Beyond Leadership - Adopting a Coaching Mindset

Michael Hoffman
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Beyond Leadership: Adopting A Coaching Mindset is a leadership podcast about how real decisions are made. Instead of interviews about careers, success stories, or advice, each episode focuses on one specific moment when a leader faced a difficult situation — a constraint, a tradeoff, or a decision with real consequences. Host Michael Hoffman approaches these conversations with the mindset of a coach. The goal is not to celebrate achievements or extract leadership tips. The goal is to understand how people think when they are inside the decision itself. Guests include founders, CEOs, senior executives, and experienced operators from a wide range of industries. They describe the exact situation they were facing, the options they considered, what made the decision difficult, and how they navigated uncertainty. Through careful questioning, the conversation reveals something rarely visible in traditional leadership interviews: the internal process behind judgment. Listeners hear the tradeoffs leaders weigh, the doubts that surface, the second-order consequences they consider, and the moment when clarity begins to form. This podcast is for thoughtful leaders who want to understand how serious decisions are actually made — not in hindsight, but while they are happening. - Curious about coaching? Book a 15 minute introductory conversation with Michael: https://calendly.com/scaleyou/mgpod Explore THE #1 source for professional and peer coaching - and become one yourself at PeerPlaza: https://peerplaza.com Want to step away from the noise and rethink leadership? Join one of our Coaching and Walking Retreats: https://scaleyouretreats.com Learn more about coaching, mentoring, and human–AI collaboration in Michael Hoffman’s book: The Power of Coaching and Mentoring: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0C28S43G5?ref_=cm_sw_r_cp_ud_dp_FJSXJ63FPQA26258WQJC Get in touch: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/michaelhoffmanexecutivecoach/ Email: info@scaleyou.org

Episodes

  1. Jul 23

    #09 - The First Time I Fired Someone Senior

    In this episode, I sit down with Martin Clausen, co-CEO of legal tech startup HyperContracts and former general counsel at Maersk and MHI Vestas, to explore one of the most uncomfortable moments in leadership: letting someone go. Martin shares a candid story from early in his career when he had to dismiss a seasoned colleague who refused to accept his leadership. We dig into what he wished he had done differently, how empathy can delay hard decisions, and why the rest of the team's reaction almost always tells you something important. But what I found most interesting was the coaching angle. We explore the tension between direct communication and asking questions, when each approach works best, and how to challenge someone clearly without shutting down reflection. Martin also shares how his style shifted after working across very different cultures at Maersk, Vestas, and alongside Japanese colleagues at Mitsubishi. If you're a leader navigating a difficult employee situation or trying to figure out when to coach and when to act, this conversation offers some honest, hard-won perspective. I hope you find it as useful as I did. - Curious about coaching? Book a 15 minute introductory conversation with Michael: https://calendly.com/scaleyou/mgpod Explore THE #1 source for professional and peer coaching - and become one yourself at PeerPlaza: https://peerplaza.com Want to step away from the noise and rethink leadership? Join one of our Coaching and Walking Retreats: https://scaleyouretreats.com Learn more about coaching, mentoring, and human–AI collaboration in Michael Hoffman’s book: The Power of Coaching and Mentoring: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0C28S43G5?ref_=cm_sw_r_cp_ud_dp_FJSXJ63FPQA26258WQJC Get in touch: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/michaelhoffmanexecutivecoach/ Email: info@scaleyou.org

