The Temptation to Advise
March 31, 2019
Tom is a thoughtful and incisive executive and team coach who has two decades’ experience working in the field of leadership development. Passionate about people and behaviour, he has studied extensively in the field of organisational psychology and he uses this to help individuals and teams move forwards and deal with difficult challenges.
Tom’s Leadership expertise stems from his background as a professional expedition leader. This involved leading treks and managing projects in remote locations, usually in developing countries – e.g. living in the jungle of Belize for 9 months, snow tracking wolves in Poland, camel trekking in the Sinai desert, building a school in India and renovating a Tibetan monastery in Nepal. It was in this leadership capacity that Tom discovered his talent for leading teams and coaching people to develop their leadership skills.
In 2000, Tom started working with his own clients as a leadership consultant. For the first 5 years, he balanced leading expeditions with 1:1 performance coaching and building high performing teams. His early clients included HSBC, Indigo Capital, GlaxoSmithKline, Celltech, CNET Networks, Mondi Packaging, Scope and Stephens and Bolton LLP.
Between 2006 and 2009, he spent 3 years working full time as a consultant at Lane4, a global leadership consultancy. Whilst at Lane4, Tom qualified as an executive coach with Middlesex University. During this period his clients included: Accenture, Linklaters, Carphone Warehouse, Roche, DSM, Merrill Lynch, Deutsche Bank, CNET Networks, JP Morgan, Alliance, Nomura, Eversheds, SJ Berwin and Organon Biosciences.
Tom returned to independent consulting at the end of 2009, specialising in executive and team coaching.
The foundation of good coaching is a relationship that is based on trust. This enables conversations to take place that are honest, profound and truly confidential. Tom focuses on creating time and space for the client to look more objectively at themselves and view their current situation with greater perspective.
Coaching is primarily a non-directive process. Wherever possible, Tom avoids giving advice. At the root of his coaching is a belief that the client is inherently resourceful and capable of finding their own way ahead. Tom’s expertise as a coach involves the skilful use of questions: it is a process of inquiry that acts as a catalyst for the client to develop increased self-awareness and a renewed commitment to action.
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Tom is perceptive and empathetic. He listens deeply, has sharp psychological awareness and can be direct and challenging in his feedback.
Tom’s coaching was accredited in 2012 by the European Mentoring and Coaching Council. He holds the European Individual Award at the Master Practitioner level. His formal training as a coach dates back to 2003 when he attended Michael Breen’s High-Performance Coaching Programme. In the same year, he also undertook the Newcastle College coaching certificate and diploma. In 2007, his coaching was accredited by Lane4 and Middlesex University. Today people approach Tom for a point of view on the matter of coach education programmes.
As a team coach, Tom is highly attuned to underlying interpersonal dynamics, enabling him to surface issues and help groups move on. His style is considered and sensitive with a dry sense of humour. He develops trust quickly.
Socrates is alleged to have said, ‘I cannot teach anybody anything. I can only make them think’. Whilst educating people is a part of Tom’s function, his underlying approach when coaching teams is to create the conditions in which genuine transformation may occur through personal insight and discovery.
Topics covered include:
Over the years, Tom has added to his collection of psychometric and 360 diagnostic instruments. His preferred personality assessment tool is the Insights Discovery tool, which lends itself well to any situation. Tom also makes frequent use of Kouzes and Posner’s Leadership Practices Inventory.
Recent private sector client organisations include Thomas Millar, Siemens, Aviva plc, British Telecom, Proctor and Gamble, Nissan, Morgan Advanced Materials, News UK and Ireland Ltd, Synlab UK, GN Resound. In the Civil Service Tom has worked with HM Courts and Tribunals Service, HM Revenue and Customs, Ministry of Defence, Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency, Dept. for Education and the Home Office.
Tom delivers regular coaching for the NHS via the Leadership Academy, including NHS Trust Development Authority, Regional NHS Education and Training Board, SW London and St Georges Mental Health Trust, Commissioning Development Directorate and Oxford University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust. Tom has also worked with Cass Business School, London Business School and, Chicago Booth Business School.
When he is not working, he leads treks in the Atlas mountains and is a keen Modern Jive and Blues dancer. He lives in the UK and works all over the world.
Please call 07720286696 or complete the contact form to find out more about how Tom can help you.
