25. Leading Like a Coach: Listening, Vulnerability, and Letting Go of Control with Caitlin Golden

In this episode of Unfiltered Leadership, Lindsay sits down with Caitlin Golden, HR executive and longtime friend, for a deep conversation about coaching, leadership, vulnerability, and what it really means to lead people well.Lindsay and Caitlin first met through the Co-Active Training Institute during coach training while both were still working in advertising and marketing. What started as professional curiosity evolved into a years-long friendship grounded in shared values around people-centered leadership and personal growth.Together, they explore how coaching fundamentally changed the way they lead, listen, communicate, and show up in relationships at work.This conversation dives into:why most people hear but don’t truly listenhow curiosity creates stronger leadershipthe difference between fixing and supportingvulnerability, accountability, and trust in leadershipwhy great managers see people as whole humansand how self-awareness changes the way we lead othersCaitlin also shares practical examples from her experience leading HR teams, conducting exit interviews, managing talent, and helping people grow through feedback and recognition.This episode is a powerful reminder that leadership isn’t about having all the answers. It’s about being willing to listen deeply, stay curious, and create spaces where people feel seen, heard, and understood.About your host: Lindsay YellinLindsay Yellin is an executive leadership coach, dynamic speaker, and certified ACC and CPCC who helps high-achieving creative leaders trade fear for possibility and self-doubt for self-trust. A former advertising executive, she has led in high-pressure, high-visibility environments and knows the challenge of staying connected to oneself while leading others.✨ Book a Coaching Chemistry Call with Lindsay: https://calendly.com/yellin-coaching/chemistry-call ✨ Get your espresso shot of leadership insight, join the Grounds for Growth newsletter: https://yellingroundsforgrowth.myflodesk.com/groundsforgrowth About Caitlin GoldenCaitlin is a senior HR executive with nearly two decades of experience building people-first cultures inside fast-moving agencies and startups. A Co-Active trained coach, she brings that same whole-person philosophy into her leadership work — helping organizations and the individuals within them grow from the inside out. Her practice sits at the intersection of strategic HR and human development, with a particular focus on leadership, engagement, and building the kind of environments where people genuinely thrive.Episode HighlightsHow Lindsay and Caitlin met through coach trainingWhy coach training was “life changing” for both of themThe difference between hearing and truly listeningWhat “powerful questions” actually look likeWhy curiosity is one of the most underrated leadership skillsHow coaching changes the way you manage teamsThe danger of leaders trying to fix everythingWhy strong leaders guide instead of controlThe connection between self-awareness and emotional intelligenceHow to “read the room” by understanding yourself firstWhy great leaders admit when they don’t know somethingThe role of vulnerability, accountability, and repair in leadershipHow acknowledgment and recognition transform team cultureWhy people-centered leadership creates stronger engagement and trustLetting go of ego, perfectionism, and control as a leade