The AC Podcast

285: From Judgment to Growth: Building Sustainable Coaching Culture in Education with Sue Smith

In episode seven of our Building Successful Coaching Cultures podcast series, host Rosie Nice interviews Sue Smith, Learning and Development Manager at East Lancashire Learning Group, about the transformative power of embedding coaching culture within large education organisations. Sue shares her experience of moving away from traditional, judgmental observation-based performance management toward a more supportive, developmental coaching approach. Through practical strategies including learning walks, professional learning conversations, and action learning sets, East Lancashire Learning Group has successfully fostered an environment where staff feel valued, psychologically safe, and engaged in their own professional growth. Sue discusses how traditional observation and feedback methods, often perceived as judgmental and evaluative, can undermine staff morale and create a culture of fear rather than learning. By shifting to a coaching-led approach organisations can transform their performance management systems. Sue shares practical implementation strategies for embedding coaching into everyday practices, as well as the challenges faced. She emphasises the importance of ongoing learning and development support for staff in coaching practices, and the recognition that building a thriving coaching culture is a long-term journey requiring persistence, patience, and genuine organisational commitment. Sue demonstrates how moving from a performance management mindset focused on judgment and evaluation to one centred on empowerment, curiosity, and collaborative growth can unlock significant benefits for both individuals and the organisation. The episode provides valuable insights for leaders and coaches working in educational settings, human resources professionals implementing coaching programmes, and any professional keen to understand how psychological safety and reflective practice can drive organisational change and improved staff engagement. You will learn: · How moving from a judgemental observation model to a coaching approach learning and development model dramatically improves staff engagement and wellbeing · How to embed coaching into everyday conversations and practices as well as organizational strategy. · Why persistence and long-term planning is key to embedding a coaching culture "Sometimes it takes time to develop a culture, and we want to see results really quickly. but we just need to just continue delivering training continuing to model practice. and then eventually more and more people will embed that culture and culture across the organization." Don't forget to subscribe, rate, and leave us a review! Your feedback helps us bring you more valuable content. For the episode resources and guest bio, please visit: https://www.associationforcoaching.com/page/dl-hub_podcast-channel-building-coaching-cultures-education-development-performance **Join us for the AC 2026 Global Conference: 𝘊𝘰𝘢𝘤𝘩𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘢𝘴 𝘢 𝘓𝘦𝘢𝘥𝘦𝘳 - a two-day virtual event for leaders and coaches who want to build thriving, high-performing organizations.

284: A Research-Led Perspective on Coaching Culture with Professor Jonathan Passmore

In the 6th episode of the Building Successful Coaching Cultures series, host Rosie Nice, is joined by Professor Jonathan Passmore to explore what it really takes to embed a coaching culture within organisations. Drawing on decades of research and practice, Jonathan unpacks how a coaching culture goes beyond individual interventions, becoming a default way of thinking, leading, and interacting. He highlights the value of aligning leadership intent with everyday behaviours, and the importance of extending coaching principles across all levels of an organisation—not just within formal leadership roles. The conversation also tackles one of the field's biggest challenges: measuring impact. Jonathan discusses the current gaps in empirical evidence and offers practical suggestions for capturing meaningful metrics, alongside case study insights that demonstrate the tangible benefits of coaching cultures. The discussion reflects on the evolution of coaching, from a niche leadership tool to a broader organisational capability, encompassing internal, external, and increasingly AI-enabled approaches. Looking ahead, Rosie and Jonathan explore the growing role of technology in democratizing access to coaching, while also addressing ethical considerations and the unique value of human connection. Jonathan shares his latest research into the differences between human and AI coaching, raising important questions about what makes coaching truly effective. The episode offers both strategic insight and practical guidance for organisations seeking to foster more collaborative, empowered, and high-performing cultures. You Will Learn: · A coaching culture is not just about coaching programmes—it's about embedding coaching behaviours as a core organisational norm at every level. · Measuring impact remains complex, but combining qualitative insights, case studies, and targeted metrics can help demonstrate value. · AI is expanding access to coaching, but human coaches bring unique relational and embodied qualities that remain essential. "For me, coaching culture is not the poster on the wall or what the annual report or the chief executive says that it is. It's the actual behaviours that employees each and every day display…It embodies all of this with all of the stakeholders across the wider system in a way that is about growing development and a win-win based culture for us collectively as well as for customers." Don't forget to subscribe, rate, and leave us a review! Your feedback helps us bring you more valuable content. For the episode resources and guest bio, please visit: https://www.associationforcoaching.com/page/dl-hub_podcast-channel-building-coaching-cultures-research-AI-organizational **Join us for the AC 2026 Global Conference: 𝘊𝘰𝘢𝘤𝘩𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘢𝘴 𝘢 𝘓𝘦𝘢𝘥𝘦𝘳 - a two-day virtual event for leaders and coaches who want to build thriving, high-performing organizations.

