PODCAST · business
The Coaching Cafe Podcast
by Open Door Coaching
The latest thinking from Australia's leading Organisational Coaching specialist, Open Door Coaching. Released weekly on Tuesdays the Coaching Cafe is presented by Dr Natalie Ashdown an MCC accredited coach. Enjoying the podcast? Check out our Social Media, our website or leave a 5 star review to help spread our reach!
Episodes
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Coaching Confidentiality
“So... what kind of reporting do you do?” It's a question almost every workplace coach has been asked. Recently, I was meeting with an HR Manager and a coachee's manager to discuss a potential coaching engagement when this question was raised. While I have a standard response, it reminded me just...
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Can't Coach Everyone...
One of the most common comments we hear from leaders learning a coaching approach is: “Coaching's fine. But you can't coach everyone. Most of my team I have to mentor them... and tell them what to do because they have no idea.” It's a familiar reaction. As leaders begin shifting from a telling…
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Overcoming Mental Health Conversation Barriers
Last time in the Coaching Café, we explored the important role that coaches can play in supporting mental health in the workplace while maintaining clear professional boundaries. This week, we build on that conversation by turning our attention to one of the biggest challenges many leaders,...
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The role of Coaching in mental health.
As we move beyond the end of financial year and settle into the second half of the year, many workplaces are beginning to feel the effects of sustained pressure, competing priorities and ongoing change. It is a timely reminder to check in on our own mental health—and that of those around us. The...
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Tricky Performance Reviews
We round off our series on a consistent and regular approach to performance conversations with a huge dose of reality. The reality is that not all performance conversations will go to plan, and some conversations will be genuinely difficult. Despite a manager’s best efforts, there will be times...
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How to get a 36% uplift in performance
In the Coaching Cafe this week, we continue our conversation around the importance of consistent and regular performance conversations, rather than relying solely on mid-year or annual reviews. This week we specifically focus on performance uplift and how a strengths-based approach enables…
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Why a Coaching Mindset Works for Performance Reviews
Last week we introduced the idea that the traditional annual or mid-year performance review is increasingly under the spotlight, with some organisations moving away from the formal review process altogether. This week we continue the conversation with a focus on the coaching mindset that supports...
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End of the Performance Review?
This week we begin a new Coaching Cafe series focused on the mid-year performance review. While many leaders and HR teams are preparing for the usual cycle of meetings and conversations, some organisations are taking a very different approach. Increasingly, companies are deciding to move away…
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Dr Ricki Smith, CEO ACNA. CEO's who Coach
Over the past three weeks in the Coaching Café we have been privileged to focus on CEOs who are leading the way with coaching. The series features conversations with CEOs, who are not only supporting coaching in their organisations, but actively role modelling a coaching approach—whether through...
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Pat Cooper, CEO HVCCC. CEO's Who Coach.
Over the past two weeks in the Coaching Café we have been privileged to focus on CEOs who are leading the way with coaching. The series features conversations with CEOs, who are not only supporting coaching in their organisations, but actively role modelling a coaching approach—whether through...
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CEOs who Coach: Ash Woodcock, CEO RPM Hire
Last week in the Coaching Café kicked off a very special Coaching Café series focused on CEOs who are leading the way with coaching. The series features conversations with CEOs, who are not only supporting coaching in their organisations, but actively role modelling a coaching approach—whether...
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Interviewing Martin Mercer, CEO Scentia
This week in the Coaching Café we are delighted to announce the start of a very special Coaching Café series focused on CEOs who are leading the way with coaching. This series is to celebrate International Coaching Week in May (but we are spreading out the celebrations over the month J). This...
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Gallup Report Reflections
Every year, we wait for the release of the Gallup State of the Global Workplace Report. Not just to see the data—but to understand whether, as a global collective, we are making a difference. This year, the headlines are once again hard to ignore. Engagement is down. Managers are struggling.…
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Passing the PCC & MCC Exams
What does it really take to pass the ICF credential exams? Recently, our very own Paula Jones-Hunt successfully passed her PCC exam, and late last year Brigitte Calvert achieved her MCC credential. Fresh from the combined experience of preparation, pressure, and ultimately the relief and...
