Ep. 244 - The Coaching Leader: Navigating Complexity with Vulnerability and Challenge

Ep. 244 - The Coaching Leader: Navigating Complexity with Vulnerability and Challenge

From Empower World: The Coaching and Leadership Podcast by Jeanine Bailey & Marie Quigley

December 22, 2025 · 44 min

About this episode

Ian Day discusses the essential shift leaders must make to effectively navigate a VUCA world through vulnerability and challenge.

Ian Day, Expert in Coaching and Leadership Development, highlights the crucial shift leaders and coaches must make to thrive in a VUCA world. As co-author of Challenging Coaching, he emphasises that true leadership effectiveness comes from blending support with courageous challenge, all grounded in unconditional positive regard. In a landscape of volatility and need for adaptability, leaders can no longer play the lone rainmaker. Instead, they must embrace core coaching behaviours: asking real questions, listening deeply, and modelling vulnerability. His provocation is simple and powerful: "Who am I being as a leader?"

People in this episode

Hosts: Jeanine Bailey, Marie Quigley

Guest: Ian Day

Topics covered

  • leadership
  • coaching
  • vulnerability
  • complexity
  • VUCA world
  • support
  • challenge

Keywords

  • leadership
  • coaching
  • vulnerability
  • complexity
  • support
  • challenge
  • VUCA
  • effective leadership
  • deep listening

Mentioned in this episode

Books & works: Challenging Coaching

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