283: How Putting People First Built a Coaching Culture and Business Success with Charlotte Hurst

In the fourth episode of our Building Successful Coaching Cultures series, host, Rosie Nice talks to Charlotte Hurst to reflect on her time leading Farsight Consulting and how a simple intention - to build a great place to work and deliver outstanding client outcomes - evolved into a deeply embedded coaching culture. Despite not starting with a grand design, the company expanded from a small tight-knit team into an organisation of more than 140 people, where coaching became the backbone of how quality, learning and growth were sustained. 'We realized more and more over time that using coaching almost as the like the micro process would enable us to provide high performing people who could work with clients at scale and in a in a cost-effective way.' Charlotte shares how giving everyone a coach who wasn't their line manager created space for honest reflection, stronger ownership and real psychological safety. Rather than sitting on the sidelines, coaching became woven into recruitment, project delivery, feedback and career progression. Regular, structured conversations ensured that development kept pace with rapid scaling, while experienced coaches mentored new ones to create a powerful multiplier effect across the business. From navigating hyper-growth to adapting through the pandemic, Charlotte explains why a coaching culture is never the end goal in itself. It's the mechanism that enables people to thrive, supports consistent performance and results, and helps an organisation stay resilient when circumstances change. Listeners will come away with practical ideas for embedding coaching into the everyday rhythm of work and for aligning it with values, learning and long-term strategy. You will learn · The significance of embedding coaching as a skill within the broader organizational framework. · The four principles Farsight Consulting maintained all through their growth · Recruitment strategies focused on potential and core capabilities rather than just experience. Don't forget to subscribe, rate, and leave us a review! Your feedback helps us bring you more valuable content. For the episode resources and guest bio, please visit: https://www.associationforcoaching.com/page/dl-hub_podcast-channel-building-coaching-cultures-people-first-business-success **Join us for the AC 2026 Global Conference: 𝘊𝘰𝘢𝘤𝘩𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘢𝘴 𝘢 𝘓𝘦𝘢𝘥𝘦𝘳 - a two-day virtual event for leaders and coaches who want to build thriving, high-performing organizations.

282: Why Leaders Need a Coach's Perspective with Jan Doyle

How do you move from telling your team what to do to truly empowering them? In this episode host, Rosie Nice sits down with Jan Doyle, a specialist in leadership coaching and organizational development, to explore what it really takes to embed coaching into teams and organizations. Jan demystifies the idea of a coaching culture, drawing a clear distinction between professional, 'pure' coaching and the everyday coaching approaches leaders and managers can use to unlock performance. At the heart of the conversation is a powerful mindset shift: moving from telling people what to do to asking the kinds of questions that help them think, learn and take ownership. Jan highlights the conditions that allow coaching to thrive, particularly psychological safety, empathy and a genuine commitment to growth. She explains that when leaders take a coaching approach, feedback lands differently: people are not only more open to hearing it, but they also understand its purpose and see its value for their own development. Jan shares common challenges such as securing senior management buy-in and overcoming resistance to change and illustrates her points with real-world examples. She also highlights practical strategies and ongoing support that help coaching habits stick, reinforcing her key advice: ask, don't tell. This approach empowers teams, drives growth, and demonstrates that coaching skills have value not just at work, but in personal and professional relationships more broadly. You will learn: · Why building a coaching culture starts with a shift from directive leadership to curiosity and questions. · How psychological safety, empathy and a coaching style help people recognise the value of feedback for their growth. · Simple, practical ways to embed coaching habits into everyday management and overcome resistance to change. "It's shifting from telling to asking and applying the principles of coaching without being a true coach: about using that coaching approach in the workplace." Don't forget to subscribe, rate, and leave us a review! Your feedback helps us bring you more valuable content. For the episode resources and guest bio, please visit: https://www.associationforcoaching.com/page/dl-hub_podcast-channel-building-coaching-cultures-practical-tips-insights-leadership **Join us for the AC 2026 Global Conference: 𝘊𝘰𝘢𝘤𝘩𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘢𝘴 𝘢 𝘓𝘦𝘢𝘥𝘦𝘳 - a two-day virtual event for leaders and coaches who want to build thriving, high-performing organizations.

281: From Blame Culture to Coaching Culture: Kuoni Tumlare's Journey with Felix Gaehwiler

In the third episode of Building Successful Coaching Cultures, host Rosie Nice, speaks with Felix Karl Gaehwiler, an adaptable and pragmatic leader driving Business Transformation for DMC Europe at Kuoni Tumlare. Felix shares a candid look at life inside a blame-driven sales culture—where responsibility was always pushed outward, energy was low, and while people were functioning, they weren't thriving. The team was stuck, unhappy, and disconnected. Change began when a new Head of Sales, Tim, introduced a coaching-led approach. Rather than giving solutions, Tim first listened—to frustrations, complaints, and concerns—and then asked different questions that challenged individuals and teams to take ownership: "What ideas do you have to solve that?" Felix recalls how challenging this felt at first and how it took him on his own journey, confronting his resistance until he could see the approach working and eventually train as a coach himself. The conversation explores how coaching shifted accountability, relationships, and performance over time, while also highlighting the ongoing effort required to sustain a coaching mindset amid leadership changes, cross-cultural teams, and hybrid working. This episode is a grounded, human exploration of what coaching really looks like inside organisations—messy, challenging, and ultimately transformative. You will learn: · Blame cultures can appear functional while masking stagnation, disengagement, and low accountability. · Listening and curiosity are a key part of building a coaching culture · The powerful shifts that occur over time when a coaching culture is built into organizations 'I think a coaching culture exists when people feel safe to develop new ideas, but even more, when they feel safe to give and accept feedback, irrespective of position or title.' Don't forget to subscribe, rate, and leave us a review! Your feedback helps us bring you more valuable content. For the episode resources and guest bio, please visit: https://www.associationforcoaching.com/page/dl-hub_podcast-channel-building-coaching-cultures-blame-culture-coaching-organizations **Join us for the AC 2026 Global Conference: 𝘊𝘰𝘢𝘤𝘩𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘢𝘴 𝘢 𝘓𝘦𝘢𝘥𝘦𝘳 - a two-day virtual event for leaders and coaches who want to build thriving, high-performing organizations.