About me
I’m interested in what happens to people around leaders.
I’m Chris. I’ve spent more than ten years coaching and developing people and leaders. And the thing that has kept me interested isn’t leadership theory. It’s people.
I’ve seen incredibly talented people shrink around the wrong leader.
I’ve seen other leaders spot something in someone, challenge them, back them and completely change the direction of their career.
I’ve experienced both myself. That’s why I care about this.
I believe most people want to do well and most people are capable of more. Leadership has an enormous influence over whether we ever get to see it.
Something has stuck with me for years.
At my Granny’s funeral, someone I’d never met came over and told me about the support she’d given them during a difficult time. What stayed with me was how they described being with her: whenever they spoke, my Granny made them feel like they had her complete attention. Like, in that moment, nothing else mattered.
I’ve always thought that’s an incredible legacy to leave, and I think it’s shaped how I work more than I probably realised.
That’s what I want to create for someone when I’m coaching. A moment where they have my complete attention and the space for something to happen. To think. Reflect. See something differently. Build some confidence. Say something they haven’t been able to say anywhere else.
I’ve been doing this for a while.
I’ve coached and developed everyone from first-time managers to senior leaders and executives.
I’ve worked in global organisations of 10,000+ people and fast-growing, scale-up businesses, designed and delivered leadership development globally, and certified in executive coaching at Henley Business School.
I’m proud of the big stuff I’ve achieved, but prouder of the smaller stuff. Giving someone confidence when they need it. Holding up a mirror to something they haven’t seen. Challenging their thinking. Helping someone approach something differently.
That’s ultimately the impact I’m interested in.
I’m curious about people.
still love cricketI spent much of my youth playing cricket, including for Nottinghamshire up to U17s and, slightly randomly, a One Day International match for Bermuda against the Netherlands in 2007.
I’ve lived in Italy and Switzerland. I’m a dad, obsessed with food and still love cricket despite barely playing for nearly twenty years.
I’m not going to pretend any of that has given me some clever philosophy on leadership. It hasn’t. But I’ve spent a lot of my life around different people, cultures, coaches, leaders and performers. I’m curious about what brings the best out of people, what makes us hold back and why some people have an impact on us that lasts.
How I coach
I’m warm, curious and prepared to challenge you.
I’m trained as a coach, but I don’t rigidly follow a coaching model or pretend I don’t have an opinion. I’ll listen, ask questions, challenge you when I think it will help and follow the conversation wherever it needs to go.
I don’t think every session needs to end with a list of actions. I care much more about whether something shifted while we were talking and whether that changes what happens afterwards.
You might leave with more confidence. A different perspective. An uncomfortable realisation. Or simply wanting to approach something differently.
Leave better than you arrived.