COACH EM

09/02/2026

🎙️ Connection before learning.

What if great coaching isn’t about pushing your message, and instead creating an environment that pulls the learning?

In Episode #231 of The Coaching Podcast, I’m joined by two brilliant Coach Developers, Sarah McQuade & Linda Low, to explore what really sits behind great coaching and facilitation.

We unpack games-based learning, moving from boss to leader, the importance of tone and tenor, and how skilled coaches intentionally choose questions and environments to accelerate learning.

💎 Linda says a great coach brings connection, intentionality & belief.

💎 Sarah says it’s about being relational, relentlessly curious & willing to challenge.

And one message really stood out:

AI can give us knowledge. Human coaches create connection, belonging, trust, and the conditions for people to thrive.

Listen now to Coach Developers Sarah and Linda - Connection before Learning
Apple/iTunes: https://apple.co/3Co9ddg
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/1PEkQ4bJ9Fk0GNVCAo8LgT
Watch: https://youtu.be/aRllCquiEsg

What do YOU think makes a great coach?

08/28/2026

Leader as Coach Virtual Course = COMPLETE!

Across 2 x 3-hour virtual sessions, we covered more than 10 coaching tools, with leaders connecting from opposite sides of the world.

One of my favourite parts was hearing what people said they were going to do between sessions... and then hearing about what unfolded in others and what changed for the leader as coach! Because when you act on a Game Plan, things shift. You learn. You improve. You create momentum.

One of the tools we finished with was my Facilitation Feedback Game Plan:

WWW: What Worked Well?
EBI: Even Better If...
ONE WORD: How are you feeling?
Why one word? Because there is MOTION in the word eMOTION.

And here's the exciting part...

You only need 8 leaders to run your own Leader as Coach Virtual Workshop, from anywhere in the world. We tailor the experience to your organisation, your leaders and the coaching skills you want to strengthen.

If you have 8+ leaders and want to create more coaches, thinkers and problem-solvers in your organisation, reach out to Coach EM or the Coaching Leadership Academy team to learn more.

08/26/2026

COACH EM GEM 💎 Start with Strengths

We often focus on what people need to improve. What if we started with what they're already great at?

Ask: "What are your strengths, and how do you leverage them in the workplace?" And just as importantly, "What energizes you in the workplace?"

Different generations bring different experiences, perspectives, and strengths. The goal isn't to make everyone the same. It's to help people understand what they do well, what gives them energy, and use both more intentionally.

Start with strengths. Build from there.

Do you have a question for Coach EM? Every other week on The Coaching Podcast, I share a Coach EM GEM to support your leadership journey. Send me your question, and I'll give you a shout-out and answer it on the podcast!

The Coaching Podcast - Coach for Success in Sport and Business
Apple/iTunes: https://apple.co/3Co9ddg
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/1PEkQ4bJ9Fk0GNVCAo8LgT

08/24/2026

A big thank you to Vistage Chairs Bill Pierrakeas and Steve Sager for two very different and equally memorable Leader as Coach experiences last week.

First stop: Dubuque, Iowa, where Dan Schoen, CEO of The Metrix Company, hosted us. My first time driving through the Iowa cornfields! 🌽 Worth every mile to spend the morning with leaders who genuinely care about their people.

Then back home to Colorado and the wonderful PorchLight Family Justice Center, thanks to our gracious host and Executive Director, Candace Cooledge.

Across both workshops, we explored a beautifully simple Game Plan tool called Triple A. I invite all groups to spice up your rapid recall, and thank you to Lisa Bormaster for sharing this one with me:

1) AHA: What is one aha moment this workshop sparked?
2) ASPIRE: What do you aspire to be as a coaching leader?
3) ACTION: What is one action you will take?

And a special shout-out to Jordan Allord, whose business is appropriately named ASPIRE! Jordan has now seen me present three times, and her feedback made my day:

"Each workshop just keeps getting better and better."

That's the goal.

How can we keep learning, experimenting, and improving, even if it's only 1% at a time?
Because 1% might not feel like much today. But over time, it matters.

So, what's your Triple A today?

What's your Aha?
What do you Aspire to?
And most importantly, what Action will you take?

08/21/2026

🎙️ What if great listening had less to do with your ears… and more to do with your eyes?

My latest conversation on The Coaching Podcast with Gordon Reid, National Tennis Director at Life Time, was full of simple coaching gems that translate beautifully from the tennis court to the workplace.

A few that stayed with me:

A great coach is “a great listener.”
As Gordon says, listen with your eyes.

Have an open mind and say YES to opportunities.
You never quite know where they might lead.

And Gordon's Golden Rule:

Treat people the way THEY want to be treated.

Play. Learn. Love.

🎧 Listen to my conversation with Gordon Reid on The Coaching Podcast.
The Coaching Podcast - Coach for Success in Sport and Business
Apple/iTunes: https://apple.co/3Co9ddg
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/1PEkQ4bJ9Fk0GNVCAo8LgT
Watch: https://youtu.be/CCU_c2FpFcs

08/19/2026

There’s something pretty special about meeting people in person for the first time after coaching them virtually for the past 10 months.

Yesterday we met face-to-face: Coach Ranee Foster and Alyssa Rains from Iowa Wisdom Teeth - two leaders I’ve had the privilege of coaching through a completely tailor-made Coaching Leadership Academy journey.

And that’s one of the things I love most about this work.

We don’t start with a generic leadership program.

We start with the people.
Their challenges.
Their environment.
Their goals.
And the kind of leaders they want to become.

