Arete Coach: The Art & Science of Executive Coaching Arete Coach Podcast

Welcome to the Arete Coach Podcast, hosted by Severin Sorensen. In this episode, recorded via Zoom on April 27, 2020, we are honored to have Richard Bosworth, founder and CEO of What If Forums, an executive coaching practice established in 1967 in London. Richard was a former TEC Vistage UK chair known for his candid and insightful coaching style, earning him the affectionate title of "Chief Tormentor" among his clients.


In an engaging conversation titled "The Chief Tormentor as CEO Coach," Richard Bosworth shares his inspiring journey from agricultural scientist to renowned business turnaround marketer and global executive coach. His career began in marketing and corporate life, where he led transformative programs before discovering a passion for coaching. Over the past several decades, Richard dedicated himself to challenging the status quo and helping leaders see things through fresh eyes. Recognized globally, Richard pioneered telecoaching and was an early adopter of digital coaching methods. This episode delves into Richard's profound commitment to creating awesomely successful leaders and his unique approach to ideation facilitation, perfectly aligning with the Arete Coach Podcast's exploration of excellence in executive coaching.


Richard's coaching approach: He describes himself as an "unconventional coach" who challenges the status quo. He focuses on helping leaders look at things through fresh eyes and try new approaches. His coaching style earned him the nickname "Chief Tormentor" among clients.


Evolution of his career: Richard shares his journey from agricultural scientist to marketing expert, then to business turnaround specialist, and finally to executive coach. He was an early adopter of telecoaching in the 1990s, working with clients across Africa.


Coaching tools and techniques: Richard discusses his key coaching tools, including the "aspiration guide" (be, do, have chart), listening to one's gut, and the power of silence. He emphasizes the importance of asking thought-provoking questions.


Most powerful question: Richard reveals that his most impactful question is "What does your family think?" This often leads to deep insights about work-life balance and personal priorities.


Leadership in changing times: Richard observes that the pandemic has accelerated changes in how people work and how leaders need to adapt. He emphasizes that leaders now need to engage and consult their teams rather than just lead in the traditional sense.


The Arete Coach Podcast seeks to explore the art and science of executive coaching. You can find out more about this podcast at aretecoach.io.


This interview was conducted on April 27, 2020, via Zoom Video. Copyright © 2024 by Arete Coach™ LLC. All rights reserved.

Welcome to the Arete Coach Podcast with host Severin Sorensen and his guest Gail Schaper-Gordon, Ph.D. In this episode, Severin speaks with Gail, a Vistage Executive Coach, business psychologist, organizational consultant, and experienced CEO. Gail has 22 years of experience as a successful CEO and business leader, having founded and run several small to mid-market professional service companies, including Aegis Psychological Corporation and Behavioral Health Information Management Systems, which were cornerstones of a behavioral health care delivery system of more than 500 mental health care providers serving a quarter of a million individuals. She received her Bachelor of Science in Sociology from the University of California and her Ph.D. in Psychology from the California School of Professional Psychology.


In this engaging conversation, Severin and Gail explore her pathway into executive coaching, her Vistage Chair practice, and her passion for business psychology. Gail shares her approach to coaching, emphasizing the importance of resilience and adaptability in both personal and professional life. She discusses the power of leaning into one's uniqueness and embracing different perspectives to drive change and create value. Gail also highlights the significance of deep listening and empathy in coaching, describing her method as being fully present and listening from a deep feeling place. Throughout the discussion, Gail's commitment to continuous learning and growth shines through as she shares her passions, heartaches, and the many ways she contributes her mindshare, wisdom, and energy to others. This episode aligns perfectly with the Arete Coach Podcast's mission to explore the art and science of executive coaching.


Gail Schaper-Gordon's memorable quotes r capture key insights from the conversation.


"The best questions and the most powerful questions are the ones that I don't even remember asking and that people come back and tell me about them."


"You learn that you take your time, you find your right space to grieve, and then you go back. It's not about being consumed by grief. It's about continuing with life and managing all that."


"My why is to make sense so that people with us why observe about elements of every situation and make sense out of them. They take complicated or what may appear to be complicated factors, problems, concepts, and organize them to create solutions that are sensible and easy to implement." -


"I think that I've learned that the less my opinion is expressed in a group, the less that they hear what my idea of a solution would be in a group meeting. And the more that I listen and give them the space, the better."


The Arete Coach Podcast seeks to explore the art and science of executive coaching. You can find out more about this podcast at aretecoach.io.


This interview was conducted on November 23, 2021, via Zoom Video. Copyright © 2024 by Arete Coach™ LLC. All rights reserved.

