I signed-up for the leadership re-invented programme expecting a typical workshop-type experience involving theoretical analysis of what leadership should be, cliche stories and passive engagement from most attendees. Instead, I was presented with a immensely challenging and reflective group of sessions in which David regularly pushed the room to think more about the personal influence they could have, challenged our understanding what success means and focused us on how we could perform better through action. David was passionate throughout and able to connect personally with all attendees, not easy in a group setting. Having a one-to-one alongside these workshops enabled deeper exploration in to the trends identified, and despite only having known David for a few hours prior he immediately understood my key opportunity areas and was able to provide helpful and accurate insight. I can’t recommend this experience more highly to anyone aspiring to become a better leader.  

Paul Weaver

Testimonial 1: from Prasit Shah, Portfolio Director, Royal Mail

The leadership workshops led by David were far broader than just tools to use in the workplace. They forced a level of sometimes uncomfortable introspection based on how we are conditioned to think, so challenging long held beliefs, behaviours and habits. An immediate impact was a career decision I made after the first workshop. My decision was counter to my usual ‘strategy for success’ as I truly felt I had a choice and therefore considered my options objectively, jumping in the opposite direction to where I would previously.

Testimonial 2: from Clare, Head of Service Delivery

I decided to try this after being offered an opportunity and spending very little time over the past couple of years developing my leadership skills. I was a bit apprehensive at first and didn’t really know what to expect, but I found the group coaching sessions and individual coaching session very useful. David is a great coach, his approach and the techniques he uses work very well. He pushes you out of your comfort zone and I found the sessions challenged me to really reflect and look at situations through a very different lens, which has been hard at times but is already starting to have a positive impact for both me and my team. My focus is now on taking control back, contributing, and making a difference, to become the person and leader I strive to be. I would highly recommend David and coaching as I feel it can make such a difference to you in all aspects of your life.

David is a great coach – his insight is authentic, invaluable and challenging, whilst supporting me to become the best I can be, in my work life and personal life. I considered being coached as I was keen to get some help to ‘take myself on’ and realise my untapped potential as a leader in a challenging new role. David is a really good listener who has taken the time to understand me and the areas to work on; I am looking at things differently and doing things differently, whilst growing in confidence. I can’t wait to see where we go next and how I can continue to push myself to the next level. I would recommend David’s coaching to anyone who wants to become more fulfilled in life.

Rob McNally
Head Of City ICT Strategy & Solutions

David has a way of taking you through a journey of development that makes one stand back and look at things from the outside at which point it becomes painfully obvious the areas one needs to improve or change even if you feel you want to rebut them at first. A great coach who helped me to solve a few things and I like to think now a good friend as well. Thank you for all your help David.

Marcus Harris
Actor and owner of Incite Insight

“This is basic training for the mind, the heart and the soul. It is the most positive transforming experience I’ve ever been a part of.”

Dr Alen Steffenhagen
Entrepreneur

David’s authentic approach and insightful concepts demystify ‘conventional wisdom’ and have enabled me to look at success in a completely different way.

Sacha Gervasi
Director

I approached the sessions with an open mind after being at a cross road; especially in my personal life where I am dealing with Parental Alienation. David helped me take back control and start to write my own life story. I started “taking action” rather than being a passenger. With all of this there was tremendous risk but David helped me realise that the risk of doing nothing was even greater. The coaching helped change my general outlook such as realising that I’m responsible for my own actions and not those of other people.

Melvin Thompson
ICT Infrastructure Manager

I came to Dave because I was really stuck in a rut. I was in a job and industry I didn’t especially care for, and it’s not even as if I was making decent money, I was just treading water, wasting time, really. I felt that while the situation wasn’t great, all the alternatives I could see were worse. My outlook was extremely limited. My social life wasn’t good either; I was quite isolated and lonely. The funny thing is, I didn’t actually realise all this at the time, I just knew that I felt bad and wanted it to stop. I think that without really noticing it, being “stuck in a rut” can develop into a more serious situation, and that’s the way I felt like I was heading. Before I knew it, it might have been five years later and things might have been the same, only I would probably be feeling even worse.

Dave is friendly and energetic, but the main part of his approach seems to be to always find ways to broaden our thinking. With me, he looked for ways to help me see where I was limiting myself, where I was closing off possibilities or sticking to one path without even noticing it, and he did this by helping me to see why I was doing those things.

He helped me evaluate what I really enjoy doing, and helped me to naturally develop a much more creative, open-minded, and energetic approach. He gave me homework that I followed very closely, and in this way supported me to create concrete plans for changing my life. At it’s most basic level, the help he gives is extremely pragmatic, but when we’re stuck, we sometimes need to understand what is happening, why and yes, we need a little hand up.

The advice part worked because it was practical advice, and it helped to have a large problem broken into very small, manageable amounts, concrete deadlines by which to complete these manageable tasks, and growing confidence and enthusiasm as the actions started to pay off and things became fun. It’s the kind of thing we can all do for ourselves when we aren’t stuck in a rut, but then that’s the problem isn’t it? Some of us find it difficult to admit when we need a hand moving on.

Things are really changing. I explored much more actively, tried a good few different things, started to understand why I liked the things I liked, and did more of them. I was surprised to realise that I’m actually a very sociable person, but I’d been lonely and down for so long that I’d forgotten that it’s something that I need and can do well. Volunteering helped with that, and so my social life improved a lot as a sort of by-product, we didn’t even talk very much about that!

I found a volunteering opportunity I absolutely loved and threw myself into it. That was a start, but Dave helped me to start looking for a job in the field, and after a few months working on that, I’m very happy to say that I’m scheduled to start a new job in a few days. I’ve never been so excited about going to work before! I even still have one interview to go for a simply amazing opportunity, so hey, it might just get even better!

This process didn’t happen overnight, but it’s been hugely valuable, worthwhile and fun. In terms of the investment, I’ve successfully been able to tackle the biggest problems in my life, and I feel very positive about my current direction.

Oliver Platts

January 2018

It has been a pleasure and a joy working with David. I now live my life as an inspiring leader to young adults, less afraid of criticism, no longer afraid of the word “No”. David has helped me to focus on what I really want and then go out and create it. He is gentle when I needed (not that often to be fair) and challenging when I don’t know I need it (an awful lot!). Both to great effect. David helped me think differently and reach for the stars.

S Boldman, University Lecturer