    #09 - The First Time I Fired Someone Senior

  2. Jul 9

    #08 - Letting Managers Fail So Leadership Can Actually Develop

    My guest today is Jens Birk - attorney, MBA, and former director at a large Danish IT company - and this conversation got real fast. Jens walks us through the moment he stepped into a role overseeing 100 employees and seven business lines, and made a deliberate choice to let go of control. Not because it felt comfortable, but because he recognized that holding on would make him the bottleneck - and quietly stunt the growth of everyone around him. We talk about what it actually looks like to delegate meaningfully, how to know when to stay quiet and let someone find their own answer, and when to step in before things go sideways. Jens also shares a story from a leadership exercise in a Swedish forest that stuck with him for decades - a cold, exhausting night that taught him more about trust than any classroom ever could. If you lead people, you'll recognize yourself somewhere in this conversation. The tension between doing it yourself and developing others is real - and there's no clean formula for getting it right. What there is, though, is experience. And Jens has plenty of it worth hearing. - Curious about coaching? Book a 15 minute introductory conversation with Michael: https://calendly.com/scaleyou/mgpod Explore THE #1 source for professional and peer coaching - and become one yourself at PeerPlaza: https://peerplaza.com Want to step away from the noise and rethink leadership? Join one of our Coaching and Walking Retreats: https://scaleyouretreats.com Learn more about coaching, mentoring, and human–AI collaboration in Michael Hoffman’s book: The Power of Coaching and Mentoring: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0C28S43G5?ref_=cm_sw_r_cp_ud_dp_FJSXJ63FPQA26258WQJC Get in touch: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/michaelhoffmanexecutivecoach/ Email: info@scaleyou.org

    #08 - Letting Managers Fail So Leadership Can Actually Develop

  3. Jun 11

    #07 - Letting Go: Testing Chaos in your Company

    Join me and Alexander as we dive deep into the art of testing chaos in a company. Alexander, the CEO of a global manufacturing company, shares insights from a recent crisis that tested his team's resilience. In our conversation, you'll discover how he navigated uncertainty, empowered his managers to make critical decisions, and identified opportunities to strengthen communication and trust across the organization. Together, we explore the delicate balance between urgency and importance, and what it takes to build a culture where people feel confident taking initiative and ownership. We also discuss practical strategies for delegating with confidence, providing constructive feedback, and developing a designated "survivor" to ensure business continuity when unexpected challenges arise. Alexander reflects on the importance of maintaining work-life balance and making time for personal priorities, even when professional demands seem overwhelming. Whether you're a seasoned executive or an aspiring leader, this episode offers valuable lessons on building an agile, high-performing team that can weather any storm. Tune in for insights that can transform your leadership approach and help you empower your people to thrive. - Curious about coaching? Book a 15 minute introductory conversation with Michael: https://calendly.com/scaleyou/mgpod Explore THE #1 source for professional and peer coaching - and become one yourself at PeerPlaza: https://peerplaza.com Want to step away from the noise and rethink leadership? Join one of our Coaching and Walking Retreats: https://scaleyouretreats.com Learn more about coaching, mentoring, and human–AI collaboration in Michael Hoffman’s book: The Power of Coaching and Mentoring: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0C28S43G5?ref_=cm_sw_r_cp_ud_dp_FJSXJ63FPQA26258WQJC Get in touch: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/michaelhoffmanexecutivecoach/ Email: info@scaleyou.org

    #07 - Letting Go: Testing Chaos in your Company

  4. May 21

    #06 - How to Recover from Serious Illness: Lead.

    In this episode, Lisbeth shares how she used a personality assessment tool to transition from a teaching career into starting her own coaching and consulting business. After being diagnosed with cancer, Lisbeth had to reevaluate her career path. She discovered that her strong idealistic tendencies often led to frustration in traditional work environments. Through a Reiss Motivation Profile assessment, Lisbeth gained deep self-awareness about her core values and drivers. This allowed her to understand why certain situations were challenging for her, and how she could find more fulfillment by creating her own company. Lisbeth now uses the Reiss Profile with her B2B and individual clients to help them uncover their unique motivations. This allows her to coach them on building more cohesive and productive teams, as well as developing their own leadership skills. She emphasizes that the tool provides data-driven insights, not labels, empowering people to better understand themselves and others. Lisbeth's story highlights how self-awareness and a willingness to make a bold career change can lead to greater fulfillment, even in the face of adversity. Her coaching approach offers a compelling framework for personal and professional development. - Curious about coaching? Book a 15 minute introductory conversation with Michael: https://calendly.com/scaleyou/mgpod Explore THE #1 source for professional and peer coaching - and become one yourself at PeerPlaza: https://peerplaza.com Want to step away from the noise and rethink leadership? Join one of our Coaching and Walking Retreats: https://scaleyouretreats.com Learn more about coaching, mentoring, and human–AI collaboration in Michael Hoffman’s book: The Power of Coaching and Mentoring: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0C28S43G5?ref_=cm_sw_r_cp_ud_dp_FJSXJ63FPQA26258WQJC Get in touch: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/michaelhoffmanexecutivecoach/ Email: info@scaleyou.org

    #06 - How to Recover from Serious Illness: Lead.