Welcome to the Arete Coach Podcast with your host Severin Sorensen, where we explore the relentless pursuit of excellence in the art and science of executive coaching. In this captivating episode, we have the privilege of diving into the mind of Bud Carter, a true giant in the world of executive coaching. As a distinguished Vistage Chair, senior chairman of Vistage Chairs in Atlanta, and author of the thought-provoking books "Great Quotes for Great Businesses" and "Pithy Quotes," Bud brings a wealth of wisdom and experience to the table.


Recorded in February 2021, this interview takes us on a fascinating journey through Bud's remarkable career, which began in the dynamic world of media. With 20 years of experience in broadcast radio, television, and newspaper publishing, Bud developed an acute sense of curiosity, a keen ability to ask powerful questions, and a talent for distilling complex ideas into easily digestible insights – skills that would later prove invaluable in his transition to executive coaching.


As Bud embarked on his journey as a coach, he brought with him not only his media background but also an innate ability to connect with people, a passion for helping others grow, and a unique perspective that has made him a sought-after mentor and advisor for business leaders across the globe. Throughout this engaging conversation, Bud generously shares his philosophy on coaching, which is deeply rooted in the power of asking thought-provoking questions, holding clients accountable, and providing valuable insights that inspire transformative growth.


With wit, wisdom, and a delightful dose of humor, Bud discusses the art of leveraging the power of quotes in coaching, drawing from his own experiences and the profound impact that a well-crafted phrase can have on the mind and spirit. He also delves into the challenges and rewards of working with executives and entrepreneurs, offering a candid and insightful look at the role of a coach in helping leaders navigate the complexities of the modern business landscape.


Drawing on his early years in Journalism, Bud Carter's commitment to leveraging the power of questions, holding clients accountable, and providing valuable insights to help leaders excel is evident throughout the podcast episode.


The Arete Coach Podcast seeks to explore the art and science of executive coaching. You can find out more about this podcast at aretecoach.io.


This interview was conducted on 2/08/2021 via Zoom Video.


Copyright © 2024 by Arete Coach™ LLC. All rights reserved.

Welcome back to the Arete Coach Podcast, hosted by Severin Sorensen where we explore the art and science of executive coaching. In this episode 1179, we revisit a captivating episode recorded via Zoom on October 17th, 2022, featuring Dr. Vikki Brock, a Master Certified Coach (MCC), consultant, author of the seminal work "The Sourcebook of Coaching History," and mentor. Dr. Brock's extensive research and practical experience have made her a leading authority on the roots and evolution of coaching.


Throughout the episode, Dr. Brock shares her remarkable journey from a successful 21-year career at Boeing to becoming a pioneering figure in the coaching world. Her passion for helping others led her to establish VB Coaching and Consulting in 1995, where she has since dedicated herself to advancing the field through her research, writing, and mentorship. Dr. Brock's groundbreaking work, "The Sourcebook of Coaching History," provides an in-depth exploration of the historical roots of coaching and the influence of pioneers from related fields. Her commitment to understanding the art and science of coaching, as well as her efforts to reawaken humanity through this powerful tool, perfectly align with the Arete Coach Podcast's mission to explore excellence in executive coaching. Her quote, "Coaching has an opportunity to reawaken our humanity," resonated with me and is the title for this episode.


Vikki was closely involved with the early founders of modern coaching: Thomas Leonard and Laura Whitworth. Vikki was an early member of ICF (member #60) and since its creation in 1996 , she was one of the first coaches to receive an MCC from the ICF in 1998. She also was on faculty for the University of Texas at Dallas Coaching Certificate program, and taught for several coach training schools internationally.


In this episode, we explore Vikki's journey into the coach field, her experiences in the growth of the coaching industry, and her passion for interviewing 170 coaching practitioners and scholars as the basis for her Sourcebook on Coaching History.


More on the topic is available at AreteCoach.io.


The Arete Coach Podcast seeks to explore the art and science of executive coaching. You can find out more about this podcast at aretecoach.io.


This original episode was produced on 17 October 2022. It was released with a forward on 2 June 2024.


Copyright © 2024 by Arete Coach™ LLC. All rights reserved.

Welcome to the Arete Coach Podcast, hosted by Severin Sorensen. In this episode, "Exploring Ten Characteristics of Powerful Questions," recorded on May 20th, 2024, Severin explores the essential characteristics of powerful questions in executive coaching. Drawing from past podcast episodes and recent scholarly research, Severin delves into the art of questioning and shares valuable insights on crafting questions that inspire transformative change in coaching clients.