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Part 2: AI and Ethics.
As AI becomes more embedded in the workplace, questions are no longer just about capability—they are about ethics, responsibility, and professional practice. Following our exploration of AI and coaching last week, this week we turn our attention to the ethical implications of using AI in coaching...
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REUPLOAD: AI and Coaching Part 1
Apologies for mistake in the previous upload. As AI continues to reshape how we work, it is also beginning to influence how we think, decide, and lead. In our recent Coaching Café, it was no surprise that we identified AI as one of the most significant trends shaping coaching and leadership...
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A Short Message
Correction- We will be back next week! In our first Coaching Café series for the year, we’ve explored the leadership capabilities that matter most in 2026—from trends in coaching and leadership, to performance conversations, psychological safety, emotional intelligence, critical thinking, and...
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Innovation: How can Coaching help?
Across our first Coaching Café series, we’ve explored the leadership capabilities organisations are prioritising for 2026 and beyond—from psychological safety and emotional intelligence, to critical thinking in the age of AI. This week, we turn our attention to innovation. Innovation is...
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Critical Thinking, Leadership and AI
So far in the Coaching Café Podcast 2026, we’ve explored the trends shaping leadership, performance conversations, psychological safety, and emotional intelligence as a core leadership capability. This week, we turn our attention to critical thinking—increasingly recognised as an essential...
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Emotional Intelligence and Leadership
So far in the Coaching Café Podcast 2026, we’ve explored the trends shaping coaching and leadership, the importance of strong performance conversations, and the role of psychological safety in building trust and engagement. This week, we turn our attention to emotional intelligence—consistently...
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Psycological Safety and Coaching
Over the past two weeks, we’ve explored the trends shaping coaching and leadership conversations in 2026 and the critical role performance conversations play in starting the year with clarity and focus. This week, we go one layer deeper. Workplaces continue to place strong emphasis on…
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Start the Year with Intention, Performance Conversations
Last week, we kicked off Coaching Café Podcast for 2026 by exploring the key trends shaping coaching and leadership conversations this year. One theme stood out clearly: the quality of performance conversations matters more than ever. This week, we turn our focus to performance conversations and...
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2026 trends in coaching
Our newly refreshed Coaching Café Podcast kicks off 2026 with our annual crystal ball on trends in coaching and leadership conversations. Each year, we start by asking a simple question: What’s going to be at the forefront of coaching and leadership conversations this year? So, we stare into our...
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Coaching Café: Reflecting on 2025
In our final Coaching Café Podcast for the year, we take a moment to reflect on what has been another extraordinary series. In 2025, we’ve explored everything from Trends in Coaching and the ICF Credentialing Exam, to the Gallup State of the Global Workplace Report, coaching for performance...
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ICF Global Coaching Study '25 Highlights!
As we approach the end of the year for the Coaching Café Podcast, we continue to share valuable insights for our coaching community. The 2025 ICF Global Coaching Study Final Report has just been released, offering one of the most comprehensive views of the global coaching profession to date....
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October Recap!
This week, a short message from Natalie recaping the past couple of weeks of the Coaching Cafe Podcast. We will be back next week with a new Coaching Cafe Podcast! Also shiny new podcast logo! oooooo, let us know what you think via email or social media! Should we bring back the old one or is…
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"Knowledge" in '25 ICF Competencies
As you will be aware the ICF Core Competencies have been revised and during the Coaching Cafe Podcasts we have been diving deeper into some of the more thought-provoking changes. Some are simple to understand, while others invite us—as coaches—to pause and reflect. This week, we turn our…
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Coaching Philosophy!? What is it?
What is your coaching philosophy? A deeper dive into the ICF Core Competency changes Recently, we shared the significant updates to the new ICF Core Competencies and over the coming weeks, we’ll be diving deeper into some of the key changes. Some of these updates are straightforward, others more...