From our initial needs analysis, we created six modules specifically for them:

1️⃣ Belief & Coaching Growth Mindset
2️⃣ Time, Energy & Boundaries
3️⃣ Curiosity & Feedback
4️⃣ Pressure, Triggers & Communication
5️⃣ Positive Accountability (GROW)
6️⃣ Integration & Leadership Identity

And perhaps the most powerful part of the entire experience happened over dinner with the team. Their team members shared what they had noticed changing in Ranee and Alyssa as leaders - particularly the growth in their clarity and confidence.

A huge shout-out to Tanner Foster for facilitating the introduction that started this journey. 🙌

And to Ranee and Alyssa - what an experience.

Are you or your team interested in a tailored coaching experience through the Coaching Leadership Academy? Let’s build the right modules around your people, your challenges, and your goals. Send me a DM to learn more.

08/16/2026

COACH THE PERSON FIRST 🎯

Are you coaching the problem… or are you coaching the person?

There’s a BIG difference.

One of the greatest lessons sport has taught me is that the more you understand the person in front of you - what motivates them, what matters to them, what gives them purpose, even the books they read and people they admire - the better equipped you are to unlock their potential.

In my latest Coach EM Gem, I share some simple questions you can use to get beyond performance and understand the human behind it.

I also revisit a brilliant TED Talk from Reshma Saujani: “Teach girls bravery, not perfection.”

My challenge for you this week:

Get curious about the person BEFORE you coach the performance.

Because when people feel understood, coaching becomes more personal, meaningful, and impactful.

▶️ Check out the latest Coach EM Gem - Coach the Person First
The Coaching Podcast - Coach for Success in Sport and Business
Apple/iTunes: https://apple.co/3Co9ddg
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/1PEkQ4bJ9Fk0GNVCAo8LgT

08/14/2026

Feedback: “See it. Say it.” With empathy and compassion.

Feedback from my time in Texas:

“Coach EM, can you layer in some more demonstrations?”

Done!

Because sometimes the best way to teach coaching isn’t to talk about it. It’s to ROLE MODEL it.

Coaching.
Listening.
Presence.
Powerful questions.
Healthy challenge.

When a facilitator creates the right conditions for learning to transfer, that’s often where the magic lies.

ENVIRONMENT. ENVIRONMENT. ENVIRONMENT.

How do we create the conditions where people WANT to learn, grow and take ownership?

That question followed me across Houston over the past two weeks as we explored some rich leadership conversations:

👉 Turning connection into commitment
👉 Igniting accountability and ownership in decision-making
👉 Exploring healthy conflict - what does it actually mean, sound like and look like?

And who was the woman making all of this happen?

The fabulous Christine Spray - Vistage Master Chair, National Speaker and owner of Strategic Catalyst. A brilliant connector of people and ideas.

Three days. Three different environments.

Day 1: Hosted by Bryce Livingstone, Director of Operations at PIN.
Day 2: Inside the beautiful Energy Tower - how appropriate for the Energy Coach! - hosted by Bradley Chambers, Chair at Lonestar Electric Supply.
Day 3: We capped it off at the stunning Design & Training Center at Wisenbaker Builder Services. Thank you for having us, John Wisenbaker, and to our host Stephen Seibert, President of FSR Services.

Different rooms. Different leaders. Different conversations.

And the same challenge:

How do we create an environment where people choose to step up, contribute and grow? That’s coaching leadership.

Houston, I can’t wait to come back. 🙌

08/12/2026

I had such a fun and refreshingly honest conversation with Nancy Girres on the Finding North Podcast. 🎙️

We covered a LOT - from Melbourne 🇦🇺 to Colorado 🇺🇸, some unexpected life turns, and plenty of laughs along the way. We spoke of coaches and mentors who have helped to shape my journey, and we also went deep into a few coaching ideas I’m really passionate about right now:

🧅 The Onion Principle - how do we peel back the layers to uncover and maximize the strengths people already bring to the workplace?

❤️ Leader as Human (new Vistage workshop) - including a life-changing question that might just change the way you show up as a leader.

🌱 And one simple sentence that has helped me GROW to the next level - not go to the next level.

There’s a BIG difference.

Curious? 👀

A huge thank you to Nancy Girres for being such a wonderful listener, asking great questions, a CO Vistage chair, and creating the space for such an honest, fun conversation.

You can listen to 🎧 Finding North on Spotify and iTunes or watch it here:
https://youtu.be/Xsk0lez8tFU

Thanks for having me, Nancy. Keep finding your North!

What if the key to unlocking someone's potential isn't telling them...

08/12/2026

STARTING TOMORROW — and there’s still time to join us!

If you lead people, here’s a question worth asking:

Is coaching part of your leadership toolkit?

Tomorrow I kick off my only public Coaching Leadership Academy training - Leader as Coach.

This is an introduction to expanding your leadership toolkit so you can have better conversations, ask better questions, create greater ownership, and unlock more of the potential in your people.

Because leadership isn’t always about having the answer.

Sometimes the most powerful thing you can do is COACH.

Across two highly interactive virtual sessions, we’ll explore practical coaching tools you can use immediately with your people.

📅 August 13 & 27
⏰ 5–8 PM MST
💻 Virtual — open to anyone

If you’ve been curious about bringing more coaching into the way you lead, this is your chance to jump in.

Come expand your toolkit.
Come practise.
Come get curious.

👉 LEARN MORE: https://www.coachem.cc/leader-as-coach

🔥 ENROLL TODAY: https://www.coachem.cc/offers/KteGpEPJ/checkout

DM if you require more information. Remember that Confidence follows ACTION!