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 over 8,000 lives lost in the campaign, the day now honours all service people who have lost their lives to war.

Lest we forget.

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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 ethical use of AI in coaching

Now join Natalie and Paula our final Coaching Café Podcast in this series, as we open the floor to your biggest ethical questions in coaching.

💡 What are the ethical dilemmas you’ve faced in your coaching practice?
💡 How do you navigate ethical grey areas (if any) when coaching in organisations?
💡 What questions do you have for us?

This is a chance to reflect, challenge, and strengthen our ethical coaching practice. Let’s make it an insightful, engaging, and valuable conversation!

If you are a regular, you know the vibe and the great contribution that you make to our discussions; so we look forward to welcoming you back and offering you a value-packed 30 minutes each Tuesday

If you’ve not joined us for a Coaching Café Podcast, now is your opportunity to schedule this time for your professional and personal development. In no time at all, you’ll be looking forward to Tuesday lunchtimes, just like we all do!

Thanks for listening! If you enjoyed the podcast please leave us a 5 star review where ever you listened to us! It helps promote the podcast to streaming services and other people.

Watch the webinar of this episode or read the blog by visiting our website.

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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 coach us on a topic?

In this Coaching Café Podcast, Natalie and Paula will move beyond theory and demonstrate AI in action. We will focus on:

✅ Using AI to enhance coaching – How AI can analyse coaching conversations and provide feedback based on ICF Core Competencies.
✅ AI as a coaching tool – Can AI hold a coaching conversation? Let’s put it to the test.
✅ What AI can’t do (yet!) – The limits of AI, why it won’t replace human coaches.

This session will be practical, and thought-provoking, giving you firsthand experience of AI’s role in coaching—while reinforcing the irreplaceable value of human connection.

Join us as we explore the possibilities… and the boundaries!

If you are a regular, you know the vibe and the great contribution that you make to our discussions; so we look forward to welcoming you back and offering you a value-packed 30 minutes each Tuesday.

If you’ve not joined us for a Coaching Café Podcast, now is your opportunity to schedule this time for your professional and personal development. In no time at all, you’ll be looking forward to Tuesda just like we all do!

You can also tell us the topics you want to hear about this year. Do this using the channels below.

Thanks for listening! If you enjoyed the podcast please leave us a 5 star review where ever you listened to us! It helps promote the podcast to streaming services and other people.

Watch the webinar of this episode or read the blog by visiting our website.

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Ethical use of AI in Coaching – is it cheating?

I had just finished writing the new coaching assignment Ethical Use of AI in Coaching for our Certificate IV in Workplace and Business Coaching (11314NAT) program. The assignment requires students to analyse a transcript using an AI tool with the aim of improving the coaching.

And suddenly, the thought hit me: is this cheating?

As professional workplace coaches, we must stay ahead of industry developments. At the same time, we are deeply committed to ethical coaching practices. How do we balance both?

Join Natalie and Paula in this week’s Coaching Café Podcast as we kick off a new series exploring AI in Coaching. We’ll discuss:

✅ How AI can enhance coaching conversations
✅ Ethical considerations and boundaries in using AI
✅ Practical ways to integrate AI while maintaining professional integrity

Let’s navigate this evolving landscape together. See you there!

If you are a regular, you know the vibe and the great contribution that you make to our discussions; so we look forward to welcoming you back and offering you a value-packed 30 minutes each week.

If you’ve not joined us for a Coaching Café, now is your opportunity to schedule this time for your professional and personal development. In no time at all, you’ll be looking forward to the Tuesday release day, just like we all do!

You can also tell us the topics you want to hear about this year! Email us or contact us on social media if you'd like.

Thanks for listening! If you enjoyed the podcast please leave us a 5 star review where ever you listened to us! It helps promote the podcast to streaming services and other people.

Watch the webinar of this episode or read the blog by visiting our website.

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The meeting was between myself, the HR Manager and the coachee’s manager and I was taking a brief about a potential coaching opportunity. The question was asked ‘so what kind of reporting do you do?’. I offered my standard response regarding confidentiality and who reports the outcomes of the coaching to whom.

But to be frank, since we have our standard responses, it is not something that we spend a lot of time thinking about. And at the same time, it made me realise how we never take for granted the nature of the confidential relationship between coach and coachee. And how important it is to navigate the requirements of stakeholders whilst maintaining confidentiality.

As professional workplace coaches, this is an important part of setting up the coaching agreement. In fact, it is written into the ICF Core Competency: Demonstrates Ethical Practice.

So this week on the Coaching Café Podcast, join Natalie and Paula as we continue our deeper dive into the ICF Core Competency of Demonstrates Ethical Practice and explore how to:
✔️ Maintain confidentiality in coaching
✔️ Navigate stakeholder agreements
✔️ Set clear expectations in coaching contracts
✔️ Respond to common questions about reporting

We’ll also provide a practical framework for handling conversations like the one above.

If you are a regular, you know the vibe and the great contribution that you make to our discussions; so we look forward to welcoming you back and offering you a value-packed 30 minutes each Tuesday

If you’ve not joined us for a Coaching Café Podcast, now is your opportunity to schedule this time for your professional and personal development. In no time at all, you’ll be looking forward to Tuesdays, just like we all do!

You can also tell us the topics you want to hear about this year by emailing us using the email below.

Thanks for listening! If you enjoyed the podcast please leave us a 5 star review where ever you listened to us! It helps promote the podcast to streaming services and other people.