  5. May 7

    #05 - "I Can't Ensure Learning" - Leading Without Guarantees

    Welcome to this week's episode. I'm Michael Hoffman, and today I'm talking with Brian Østergaard, a project and digitalization leader who's fundamentally changed how I think about coaching. Here's what struck me most: Brian refuses to guarantee learning outcomes. Instead, he creates environments where people want to learn. We dive deep into why traditional training - mandatory sessions from 2 to 4 PM - rarely works, and what actually does. Brian shares his philosophy on coaching strategies that matter: self-awareness, empathy, and what he calls "sitting on your hands." That last one might sound passive, but it's actually the most powerful move a leader can make. It's about giving people space to reflect, make mistakes, and own their learning. We explore how he transformed vocational education by shifting teachers from experts to facilitators, how he introduces emerging technologies like VR in ways that spark genuine curiosity, and why digitalization success is 80% people, 20% technology. If you're leading teams through change, struggling with how to inspire growth, or wondering why your training initiatives aren't sticking - this conversation is for you. Brian's insights are practical, grounded, and deeply human. - Curious about coaching? Book a 15 minute introductory conversation with Michael: https://calendly.com/scaleyou/mgpod Explore THE #1 source for professional and peer coaching - and become one yourself at PeerPlaza: https://peerplaza.com Want to step away from the noise and rethink leadership? Join one of our Coaching and Walking Retreats: https://scaleyouretreats.com Learn more about coaching, mentoring, and human–AI collaboration in Michael Hoffman’s book: The Power of Coaching and Mentoring: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0C28S43G5?ref_=cm_sw_r_cp_ud_dp_FJSXJ63FPQA26258WQJC Get in touch: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/michaelhoffmanexecutivecoach/ Email: info@scaleyou.org

    #05 - "I Can't Ensure Learning" - Leading Without Guarantees

  6. Apr 23

    #04 - Your Partner Silently Exits: Save the Company or Walk Away?

    In this episode, I interview Juliette Guldberg, CEO of Job Vision, exploring coaching strategies for leaders facing business crises. Juliette's five-year struggle to save her company while managing a non-contributing partner reveals essential lessons in executive resilience. Juliette's breakthrough came when she abandoned pretense and became vulnerable with her network. By openly discussing her struggles with skilled peers and investors, she accessed the support that saved her company - demonstrating that asking for help is strategic wisdom, not weakness. A key coaching insight emerges: holding too tightly to problems prevents solutions from appearing. By accepting she might need to leave, Juliette paradoxically found the path forward - illustrating the principle of detachment and surrender. Juliette credits her professional board as transformational, providing strategic challenges and emotional support. This reflects best practice: surround yourself with trusted advisors who push your thinking and validate your direction. Throughout her journey, Juliette maintained brutal honesty about her situation, refusing to compromise her values despite financial pressure. This integrity-based approach offers a powerful coaching model for leaders in crisis. The episode demonstrates that effective leadership through uncertainty requires vulnerability, strategic humility, and the courage to seek guidance - core principles of transformational coaching. - Curious about coaching? Book a 15 minute introductory conversation with Michael: https://calendly.com/scaleyou/mgpod Explore THE #1 source for professional and peer coaching - and become one yourself at PeerPlaza: https://peerplaza.com Want to step away from the noise and rethink leadership? Join one of our Coaching and Walking Retreats: https://scaleyouretreats.com Learn more about coaching, mentoring, and human–AI collaboration in Michael Hoffman’s book: The Power of Coaching and Mentoring: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0C28S43G5?ref_=cm_sw_r_cp_ud_dp_FJSXJ63FPQA26258WQJC Get in touch: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/michaelhoffmanexecutivecoach/ Email: info@scaleyou.org

    #04 - Your Partner Silently Exits: Save the Company or Walk Away?

