Storytelling AND Speaker Coaching for Emerging Leaders

Want to become a (better) Leader? 

Executive Coaching for

Emerging Leaders 

Wherever you are on the route to the top of the pyramid or on you way there, storytelling matters. Your boss, clients, and peers all have a story about you in their heads. Whether you like it or not.

You can take control and tell your story, or be a victim of stories told about you. 

Everyone key to your success already has a story about you in their head. It is your job to shape it. You could rely on HR, your line manager or your work corporate personal development plan.

But it is always better to take charge of your story and reputation. 

People live by narrative. We understand the world we live in through the stories we are told and believe. 

How is your personal brand? How do people label you? Hardworking, a drinker, lazy or punctual. Do you deliver or you a passenger in the team? Storytelling impacts on your brand, your reputation, your career.  

You have lots of critical internal and, perhaps also, external audiences; Line Managers, Partners, the Board, and your peers. Each of these can promote, or spike, you and your career. 

Promotion and career progression come not just from technical ability, but your reputation as a negotiator, team player, manager, and your pitch and presentation ability. All of these skills and abilities include storytelling. 

These things matter:

What you do, what you say and how you say it

How people see you, perceive you, your brand, these are key to your success. Can you get things done? Do you get things done? How you communicate. Can you lead? How do you lead? 

Technical skills only get you to a certain level. The "soft skills", the human skills, are key. Your reputation and brand is everything. 

People make up their own minds - based on what they see and hear from you directly and what they hear from others. 

Top of the Pyramid vs Top of the Mountain?

I use the phrase top of the pyramid rather than top of the mountain with purpose.

A mountain is wild. Getting to the top of the mountain is you, your brain, body, strength, and physical abilities vs. nature. 

The corporate world is man-made. Humans make the decisions about whether you get to the top. You vs. what people think of you.

Your story.  

You can get fit and prepared for both the mountain and the pyramid, but your preparedness and success in getting to the top of the pyramid will be judged and decided by people.  

Imagine... what would life be like at the top?

The money, the remuneration package, the benefits, the prestige. What would life be like? What could you do that you can't do now? 

What are the key numbers you have to address to move up the pyramid? Who are the people who will make the judgements?

How do you present yourself so that you can persuade them? 

Executive Coaching can help you achieve the numbers and persuade the people. The ROI is huge and long-lasting.  

In just 3 hours - the impact you had was enormous - and that was 8 years ago. Whenever things get sticky, and they do a lot in my job, I ask: What would Peter say?"

Getting your first "big job" is tough and getting tougher. The competition is fierce. As soon as you start climbing the pyramid it gets MUCH tougher.

A lot to digest but appreciate your brutal approach

You are in your 30's or 40's. Your time is now. But behind you there are lots of ambitious, super-smart people eyeing your job and the one above you. You have to stay ahead or you will get left behind.

Peter was an outstanding and no-nonsense coach. He showed me how to sell my experience at an interview. The interview. For THAT job. Investing in Peter's coaching obviously worked because I was successful and absolutely over the moon with my new role. He also guided me through the process of negotiating my salary up which increase (on the initial offer) of over 35%. I would highly recommend using Peter if you are seeking a new role. Head of Public Affairs,  FTSE 100

Your Reputation is EVERYTHING  

PETR: Please replace the above video (which should go on Executive Coaching) with this one https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=366DExfdQWM

What is your reputation? Are you ready to step up and maximise opportunities like Peter Sullivan did in this clip?

If the stories about you are good, you and your career will reap the rewards 

Mastering the art of storytelling and public speaking is credited by some of the world's highest-performing and successful business leaders, like Bill Gates and Warren Buffet, as the most powerful way to success.

You have lots of opportunities to boost your brand:

• Talking to existing and prospective customers
• Representing the company at events, on panels and in the media
• Internal and external meetings
• Presentations and Pitches (do you know the difference?)
• Chance encounters with the Big Boss (like Peter Sullivan in the clip above from Margin Call)

It’s up to you to make the most of those opportunities. The cavalry isn’t coming. 

It’s up to you. 

I know. I know. Your diary is rammed, and you never have time, and you bounce from meeting to meeting. Deadlines!

I wish I had learned 30 years ago what I learned from you

Clients say to me that while they feel their career is drifting, they feel overwhelmed. Their energy is diffused, their attention is distracted, and they feel like a four-piece pizza with 10 people come to supper.  

But.... I can work to fit in with your schedule. Evenings. Sunday mornings. Early mornings.

And I can give you focus, direction and skills. 

Athletes train and are guided by Coaches. So are Doctors. And Soldiers. And Astronauts. They take the time to train and practise.

My favourite clients are those who are, or have been, competitive sportspeople or advanced musicians - they understand the need to find time to practice and how to use a coach. (My favourite clients)

Do YOU have a Leadership Coach?

How can you support a tennis player, a football, rugby or other sports team or your country at the Olympics and not have a coach in your career? Unless you're a nepo-baby, why wing it? 

Having a coach is a sign of strength; Google's Eric Schmidt and Berkshire Hathaway's Warren Buffett agree. 

1-2-1 Coaching Emerging Leaders

I have coached people in your position in a variety of industries in Europe, the U.S.A, Asia and Africa. I have hired, promoted and fired people and been in meetings where such decisions are made. People are promoted based on their label - their brand, their story.

Let's talk and see if we click

Coaching 1-2-1 requires brutal honesty on my part (where else can you get that?) and significant trust on your part.

 Hiring a coach is a very personal and key decision for you and your future, and the success of that coaching depends on the relationship and the honesty between client and coach.

I am now 41 and I wish I'd had someone like you give me just 10% of that advice while I was "growing up" as a scientist. 

I am no good to you unless I give you everything, and for that, I need to like you and your WHY. I am also not for everybody, and that's ok too. I am blunt and, in the words of a senior military officer, "unafraid to challenge".

You're perfect for me. You hate bullshit too. I love your blunt, on-point feedback. I couldn't have done it with without you! CEO of an award winning UK Company after a big pitch.  

You don't have time for BS, sugar-coating and "shit-sandwiches"? Good. I don't either.

My clients hire me and often say "give it to me straight!" Good. I can do that. They're never disappointed. It's my default.  

Let’s meet and talk IRL or on Zoom and see if we click?