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Safety in the work place - Psycological Safety
How coaching enables psychological safety in the workplace This week on the coaching cafe podcast, as part of our focus on mental health and wellbeing in the workplace, we’re exploring the powerful link between coaching and psychological safety. Psychological safety is the shared belief that it’s...
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Talking About Mental Health - The Barriers
Last Friday was World Mental Health Day! We want to acknowledge that you—or someone you know—may be experiencing challenges with mental health. We recognise that as leaders, coaches, colleagues and friends, we all have a role to play in enabling strong mental health in our workplaces and breaking...
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'25 Update of ICF Core Competencies
This week on the Podcast! The new ICF Core Competencies have just been released, reflecting how coaching practice has evolved since the 2019 update. However, one word in the update is causing concern across coaching educators and practitioners, making social media light up! That word is…
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Coaching in action MCC - Part 2
In the Coaching Café Podcast last week, we listened to the first half of a coaching demonstration focused on the highest level of coaching competency - the MCC level of coaching. We invited you to tune in deeply—listening for presence, partnership, curiosity, evoking awareness, and how the coach...
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Coaching in action at the MCC level (Part 1)
This week on the Coaching Café Podcast , we are continuing our deep dive into our coaching practice with another coaching demonstration—this time we have the privilege of listening to coaching at the highest level of ICF credential, an MCC-level coaching demonstration. This week’s Coaching Café...
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Coaching in action – PCC Level Demonstration (Part 2)
In the Coaching Café Podcast last week, we listened to the first half of a coaching demonstration focused on the PCC level of coaching competency. We invited you to tune in deeply—listening for presence, partnership, curiosity, evoking awareness, and how the coach explored thinking at a deeper...
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Coaching in action – listen for PCC-level competencies (Part - 1)
This week in the Coaching Café Podcast, we are continuing our deep dive into our coaching practice with another coaching demonstration—where we are particularly listening for PCC-level coaching competencies. This is your opportunity to listen again with intention and curiosity. What does it sound...
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Coaching in action – listen to a coaching demonstration (Part 2).
Last week, we invited you to sit back, tune in, and listen to a coaching demonstration—a real conversation designed to bring the ICF Core Competencies to life. We listened to and debriefed the first half of the coaching session. This week, we listen to and debrief the second half of the session...
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Coaching in Action - Listen to a coaching demonstration (Part 1)
Over the past few Coaching Cafés, we’ve explored the ICF Core Competencies through the lens of assessment: what competent coaching looks like at ACC and PCC levels, and what can lead to an instant fail. Over the next few Coaching Cafés, we invite you to shift from talking about coaching… to...
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The instant fail: What to avoid in coaching conversations
So far in this Coaching Café series, we’ve explored what competent coaching looks like at the ACC and PCC levels. In this Podcast, we’re flipping the perspective and asking an equally important question: What constitutes an instant fail in a coaching conversation—or during a credentialing exam?...
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Taking it up a level: Exploring PCC-level coaching competency
Last week we kicked off our new Coaching Café season by exploring what competent coaching looks like at the ACC level. This week, we’re taking it up a notch as we unpack PCC-level coaching—and what it truly means to coach at that next level. ✨ What distinguishes a competent coach from a PCC…
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Are you a competent coach? Exploring the ACC Level.
After focusing on how we coach others in the past series, we’re now turning the lens inward. In this new Coaching Café series, we shift the focus to our own coaching development - starting with a deep dive into the ACC level of competency. ✨ What does competent coaching look like, sound like, and...
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Bringing It Home Strong - Performance conversations
Over the past few weeks, we’ve focused our Coaching Café series on one of the most critical leadership and coaching opportunities: annual performance conversations. We’ve explored: ✔️ How performance conversations can build engagement ✔️ How coaching shifts under-performance ✔️ How to prepare...
