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.

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Curious about coaching? Book a 15 minute introductory conversation with Michael: https://calendly.com/scaleyou/mgpod

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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: [email protected]