Communication isn't just a leadership skill - it's leadership itself. In this episode, I sit down with Dr. Erina Reddan, a former foreign correspondent, award-winning journalist, and communication coach, to explore why great leaders don't just share information - they create meaning. We unpack the power of storytelling, why our brains are wired to connect through stories, how to communicate with both logical and emotional clarity, and why every conversation should begin with the problem before jumping to the solution. Erina also shares powerful lessons from reporting in crisis zones, revealing how leaders can stay human under pressure, take the heat out of difficult conversations, and navigate uncertainty with confidence. One of my favourite takeaways: AI is a tool, don't let it be you!

About Erina Reddan

Dr Erina Reddan is a Walkley Award-winning (which is Australia’s equivalent to the Pulitzer prize if you need this) former foreign correspondent, television and radio presenter, author, and communication coach who has built a career at the intersection of storytelling, leadership, and impact. With a PhD in story-telling and a background in crisis communication, Erina focuses on the power of story, leadership in uncertain times, building resilience, and how communication can shift culture and transform outcomes. Her unique blend of real-world experience, from the frontlines of global reporting to the boardrooms of Australia’s most influential organisations means she equips you with practical tools and powerful insights to communicate with clarity, lead with confidence, and become more impactful as coaches and leaders.

Connect with Erina:
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dr-erina-reddan-b327034/
Website: https://www.redriver.net.au/

Coach EM Gem - Do You Want to Go to the Next Level?

Many people say:

"I want to go to the next level."

That's a good start.

But a better question is:

"How can I grow to the next level?"

Wanting is intention.

Growing requires action.

The key is not making a giant leap. The key is making the first step so small and so easy that you can't talk yourself out of it.

Growth happens when action follows intention.

So instead of focusing on the next level, focus on the next step.

Because every level you've ever reached started with one simple action.

• Live inspired
• Practice improving
• Lead with Impact

In this episode, I sit down with Isaac McBroom, Education Manager for the PTR and author of A Constraints-Led Approach to Coaching Tennis. We explore why great coaching is less about giving instructions and more about creating environments where people can learn, adapt, and discover solutions for themselves. From Theory of Mind and Ecological Dynamics to leadership, autonomy, and decision-making, Isaac shares why coaching is ultimately a collaborative dance between the learner, their environment, and the coach.

About Isaac McBroom

Isaac McBroom is the Education Manager for the Professional Tennis Registry (PTR), a coach developer, educator, and former ATP/WTA tour coach with more than a decade of experience in high-performance tennis. Known for bridging the gap between coaching science and practice, Isaac has played a leading role in modernizing coach education through ecological dynamics and the constraints-led approach. He is the author of A Constraints-Led Approach to Coaching Tennis and works with coaches around the world to design learning environments that develop adaptable, creative, and resilient athletes.

Connect with Issac
Website: https://ptrtennis.org/
Insta: Isaac.mcbroom
Buy Issac's book on Amazon

Bonus Viewing:
Sir John Whitmore's famous golf lesson demonstrating the difference between "Ask" versus "Tell":
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ncb1jjRZyNU

Coach EM Gems 💎

How often do we say:

“I just need to get through this week… this season… this stage of life.”

Lately, I’ve been reminded how quickly time moves and how easy it is to wish parts of our lives away while waiting for the next thing.

This Coach EM Gem is a reminder to slow down, be present, and find the gift in the season you are in – even the difficult ones.

Today’s Coach EM Gem is powered by Sam – the AI tool built for the coaching world. Coaches, spend less time marketing and more time coaching. Clients, find your perfect match – without the romance. Visit www.TrySam.ai

• Live inspired
• Practice improving
• Lead with Impact

Everything starts in the mind – and in this episode of The Coaching Podcast, I sit down with Jaquie Scammell to explore what that really means for leaders navigating a fast-moving, AI-driven world. This is a conversation about perspective, presence, and performance – from how we manage our thoughts and energy in the micro-moments, to how we show up for others through feedback, coaching, and everyday service. We dive into the difference between being interested versus committed, why feedback is one of the greatest gifts you can give, and how leadership is ultimately about creating the conditions for people to thrive.

Jaquie Scammell is the CEO and Founder of ServiceQ and one of the leading voices in service leadership today, known for helping organisations strengthen human connection in a world that is moving faster, becoming more automated, and asking more of its people.

Her work sits at the intersection of leadership, culture and customer experience, where she partners with senior leaders to turn service from something people perform into something people live – embedded in behaviour, decision-making and the everyday moments that shape reputation.

As the architect behind Service Habits™ and 5D Service Leadership™, Jaquie has developed practical operating systems that help organisations build cultures of consistency, ownership and care – not as concepts, but as capabilities that drive performance.

