Welcome to Courage to Advance, hosted by Kim Bohr and brought to you by SparkEffect, in partnership with The Empathy Edge.

Tune in to our subseries every 3rd Thursday, right here on The Empathy Edge! Or check us out at www.CourageToAdvancePodcast.com.

As AI revolutionizes how we work, what makes human executive coaching irreplaceable? Kim Bohr sits down with Rod Bacon, SparkEffect's Chief Coaching Officer, to explore why transformative leadership breakthroughs happen through human connection, not algorithms.

Rod reveals what he calls "sacred pressure" in coaching relationships – the ability to create breakthrough moments through presence and challenge blind spots in ways AI cannot replicate. This conversation explores the neuroscience of trust-building, why discomfort drives growth, and how mirror neurons enable coaches to move executives from stress to creative insight.

Whether you're defending coaching investments or seeking authentic development, discover why trust acts as a "force multiplier" in organizations and how vulnerability-based leadership creates the psychological safety teams need.

To access the episode transcript, please scroll down below.

Key Takeaways:

• Biological synchronization between the coach and the executive creates conditions for transformation
• AI can ask questions, but cannot synchronize nervous systems or create a calming presence
• Growth requires "sacred pressure" – productive tension that human coaches apply with precise timing
• Trust acts as a "force multiplier," enabling innovation, agility, and resilience
• Without trust, teams make false commitments in meetings but have real conversations elsewhere
• Mirror neurons enable coaches to regulate nervous systems, moving executives from stress to creativity
• The future is leveraging both AI efficiency and irreplaceable human wisdom

"Trust is the new strategic capital...it's the interstitial connections which holds everything together." —  Rod Bacon

About Rod Bacon: Rod Bacon serves as Chief Coaching Officer at SparkEffect, developing world-class executive coaches and working with C-suite leaders across healthcare, pharmaceutical, and technology industries. His philosophy that "personal growth is professional growth" has guided transformative leadership development worldwide.

About SparkEffect:

SparkEffect partners with organizations to unlock the full potential of their greatest asset: their people. Through their tailored assessments and expert coaching at every level, SparkEffect helps organizations manage change, sustain growth, and chart a path to a brighter future.

Go to sparkeffect.com/edge now and download your complimentary Professional and Organizational Alignment Review today.

Connect with Rod Bacon:  

Website: sparkeffect.com/about/rod-bacon/

LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/rodbacon/

Connect with Kim Bohr and SparkEffect

SparkEffect: sparkeffect.com

Courage to Advance recording and resources: sparkeffect.com/courage-to-advance-podcast

LinkedIn: linkedin.com/company/sparkeffect

LinkedIn for Kim Bohr: linkedin.com/in/kimbohr

Connect with Maria:

Get Maria's books on empathy: Red-Slice.com/books

Learn more about Maria's work: Red-Slice.com

Hire Maria to speak: Red-Slice.com/Speaker-Maria-Ross

Take the LinkedIn Learning Course! Leading with Empathy

LinkedIn: Maria Ross

Instagram: @redslicemaria

Facebook: Red Slice

Threads: @redslicemaria

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