Peter Hollins, Global Talent Officer, Iris
“Alastair played a key role in delivering our leadership development programme in 2008. He very quickly understood the important elements of the culture of the organisation, effortlessly grasped the key themes that were to be integrated into the programme and therefore developed a style for coaching that enabled him to have traction with everyone that he was working with. More importantly, his coaching style enabled his coachee’s to make giant leaps forward in their development as managers and leaders for the future. He made a really positive impact on our business.”
Eric Dunmore, CEO, Longshots PLC
“I worked with Alastair to help me focus on my goals. His approach facilitated me analysing my strengths and weaknesses and challenging me to justify my decisions (and even more importantly my lack of decisions!). The process was hugely helpful to me in forming a clear plan for my next steps. The “gap” between conversations was very useful in ensuring that I had thought through the issues raised in the last conversation properly and that real progress was made.”
James Perry, MD, Cook Foods Ltd
“I underwent a coaching process with Alastair and we covered both my professional goals for the year, and also a personal objective. We thoroughly explored my professional goals, seeking to understand my motivations and my reasons for prioritizing them. Through this process of consciously thinking it through, of putting the rationale in sequence and articulating it, I gained a much clearer understanding of what my goals actually were and why. This process meant that the goals crystallized in my mind into something achievable and tangible where they had previously been abstract and unattainable. In many ways, my goals were achieved the minute we completed the coaching process … it was like flicking a switch in my mind. As the year has gone on, it has felt like painting-by-numbers and I have made more progress in 6 months than I did in the previous 6 years. I am currently over half way through a process of handing over my Managing Director responsibilities as I take up a new role as Executive Chairman, a process unleashed by Alastair’s coaching and – so far – highly successful.
I have also stopped smoking (for 4 months now), the first successful attempt after 20 years of failing as a direct result of the strategic planning of that process that Alastair did with me.
Alastair is an outstanding coach. I consider it to be extremely rare to find someone of Alastair’s caliber and commercial experience in a “soft” / “emotionally intelligent” field such as coaching. I cannot recommend him highly enough and I look forward to having a long coaching relationship with him”.
Helen White, Director, Public I
“Alastair’s Fast Fix consultation really did what it says on the box; our brief, focused session got the creative juices flowing and I came away with two key initiatives that were welcomed by my colleagues and, more importantly, are being actioned! A most worthwhile investment.”
Sara Macauley, Marketing Director, Ulster Bank
When I started coaching I was facing a huge change in personal circumstances – working remotely between Aberdeen and Belfast. I knew that I wanted the remote working to be a success but wasn’t sure how to achieve that. Alistair helped me to shape my goal and to have clear steps to delivering the success. Having this clarity gave me a focus and an improved sense of confidence.
I have now been working remotely for 6 months and have been promoted to a role with wider responsibilities in that time. I achieved this with the support of coaching and would thoroughly recommend it.
Emma Clark, Director, TMW
“A rare opportunity in the normal stressful day to take time out, the luxury of someone unbiased to listen and offer productive and positive advice – who empathises with the sector you work within. Really appreciated the support in making changes I was struggling to tackle beforehand. Thank you!”
Chris Portwood, Wholesale Director, Cook
“Alastair has been invaluable in helping me understand the key issues within my business and perhaps more importantly, how to identify them into categories and design a plan to tackle each one. All this is conducted in a non patronising and conversational fashion. Highly recommended for managers in dynamic companies that need to reflect on what is really important.”
Stephen Howse, Business Owner
“Within a very short space of time Alastair recognised the areas of my professional life that needed attention. By very personable and astute questioning and discussion he set achievable targets for me to achieve and I am now totally inspired and motivated to reach them, where before I was overwhelmed by them”.