → depth so teams learn faster, make better decisions, and stay resilient amid change.➤ 📘 Pre-order the book: Lead With a Coaching Mindset — http://bit.ly/orderLeadwithaCoachingMindset➤ 🌐 Learn more: goldvargconsulting.com➤ 🔔 Subscribe & stay tuned: Hit “Subscribe” on your listening platform so you don’t miss future episodes!
Transcribe →E18 | How to Develop Ethical Maturity
Mar 200:17:54Tap to summarizeIn this episode we unpack ethical maturity — how leaders make hard choices in the gray areas and then live with, explain, and learn from those choices.We define ethical maturity’s core moves (decision, implementation, explanation, peace, and learning), explore how culture and multicultural teams shape ethics, and show why self-awareness, values clarity, emotion, intuition, and context matter as much as facts.Damian also shares six practical questions to test tough decisions (e.g., “Would I be happy if this appeared in tomorrow’s news?”) and practical advice for leading transparently through layoffs and other painful moments.➤ Pre-order the book: Lead With a Coaching Mindset — http://bit.ly/orderLeadwithaCoachingMindset➤ Learn more: goldvargconsulting.com➤ Subscribe & stay tuned: Hit “Subscribe” on your listening platform so you don’t miss future episodes!
Transcribe →E17 | How to Navigate Ethical Leadership Dilemmas
Feb 2400:16:00Tap to summarizeIn this conversation we dig into why ethical leadership is the engine of a coaching mindset. We define ethics vs. morality, and stress integrity — consistency between what leaders say and what they do — as the foundation of trust. We explore practical behaviors: transparency (and how to say “I can’t share that yet”), respect, confidentiality, and the courage to confront mistakes with dignity. We also unpack values work and four pillars of personal integrity (self-awareness, self-legitimization, self-completion, self-love) as tools leaders use to make better decisions and model the behavior they expect. Finally, we discuss pitfalls (public feedback that misses its target) and leave listeners with concrete ways to bring ethics into everyday coaching conversations. ➤ 📘 Pre-order the book: Lead With a Coaching Mindset — http://bit.ly/orderLeadwithaCoachingMindset ➤ 🌐 Learn more: goldvargconsulting.com ➤ 🔔 Subscribe & stay tuned: Hit “Subscribe” on your listening platform so you don’t miss future episodes!
Transcribe →E16 | Why Leaders With a Coaching Mindset Are Magnets for Talent
Feb 1700:15:18Tap to summarizeIn this conversation we explore why leaders who adopt a coaching mindset attract, develop, and retain top talent. We unpack practical habits—listening well, aligning personal and organizational values, and having short, high-quality coaching moments—that convert everyday interactions into growth opportunities. We discuss how visibility and emotional presence help teams navigate anxiety and uncertainty, why psychological safety matters more than ever, and how coaching conversations (even five minutes long) signal to candidates and employees that this is a place to learn and belong. We close with a look at team performance: why collaboration beats individual brilliance when leaders create the right environment.➤ 📘 Pre-order the book: Lead With a Coaching Mindset — http://bit.ly/orderLeadwithaCoachingMindset ➤ 🌐 Learn more: goldvargconsulting.com ➤ 🔔 Subscribe & stay tuned: Hit “Subscribe” on your listening platform so you don’t miss future episodes!
Transcribe →E15 | Why Coaching Mindsets Boost Engagement, Trust, And Respect
Feb 600:15:56Tap to summarizeIn this episode we explore why a coaching mindset drives engagement, trust, and respect across teams. We discuss how leaders who prioritize curiosity, presence, and creating awareness turn everyday conversations into development opportunities. We cover when to flex between directive and coaching styles, how self-awareness shapes leader effectiveness, and practical steps to make conversations intentional rather than reactive. Listeners walk away with concrete tactics for building psychological safety, spotting blind spots, and holding people accountable without sacrificing empathy.About the hosts: Damian Goldvarg brings frameworks from Lead With a Coaching Mindset and the ICF competencies to show how leaders design real learning processes. Elaine Padilla guides the dialogue, translating concepts into bite-size actions leaders can use in one-on-ones, team meetings, and performance conversations. Together they model the conversational patterns the episode promotes: listening first, asking better questions, and following up with clear agreements.➤ 📘 Pre-order the book: Lead With a Coaching Mindset: How the Best Leaders Unlock Potential — http://bit.ly/orderLeadwithaCoachingMindset ➤ 🌐 Learn more: goldvargconsulting.com ➤ 🔔 Subscribe & stay tuned: Hit “Subscribe” on your listening platform so you don’t miss future episodes.
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