  7. Apr 9

    #03 - Not a Happy Ending... But Maybe a Salvation

    In this candid conversation, I sit down with Mitch Sowards, who sold his 30-year-old IT services firm and transitioned to executive coaching. Mitch shares the unvarnished reality of business succession - from navigating partner dynamics and valuation surprises to the difficult decision of finding the right buyer. Beyond the transaction itself, this episode explores critical coaching lessons: the importance of involving your leadership team in major decisions, the paradox of transparency versus confidentiality during a sale, and how introversion can limit a leader's ability to gather unfiltered feedback from employees. Mitch reflects on the cultural due diligence that should precede any merger, the inevitable disappointment that comes with business sales, and a surprising silver lining; how dispersed employees carried his legacy forward in unexpected ways. Whether you're a business owner contemplating a sale, a leader navigating organizational change, or a coach supporting clients through major transitions, this episode offers practical wisdom on decision-making, communication, and the human cost of business transformation. - Curious about coaching? Book a 15 minute introductory conversation with Michael: https://calendly.com/scaleyou/mgpod Explore THE #1 source for professional and peer coaching - and become one yourself at PeerPlaza: https://peerplaza.com Want to step away from the noise and rethink leadership? Join one of our Coaching and Walking Retreats: https://scaleyouretreats.com Learn more about coaching, mentoring, and human–AI collaboration in Michael Hoffman’s book: The Power of Coaching and Mentoring: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0C28S43G5?ref_=cm_sw_r_cp_ud_dp_FJSXJ63FPQA26258WQJC Get in touch: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/michaelhoffmanexecutivecoach/ Email: info@scaleyou.org

    #03 - Not a Happy Ending... But Maybe a Salvation

  8. Apr 2

    #02 - The power of Picking Up The Phone Is In The Listening

    In this episode, I sit down with Julienne Ryan, a communication expert who specializes in the messy space where organizational breakdowns happen. Rather than defaulting to legal interventions, Julienne shares a pivotal story about picking up the phone and simply listening; a decision that transformed a stalled conflict into resolution. Discover how the narrative methodology framework becomes a powerful coaching tool for building trust and rewriting limiting stories within teams. Julienne reveals why active listening, presence, and real-time feedback matter far more than polished email communication. She explores how coaches can use humor, curiosity, and psychological readiness to create safe spaces where people share authentically. The conversation explores why stopping to think - rather than rushing to solve - is essential coaching practice. Learn how to help clients reframe their narratives, identify their own limiting beliefs, and develop the courage to take interpersonal risks. As modern communication tools increasingly filter human connection through technology and AI, Julienne and I discuss the irreplaceable value of imperfect, live conversation and why vulnerability in communication builds stronger organizational cultures. Perfect for coaches, HR professionals, and leaders seeking to foster genuine dialogue. - Curious about coaching? Book a 15 minute introductory conversation with Michael: https://calendly.com/scaleyou/mgpod Explore THE #1 source for professional and peer coaching - and become one yourself at PeerPlaza: https://peerplaza.com Want to step away from the noise and rethink leadership? Join one of our Coaching and Walking Retreats: https://scaleyouretreats.com Learn more about coaching, mentoring, and human–AI collaboration in Michael Hoffman’s book: The Power of Coaching and Mentoring: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0C28S43G5?ref_=cm_sw_r_cp_ud_dp_FJSXJ63FPQA26258WQJC Get in touch: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/michaelhoffmanexecutivecoach/ Email: info@scaleyou.org

    #02 - The power of Picking Up The Phone Is In The Listening

  9. Mar 25

    #01 - Using Curiosity to Build Credibility from Zero

    In this, the first episode of this new series, Steen and I explore how real-world leaders make critical decisions when the path isn't obvious. My guest, Steen Anker Nielsen, shares his remarkable journey building a top-performing real estate business from scratch in a new market, without a network, credibility, or local knowledge. Drawing from his background as an undercover detective with the Danish police, Steen reveals the behavioral insights and coaching strategies that enabled him to establish trust rapidly in high-stakes situations. Discover how he overcame significant obstacles: competing against an agent with 60% market share, addressing client concerns about his authority and market knowledge, and converting skepticism into confidence. This conversation unpacks the coaching mindset in action; how to read people, understand their emotional investment, and deliver unexpected experiences that build credibility from zero. Perfect for leaders navigating unfamiliar territory, building trust with skeptical stakeholders, and making bold decisions with imperfect information. Learn the practical strategies that transformed a foreign agent into a market leader. - Curious about coaching? Book a 15 minute introductory conversation with Michael: https://calendly.com/scaleyou/mgpod Explore THE #1 source for professional and peer coaching - and become one yourself at PeerPlaza: https://peerplaza.com Want to step away from the noise and rethink leadership? Join one of our Coaching and Walking Retreats: https://scaleyouretreats.com Learn more about coaching, mentoring, and human–AI collaboration in Michael Hoffman’s book: The Power of Coaching and Mentoring: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0C28S43G5?ref_=cm_sw_r_cp_ud_dp_FJSXJ63FPQA26258WQJC Get in touch: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/michaelhoffmanexecutivecoach/ Email: info@scaleyou.org

