Unlock Your Leadership, with Dr Gary Crotaz, PhD

33 The Human Connection: Dean Miles on Coaching, Communication and the Heart of Leadership

Episode Summary

In this episode of Unlock Your Leadership, Dr Gary Crotaz is joined by Dean Miles — executive coach, trusted advisor, and member of Marshall Goldsmith’s 100 Coaches. Dean shares his philosophy of leadership as a deeply human practice — built not on authority, but on connection, curiosity, and courage. Drawing on years of coaching senior leaders across industries, he and Gary explore how great leaders communicate with presence, listen to understand rather than respond, and create the conditions for growth in others. They discuss the craft of real coaching conversations — the kind that move beyond surface-level performance to unlock insight, empathy and change — and why humility and humour are vital leadership tools. It’s a warm, insightful conversation about coaching as leadership, leadership as service, and connection as the foundation of both. Originally recorded for The Unlock Moment podcast.

Episode Notes

In this episode of Unlock Your Leadership, Dr Gary Crotaz is joined by Dean Miles — executive coach, trusted advisor, and member of Marshall Goldsmith’s 100 Coaches.

Dean shares his philosophy of leadership as a deeply human practice — built not on authority, but on connection, curiosity, and courage. Drawing on years of coaching senior leaders across industries, he and Gary explore how great leaders communicate with presence, listen to understand rather than respond, and create the conditions for growth in others.

They discuss the craft of real coaching conversations — the kind that move beyond surface-level performance to unlock insight, empathy and change — and why humility and humour are vital leadership tools.

It’s a warm, insightful conversation about coaching as leadership, leadership as service, and connection as the foundation of both.

Originally recorded for The Unlock Moment podcast.