Coaching with me
The chemistry with your coach has to be right.
It's a bit like finding the right walking companion - you need someone who can match your pace, but who'll also nudge you up the hills you'd rather avoid.
To help you work out if I could be the right coach for you, here's how I'd describe what you can expect from working with me.
Just as importantly, I've included what you shouldn't expect - because in 25 years of working with senior leaders, I've found that what you rule out matters as much as what you sign up for.
Coaching with me is...
☑️ Open and honest conversation on the things that matter with a healthy dose of realism (and a bit of humour thrown in).
☑️ Focused development on the changes you want to make. We do the work in partnership with accountability.
☑️ A way of understanding how others really experience working with you, backed up with evidence-based feedback so you can see the patterns that are playing out.
☑️ Time to ask the questions that challenge you, and help you work out what you want to do about them.
☑️ Non-judgmental discussion to explore your thinking on a confidential basis. You get unconditional support and time for you - which can be a rare thing in life.
☑️ New scientific research on physical intelligence and neuroscience, with practical tools you can use every day to improve your performance and relationships.
☑️ A way to get unstuck and understand yourself better so you make better choices.
☑️ A place to try on ideas and experiment, so you find the right option at each different phase of life.
☑️ A place to make informed and sometimes brave choices, shift your thinking, and make progress on the things that have been holding you back. My job is to help you step back, see where you are, orientate yourself and make intelligent choices with perspective.
Coaching with me is not...
❌ Counselling or therapy.
❌ ‘Fluffy’ nonsense.
❌ Meandering, unrealistic philosophical debate that isn't connected to what you want to achieve and the context you work and live in.
❌ Insight or research that hasn't been validated or backed up with clear examples.
❌ Someone who will listen to your woes and then fix them for you.
❌ A static agenda, with someone pushing their agenda onto you.
❌ Avoiding what's really going on, who you really are, and what makes you tick.
❌ A transactional, superficial cosy chat with no practical change.
A bit about how I work
I'm an ICF Professional Certified Coach. My coaching is grounded in a code of ethics and professional standards, and informed by 25 years across legal services, financial services, scaling tech and organisational development.
I describe what I do as human intelligence coaching - understanding how your body responds in the system you’re in, not just focusing on your mind as many coaches do. To do that, I draw on a wider toolkit than coaching conversation alone. I'm certified in Physical Intelligence (the science of how your body's chemistry shapes your performance under pressure) and Emotional Intelligence (EQi). I’m also trained in DiSC, Gallup Strengths Finder, Engage Change Mindset Development, and Human Centred Design. I use these alongside feedback and profiling to help us both see what's really going on, and to measure the change as it happens.
I tailor every coaching programme to the person involved. Because the right coaching for you is the coaching that actually fits your situation.
I'm based in Leeds and work with clients in person across Yorkshire, the North (Sheffield, York, Hull, Leeds, Manchester and Newcastle), London, and online across the UK and internationally.
Curious whether we'd be a good fit?
The best way to find out is a conversation. The first one is free, confidential and has no agenda beyond seeing whether we're a good fit. If we're not, I'll usually be able to suggest someone or something that is. Fill in the form below, and I'll get back to you as quick as I can.