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Rainbows and Lollipops and Shifting under performance
Recently, during a workshop, a manager said what many others are thinking: “It’s not all rainbows and lollipops. What if they are under performing? What do you do then?” The frustration was real, and it is common. This was a manager doing their best to support an employee but unsure what else to...
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Coaching for tricky performance conversations
We continue our focus on annual performance review season in this week’s Coaching Café Podcast and how these conversations can build engagement in the workplace. So far, we’ve shared frameworks and tips to set up conversations for success. Now it’s time to talk about the trickier conversations. A...
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Getting a 36% uplift in performance from quality performance conversations
Performance conversations aren’t just a HR requirement – they are an opportunity to drive real engagement. Research shows that when managers focus on strengths during performance conversations, it can lead to a 36.5% uplift in performance. That’s not all - engagement increases, productivity…
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International Coach Week Interview: Hayley Goldsmith
International Coach Week: Your chance to hear from an inspirational leader This year, the International Coaching Federation (ICF) marks its 30th anniversary – 30 years of inspiring change through coaching and setting the standards for our profession. It’s the perfect week to celebrate who we are…
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Performance Reviews: Coaching Changes Everything
Is the annual performance conversation season a chance to turn around engagement? Last week kicked off our new Coaching Café Podcast series by unpacking the newly released Gallup State of the Global Workplace Report for 2025. But the headlines are hard to ignore: Is the global workplace at…
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Gallup 2025: engagement matters - how coaching helps
The Gallup State of the Global Workplace 2025 report has just landed. Call us nerds, but we dropped everything to download it. Like many, we hoped to see improvements in global workplace engagement. After all, increasing engagement feels like a shared crusade among leaders, coaches, and...
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ANZAC Day Reflection
This week Natalie reflects on ANZAC day. For those unfamiliar with the day, ANZAC stands for Australian and New Zealand Army Corps and the day commemorates the 25th of April 1915, the day the Anzac's landed in Gallipoli in the 1st world war. While the day was originally intended to honour the…
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Ethical Practice - Open Forum
Over the past few weeks, we’ve explored ethics in coaching through the lens of the ICF Core Competencies - not just as a checkbox for membership renewal, but as a lived practice. We’ve explored: ✔️ Our own ethical decision-making as coaches ✔️ Stakeholder agreements & confidentiality ✔️ The…
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AI in Coaching – A Practical Demonstration
AI in Coaching – A Practical Demonstration Following our thought-provoking discussion on the ethical use of AI in coaching last week, it’s time to take the conversation further. Can AI really improve coaching? Can it assess coaching conversations against the ICF Core Competencies? Can it even…
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ABOUT THIS SHOW
The latest thinking from Australia's leading Organisational Coaching specialist, Open Door Coaching.
Released weekly on Tuesdays the Coaching Cafe is presented by Dr Natalie Ashdown an MCC accredited coach.
Enjoying the podcast? Check out our Social Media, our website or leave a 5 star review to help spread our reach!
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Open Door Coaching
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Frequently Asked Questions
How many episodes does The Coaching Cafe Podcast have?
The Coaching Cafe Podcast currently has 161 episodes available on PodParley. New episodes are automatically indexed when they're published to the podcast feed.
What is The Coaching Cafe Podcast about?
The latest thinking from Australia's leading Organisational Coaching specialist, Open Door Coaching. Released weekly on Tuesdays the Coaching Cafe is presented by Dr Natalie Ashdown an MCC accredited coach. Enjoying the podcast? Check out our Social Media, our website or leave a 5 star review to...
How often does The Coaching Cafe Podcast release new episodes?
The Coaching Cafe Podcast publishes regularly with 161 episodes available. Check the episode list for the typical release schedule.
Where can I listen to The Coaching Cafe Podcast?
You can listen to The Coaching Cafe Podcast on PodParley by clicking any episode. We provide an embedded audio player for direct listening, and you can also subscribe via your preferred podcast app using the RSS feed.
Who hosts The Coaching Cafe Podcast?
The Coaching Cafe Podcast is created and hosted by Open Door Coaching.
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