Welcome to the Arete Coach Podcast, hosted by Severin Sorensen. In this episode, titled, "Coaching as a Life Skill: Listening, Leading, and Lifting Others," we are honored to have Ruchira Chaudhary, a distinguished executive coach, author, and CEO of True North Consulting. Ruchira is renowned for her expertise in leadership development, coaching, and organizational strategy, with over two decades of experience across Asia, the Middle East, and North Africa. She is also an acclaimed author of "Coaching: The Secret Code of Uncommon Leadership" and serves as adjunct faculty at prestigious institutions like Chicago Booth School, SMU, and IMD Singapore.

In an engaging conversation, Ruchira Chaudhary shares her inspiring journey from a diverse corporate background to becoming a leading voice in executive coaching. Her career began in advertising and human resource consulting, evolving through various roles in multinational corporations before discovering her passion for coaching. Over the past decade, Ruchira has dedicated herself to mastering and teaching coaching skills, developing her proprietary "4C plus" model of coaching. Recognized globally, Ruchira has been honored as one of the 21 women leaders in 2021 and awarded the Woman of Excellence Award in 2022. This episode delves into Ruchira's profound commitment to creating leaders who coach and take others along in their journey, perfectly aligning with the Arete Coach Podcast's exploration of excellence in executive coaching.

Ruchira Chaudhary's approach to executive coaching emphasizes the importance of developing a coaching mindset in leaders across all levels of an organization. Her "4C plus" model focuses on enhancing capability, consciousness (self-awareness), clarity, and confidence in coachees. This comprehensive framework provides a structured approach to coaching that goes beyond traditional skill development, addressing the holistic growth of individuals.

One of the key insights from the episode is Ruchira's emphasis on coaching as a life skill rather than just a corporate tool. She advocates for a shift in leadership paradigms, moving away from command-and-control styles towards more empathetic, question-based approaches. This perspective aligns with modern leadership demands, especially in the wake of global challenges like the COVID-19 pandemic, which highlighted the need for adaptable and inclusive leadership styles.

Ruchira also brings attention to the unique challenges faced by women in leadership roles and the importance of tailored coaching approaches. She emphasizes the need to focus on building confidence and self-belief in women leaders, addressing issues like imposter syndrome and work-life balance. This insight highlights the role of coaching in promoting diversity and inclusivity in leadership, ultimately contributing to more robust and dynamic organizational cultures.

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 recorded via Zoom on September 3, 2024.

Dudley Newright