    #01 - Using Curiosity to Build Credibility from Zero

  10. 05/09/2025

    Whole Mind Healing - Chapter 2 - Reprogramming Your Mind for Healing and Peace

    Listen to the complete book on Audible here: https://www.audible.com/pd/B0DK5VWRM5?source_code=ASSORAP0511160006&share_location=pdp

    Whole Mind Healing - Chapter 2 - Reprogramming Your Mind for Healing and Peace

  11. 05/09/2025

    Career Development for Professionals at All Levels Podcast Review

    A Review of My eBook: Career Development for Professionals at All Levels In this episode, I share a podcast review of my eBook, Career Development for Professionals at All Levels. Originally produced by a third party, the episode offers a thoughtful take on the ideas and frameworks I developed — from reflective disconnection to embracing AI, personal values, and career multipotentiality. Whether you're navigating a transition or seeking more intention in your path, this review captures the essence of the guide in a conversational and accessible way.

    Career Development for Professionals at All Levels Podcast Review

  12. 12/13/2022

    Up Close with Special Guest, David Allen from GTD

    David Allen is a pioneer in the field of productivity and time management. His groundbreaking work on the Getting Things Done (GTD) method has helped countless individuals and organizations improve their efficiency and effectiveness. With over three decades of experience in the field, David's insights and expertise are highly sought-after and respected by professionals around the world. In this exclusive interview, Michael Hoffman had the privilege of sitting down with David for an engaging and enlightening conversation, discussing everything from the challenges of living as an expat in Europe to the importance of keeping one's word to oneself. Join Michael as he delves into the mind of a productivity master and discover the wisdom and practical tips that have made David Allen a household name in the world of productivity.

    Up Close with Special Guest, David Allen from GTD
  • 12 Episodes

About

Beyond Leadership: Adopting A Coaching Mindset is a leadership podcast about how real decisions are made. Instead of interviews about careers, success stories, or advice, each episode focuses on one specific moment when a leader faced a difficult situation — a constraint, a tradeoff, or a decision with real consequences. Host Michael Hoffman approaches these conversations with the mindset of a coach. The goal is not to celebrate achievements or extract leadership tips. The goal is to understand how people think when they are inside the decision itself. Guests include founders, CEOs, senior executives, and experienced operators from a wide range of industries. They describe the exact situation they were facing, the options they considered, what made the decision difficult, and how they navigated uncertainty. Through careful questioning, the conversation reveals something rarely visible in traditional leadership interviews: the internal process behind judgment. Listeners hear the tradeoffs leaders weigh, the doubts that surface, the second-order consequences they consider, and the moment when clarity begins to form. This podcast is for thoughtful leaders who want to understand how serious decisions are actually made — not in hindsight, but while they are happening. - Curious about coaching? Book a 15 minute introductory conversation with Michael: https://calendly.com/scaleyou/mgpod Explore THE #1 source for professional and peer coaching - and become one yourself at PeerPlaza: https://peerplaza.com Want to step away from the noise and rethink leadership? Join one of our Coaching and Walking Retreats: https://scaleyouretreats.com Learn more about coaching, mentoring, and human–AI collaboration in Michael Hoffman’s book: The Power of Coaching and Mentoring: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0C28S43G5?ref_=cm_sw_r_cp_ud_dp_FJSXJ63FPQA26258WQJC Get in touch: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/michaelhoffmanexecutivecoach/ Email: info@scaleyou.org

Information