Throughout the episode, Severin guides listeners through ten key traits of powerful questions, providing examples and practical applications for each characteristic. From open-endedness and thought-provocation to fostering self-awareness and encouraging ownership, Severin emphasizes the importance of intentional questioning in the coaching process. By sharing quotes from notable figures and weaving in personal anecdotes, Severin illustrates the profound impact that well-crafted questions can have on a client's personal and professional growth. The episode also features clips from past guests, offering diverse perspectives on the art of questioning in coaching. Severin's deep commitment to empowering coaches with the tools to ask transformative questions perfectly aligns with the Arete Coach Podcast's mission to explore excellence in executive coaching.


The ten characteristics of powerful questions explored in this episode are: open-endedness, provoking thought and reflection, challenging assumptions, fostering self-awareness, encouraging ownership and responsibility, facilitating exploration of values and beliefs, eliciting emotional responses, stimulating imagination and creativity, providing clarity and focus, and facilitating action. These traits, when skillfully incorporated into coaching questions, can lead to profound insights, personal growth, and transformative change for clients.


Throughout the episode, Severin emphasizes the importance of crafting questions that invite expansive responses, challenge clients to think critically, and encourage them to take ownership of their actions. By asking questions that explore clients' values, beliefs, and emotions, coaches can help them gain a deeper understanding of their motivations and behaviors. Additionally, powerful questions can stimulate imagination and creativity, enabling clients to envision new possibilities and generate innovative solutions to their challenges.


Severin also shares valuable insights from past podcast guests, highlighting the diverse approaches and philosophies that successful coaches employ when asking powerful questions. From focusing on open-ended inquiries that evoke reflection to using scaling questions to gauge progress and explore potential, these expert coaches demonstrate the versatility and impact of well-crafted questions in the coaching process. Ultimately, this episode serves as a comprehensive guide for coaches seeking to master the art of questioning and elevate their coaching practice to new heights.






The Arete Coach Podcast seeks to explore the art and science of executive coaching. You can find out more about this podcast at aretecoach.io.


This episode was produced on May 20, 2024.


Copyright © 2024 by Arete Coach™ LLC. All rights reserved.

Welcome to the Arete Coach Podcast, hosted by Severin Sorensen. In this episode, we delve into the critical topic of lifetime learning in the age of artificial intelligence. Severin Sorensen, a seasoned executive coach, speaker, and author of The AI Whisperer Series, guides us through the significance of continuous learning, resilience, and curiosity in our rapidly evolving world.


In this enlightening episode of the Arete Coach Podcast, host Severin Sorensen delves into the imperative of lifetime learning in the modern era, particularly within the context of the fourth industrial revolution. Sorensen emphasizes that the rapid evolution of artificial intelligence and other transformative technologies necessitates a continuous learning mindset. He underscores the importance of developing meta-skills such as resilience, adaptability, and creativity to thrive in an increasingly automated and interconnected world. These skills are not only crucial for personal growth but also essential for executive coaches who guide leaders through complex organizational challenges.


Sorensen draws on historical and contemporary perspectives to illustrate the timeless value of continuous learning. He references the wisdom of 18th-century essayist Samuel Johnson to highlight the enduring nature of intellectual curiosity and the critical role it plays in personal and professional development. Additionally, Sorensen incorporates insights from modern AI pioneers like Sam Altman and Jensen Huang. Altman advocates for the cultivation of resilience and a high learning rate, while Huang envisions a future where the most important skill is the ability to apply AI and computing technologies to solve real-world problems. These perspectives collectively underscore that learning how to learn is the most valuable asset in navigating the complexities of today's technological landscape.


Furthermore, Sorensen explores the practical implications of lifetime learning for executive coaches. He discusses how advancements in psychology and coaching methodologies can enhance the effectiveness of coaching practices. By staying updated with the latest research in human behavior and motivational strategies, coaches can employ more effective techniques to support their clients. Sorensen also highlights the importance of self-improvement and mindfulness for coaches, as personal growth directly influences their ability to facilitate transformative change in others. Ultimately, the episode serves as a compelling call to action for both coaches and leaders to embrace continuous learning, not just as a professional necessity, but as a pathway to unlocking human potential and fostering innovation in the age of AI.


Coaches will find this episode of the Arete Coach Podcast particularly compelling due to its timely exploration of lifetime learning in the context of the fourth industrial revolution. As artificial intelligence and other transformative technologies continue to reshape industries, coaches need to stay ahead of these changes to effectively guide their clients. Severin Sorensen's insights into the necessity of developing meta-skills such as resilience, adaptability, and creativity provide a valuable framework for coaches seeking to enhance their own professional growth and, in turn, the growth of their clients.


The Arete Coach Podcast seeks to explore the art and science of executive coaching. You can find out more about this podcast at aretecoach.io.


This episode was produced on May 13, 2024.


Copyright © 2024 by Arete Coach™ LLC. All rights reserved.