Watch the webinar of this episode or read the blog by visiting our website.

Contact The Coaching Café Podcast

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• Check out the YouTube Video of this podcast.
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• Email us at learn@opendoorcoaching.com.au

Thanks for listening!

You can’t coach everyone! Maintaining the distinction between coaching and other services

‘Coaching’s fine. And I’m not trying to be controversial. But you can’t coach everyone. I reckon most of my team I have to mentor them. And tell them what to do, because they have no idea.’

The comment was in response to a question I asked a group of managers, as part of our discussion about ‘what is coaching, and what is it not?’. I simply asked: ‘do you have any questions?’

It was obviously more of a statement, than a question. But what is interesting, is that this comment is very common. When we are coaching managers to move their mindset from ‘telling and directing’ to a coaching mindset, there is going to be resistance.

However, as professional workplace coaches, the distinction between coaching and other techniques is extremely important. In fact, it is written into the ICF Core Competency: Demonstrates Ethical Practice.

So this week on the Coaching Café Podcast, join Natalie and Paula as we continue our deeper dive into the ICF Core Competency of Demonstrates Ethical Practice and explore why maintaining clear boundaries between coaching and other leadership styles is essential.

Most importantly, we will provide a practical framework to help you:
✔️ Distinguish between coaching and other services
✔️ Respond to resistance from managers
✔️ Maintain ethical coaching practices
✔️ Apply the ICF Core Competencies in real-life scenarios

If you’ve not joined us for a Coaching Café, now is your opportunity to schedule this time for your professional and personal development. In no time at all, you’ll be looking forward to Tuesdays, just like we all do!

You can also tell us the topics you want to hear about this year. Contact us via our email to do so!

Thanks for listening! If you enjoyed the podcast please leave us a 5 star review where ever you listened to us! It helps promote the podcast to streaming services and other people.

Watch the webinar of this episode or read the blog by visiting our website.

Contact The Coaching Café Podcast

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• Email us at learn@opendoorcoaching.com.au

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Many of us have received the ICF membership renewal email. The process is simple: click the link, accept the terms, select your currency and branch, and pay. If everything runs smoothly, it takes about five minutes—as long as you remember your password and don’t overthink “What do I get for my money?” (That’s a topic for another day! )

However, we encourage you NOT to just tick the box on the terms and conditions. Of course, my mum always said, “Never sign something you haven’t read.” But more importantly, when you check that box, you’re agreeing to abide by the ICF Code of Ethics and uphold the Core Values and Ethical Principles.

When was the last time you read the Code?

This isn’t clickbait—“Breaking news: Coaches refuse to sign the Code of Ethics!” Instead, it’s an invitation to pause, reflect, and reaffirm the principles that guide our practice as professional coaches.

Therefore, join us this week on the Coaching Café, as Natalie and Paula explore the ICF Code of Ethics and discuss how it shapes ethical coaching practices. Take this opportunity to revisit the Code, reflect on its meaning, and strengthen your commitment to professional coaching. We will explore:
Why the ICF Code of Ethics matters
How to apply ethical principles in coaching
The role of Core Values in professional practice
Key takeaways for coaching integrity

Don’t just tick the box—explore what it means to be an ethical coach!

Thanks for listening! If you enjoyed the podcast please leave us a 5 star review where ever you listened to us! It helps promote the podcast to streaming services and other people.

Watch the webinar of this episode or read the blog by visiting our website.

Contact The Coaching Café Podcast

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• Email us at learn@opendoorcoaching.com.au

Thanks for listening!

At Open Door we get a lot of questions about the ICF Credential Exam. The Exam is an important component of applying for an ICF credential and all candidates for ACC, PCC or MCC are required to pass the Exam. The Exam is a tool to measure a coach’s knowledge of the ICF definition of coaching, ICF Core Competencies and ICF Code of Ethics.

According to the ICF, in 2023, 9,795 coaches sat the ICF Credentialling Exam, with 75% passing on their first attempt, 12% passing on the subsequent attempt. The overall pass rate was 87%.

Having recently passed the exam on her first attempt, we thought it might be a good opportunity to pick Paula’s brains about how to prepare for the test? What do I need to know? And gather any tips and advice.

Join Paula as she unravels the mystery around the ICF Credentialling Exam, offers her key tips and answers any questions***.

***Note we will not reveal any questions or answers, but we can offer ideas to assist you to feel confident.

If obtaining your credential is on your goals list for this year, this is a great webinar to tune into.

If you are a regular, you know the vibe and the great contribution that you make to our discussions; so we look forward to welcoming you back and offering you a value-packed 30 minutes each Friday.

If you’ve not joined us for a Coaching Café, now is your opportunity to schedule this time for your professional and personal development. In addition, you have the opportunity to collect ICF CCEU’s for FREE. In no time at all, you’ll be looking forward to Friday lunchtimes, just like we all do!

You can also tell us the topics you want to hear about this year.

Thanks for listening! If you enjoyed the podcast please leave us a 5 star review where ever you listened to us! It helps promote the podcast to streaming services and other people.

Watch the webinar of this episode or read the blog by visiting our website.

Contact The Coaching Café Podcast

• Stay up to date on our socials
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• Check out the YouTube Video of this podcast.
  • YouTube
• Email us at learn@opendoorcoaching.com.au

Thanks for listening!