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 attention to one of the more controversial updates: the introduction of the word ‘knowledge’ in the revised ICF Core Competencies. The updated competency now states that the coach “shares observat...

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 controversial—and many invite deeper reflection from us as coaches. This week on the podcast, we explore a question that sits at the heart of our workplace and professional coaching: What ...

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 safe to speak up, share ideas, ask questions, and admit mistakes—without fear of judgment or repercussion. It’s the foundation of healthy, high-performing teams. So why is psycholog...

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 down the barriers to having mental health conversations. Join Paula on the Coaching Café Podcast this week as we discuss the barriers to mental health conversations and simple steps we can tak...

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: knowledge. Whilst no new main competencies have been added, five new sub-competencies have been added along with 11 revisions to existing sub-competencies. Understanding these changes is essential if we...

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 explored thinking at a deeper level. This week, we listen to and debrief the second half of the session. Whether you’re preparing for a credential or simply want to take your coaching to t...

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 Podcast is another chance to listen deeply—not to judge, but to grow. We invite you to reflect on what you hear, observe how the ICF Core Competencies come to life, with a particular emphasis on ...

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 level. This week, we will listen to the second half of the session and debrief what you heard. Join us as we reflect on the conversation and explore: ✔️ What coaching at the PCC level reall...

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 like when a coach truly demonstrates: 🎧 Coaching presence 🎧 Evoking awareness 🎧 Digging under the surface 🎧 Creating metaphors 🎧 Exploring new thinking 🎧 Par...

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 Join us as we unpack the coaching conversation together and explore: ✔️ How the ICF Core Competencies showed up in real time ✔️ What stands out to you about presence, partnershi...

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 experiencing coaching in action. This week join us for a recorded coaching demonstration, where you’ll have the chance to: 🎧 Listen to a coaching conversation 🎧 Observe how the ICF ...

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? This Podcast is not about fear—it’s about sharpening our coaching awareness. ✨ What are the behaviours that assessors flag as “not yet competent” right away? ✨ What coaching pra...

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 coach? ✨ What does it sound like when you're coaching at the PCC level? ✨ What are the most common things that hold coaches back from reaching PCC standards? Hosted by...

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 feel like? ✨ What behaviours or practices might be deemed not yet competent under the ICF Core Competencies? ✨ Would your coaching be assessed as competent against international standard...

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 better questions ✔️ How to coach through the tricky conversations ✔️ How strengths-based conversations can create a 36% uplift in performance Now it’s time to br...

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 try; and they needed more strategies, and wanted to understand how coaching might help. With this in mind, we continue our focus on annual performance review season in this week’s C...

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 frustrated manager recently asked us: “What do you do about people who think they’re meeting expectations, but they aren’t? Or worse, they don’t have goals. They’re not engaged. They’re just ...

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 rises, and absenteeism drops. When we first came across this data years ago, we said, “Tell us more!” It was the beginning of our commitment to a strengths-based approach to coaching and one th...

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 as coaches – and to recognise the difference each of us makes as part of the Open Door Alumni. In terms of making a difference, this year we have the opportunity to learn from Hayley...

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 breaking point? Employee engagement on the brink (of collapse) Management engagement falls from 30% to 27% (no other worker category has experienced as significant decline).&nbs...