She has worked across industries including aviation, banking, infrastructure and resources, with organisations such as BHP, Westpac, Melbourne Airport and Virgin Australia. A published, award-winning author, Jaquie is known for her ability to translate complex human dynamics into clear, actionable leadership.

In the room, she brings both edge and empathy, creating environments where leaders are challenged to think differently, take ownership, and step forward with clarity.

Website: https://serviceq.co/
LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/jaquiescammell
Company: https://au.linkedin.com/company/serviceq
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jaquiescammellofficial/

Coach EM Turbo Tip: From the Wall to the Floor - Reflection Tool

Shout-out to the company CIMET (team India) for running an all-company "AS ONE" team-strengthening day, bringing their values from the "wall to the floor".

Here is one of the reflection tools that we used to bring their values to life:

LBW - think cricket! But we don't want you to go out - so think BLW:

B = Behaviour — What did you see? What was observed?
L = Learn — What did you learn or discover?
W = Wonder — What are you wondering as it relates to bringing this behaviour to life at work?

Simple. Practical. Powerful.

• Live inspired
• Practice improving
• Lead with Impact

Featured partner:
Today’s Turbo Tip with Coach EM is brought to you by trysam.ai — your match-making AI tool for people looking for a coach and coaches wanting the ideal client.

In this special Legacy Episode of The Coaching Podcast, Coach EM honours the life and work of Jim Loehr — world-renowned performance psychologist, bestselling author, and co-founder of the Human Performance Institute. Dr. Loehr sadly passed away on April 20, 2026, at the age of 83, leaving behind an extraordinary legacy that shaped athletes, coaches, leaders, and performers across the globe. From coaching 17 world number one athletes to transforming the way we think about energy, character, purpose, and performance, Jim’s work went far beyond winning. As he famously said, “It’s not about making a living, it’s about making a life.”

About Dr Jim Loehr

Dr. Jim Loehr was one of the world’s leading performance psychologists and the co-founder of the Human Performance Institute (HPI), the pioneering organization behind the science of energy management and sustained high performance. Over a career spanning more than three decades, his groundbreaking work influenced elite performers across sport, business, medicine, and law enforcement. Jim worked with 17 world number one athletes across sports including tennis, golf, basketball, football, hockey, boxing, motor racing, and the Olympics, while also advising Fortune 500 companies, FBI Hostage Rescue Teams, and military Special Forces.

A New York Times bestselling author of 17 books, including The Power of Full Engagement and Leading with Character, Jim believed that true performance was built from the inside out. His work focused not only on mental toughness, but on emotional strength, purpose, character, and energy management. Featured in publications including Harvard Business Review, Fortune, Time, Newsweek, and on programs such as Oprah, Today, and Nightline, Jim’s legacy continues to shape coaches, leaders, athletes, and high performers around the world.

1. “It’s not about making a living. It’s about making a life.”
2. “You don’t play tennis to be a great tennis player. You play tennis to grow up.”
3. “Having a deep sense of purpose is one of the most powerful things you will have as a human being.”
4. “Life is short. You have only so much energy to give.”
5. “The more you repurpose what you’re doing for something bigger than yourself, something magical happens.”
6. “You can’t be empty. You have to give a lot to get much back.”
7. “Everything you do has a consequence.”
8. “The best voice you can listen to is your own voice.”
9. “Preparation, preparation, preparation.”
10. “There’s no cheap way to the top.”
11. “The more prepared you are, the more confidence rises.”
12. “The mind follows your eyes.”
13. “Movement creates chemistry.”
14. “A competitor’s mind doesn’t roll out by itself.”
15. “Teach your kids to love what they do and have fun with what they do.”
16. “You play best when you feel open, free, relaxed, and calm.”
17. “The goal is not dependency. The goal is ownership.”
18. “My goal is to get you out of my life as quickly as possible.”
19. “I want you to become a better coach for yourself.”
20. “As a coach, you are in the influence business.”

Pure gold for leadership coaching — especially the ownership-before-accountability philosophy that shaped so much of Coach EM’s work.

The Power of Story
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D_0NnqkmVM4

Dr. Jim Loehr | X’s & O’s of Building Character
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rjRysxeyJPk&t=16s

Coach EM Turbo Tip: Feedback is the breakfast of champions. Clarity is kindness.

#1 driver of enhanced performance is: Fair. Frequent. Factual.

Start here:
Who is the person in front of you?

Then choose your conversation framework.

For a Socializer style, try Start / Stop / Steer:

1️⃣ What will you start doing?
2️⃣ What will you stop doing?
3️⃣ Where do you need to steer your energy this week/month?

• Live inspired
• Practice improving
• Lead with Impact

Featured partner:
Today’s Turbo Tip with Coach EM is brought to you by trysam.ai — your match-making AI tool for people looking for a coach and coaches wanting the ideal client.