Episode 161: Trust At The Heart Of Coaching with guest, Dumisani Magadlela

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Trust doesn’t just make coaching nicer; it makes coaching work. We sit down with executive and team coach Dumisani Magadlela to explore why trust is the currency of transformation, how rapport becomes a deliberate practice, and what it takes to create a truly safe space where leaders can speak plainly, choose boldly, and act with integrity. From first-contact digital sessions to deep, ongoing relationships, we break down the practical moves that build trust quickly—clear contracting, presence, consent for depth, and the kind of silence that signals respect rather than distance.

Dumisani introduces Ubuntu intelligence—“I am because we are”—as a living framework for modern coaching. Instead of treating clients as isolated performers, Ubuntu invites us to see the systems they inhabit, the relationships that shape their choices, and the values that hold cultures together. We talk about why vulnerability needs boundaries, why ethics are non-negotiable, and why coaches must hold responsibility as carefully as they hold space. You’ll hear concrete ways to blend independence with interconnection, transforming team dynamics from guarded to generative.

We also spotlight Africa’s rapidly growing coaching landscape and the power of values-based leadership grounded in dignity, equality, and human agency. Dumisani shares how team coaching can expand a circle of trust among executives, and why a younger, ambitious continent represents the next frontier for coaching-driven change. Technology shows up as a partner, not a replacement—useful for preparation and prompts, but never a substitute for the human connection that actually shifts behavior.

If you care about coaching that sticks, this conversation is your roadmap to building trust, practicing Ubuntu, and leading with heart and rigor. Subscribe for more conversations with working coaches and thought leaders, share this episode with a colleague, and leave a review to tell us how you build trust in your practice.

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Learn more about Dumisani Magadlela here.

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