Results reported by clients include a clearer vision of their future and the means to get there, internalization of (and greater facility with) leadership skills, greater clarity of short-term goals, reduced frustration at work, and increased understanding (and thereby removal of) of personal “blocks” to achievement.
To follow are testimonials specific to the area in which I typically work.
Coaching
I hadn’t realized repatriation would be as challenging as it was. With Deborah’s help I was able to define my core values, which assisted in making important decisions in my career. I was able to satisfy my desire to do work that improves people’s life quality, and dealing some of my own difficult health issues, I improved my life quality. She helped me to see that I could be more than I dared think I could be.
- Yuko Nakayama, Career Changer, Japan
A promotion and back-dated pay rise – your coaching has shown me how rewarding it can be to put my ideas into action!
- Patricia McLoughlin, Middle Manager, UK
When we looked at our numbers, we found that our revenues were up 30% after the first year you and I worked together, and we’ve now made a fundamental shift in our business model, repositioning us more effectively for the longer term. I attribute these improvements directly to the work you and I have done together. Coaching with you has made me stop and think about who I am as it pertains to the bigger picture of what I do day-to-day. I wasn’t sure at first but now I’m convinced – this coaching stuff works!
- David Fox, Fox Photography, US
You have a strong, focused agenda and demonstrate a high level of consistency as well as empathy. I’ve worked with other coaches – and trained as a coach myself – and I’d almost given up on it as a discipline until I worked with you. You’ve helped me identify my life’s work as a guide of corporate teams, and believe in my ability to do it. That’s why I signed up for further work with you – that’s what it’s all about. You are an excellent coach and an inspirational person.
- Richard House, Celebrand, UK
Our sessions help me clarify the big picture.
- Ewa Staremo, Designer, Sweden
There was a gem in every session
- Claudia Gere, Publisher, US
I’ve appreciated very much your style: your deep listening and your total focus on the situation at hand. You’ve provided some wonderful probing questions and insight, which helped me see more clearly who I am and what I need to be doing with my time to fully become what I’m capable of being.
- Deborah Henderson, Leadership Consultant, UK
As we’ve worked together to develop the business side of my art, you inspired me to work on things I didn’t want to look at, using steps I knew but hadn’t applied to this process of becoming a business person. You guided me to find my own answers, and helped me get unstuck from frustrating situations so I could deal with the necessary (but to me, trivial) business processes so I could focus on doing what I love and do best – paint.
- Teresa Spinner, Portrait Artist, US
The smartest thing I did was to seek advice and counsel during a tumultuous year in my career when looking to make my next move my career “capstone”. Deborah helped me cut through the politics that were overwhelming me, and got me back in touch with what I most love about my work, so I could identify the best position in which to continue to do it.
- Beverly Wood, Master Planner, US Capital Complex
I am a TEACHER! Accomplished my Masters with a 4.0 and never believed I could have produced such amazing work. I am successful and able to accomplish more than I ever expected. I have a positive outlook on living – am seeing this as a step and waiting for the next adventure inspiration to show its face. I have more energy to create too. It’s no longer a struggle to accomplish career tasks. Basically, no more tears unless they are joyful. Understand who I am, what I need, how I function, and I’m more confident – I haven’t felt like this in years. Something is alive again that hasn’t been alive in a long time – all because of your coaching.
- Susan Sauve, Career Changer, US
Workshops & Team Development
I just wanted to thank you one more time for putting on a most interesting program for our organization last night. It has provided me with much food for thought, and I’m sure has piqued others’ thoughts as well. I came to work today with a new perspective and a heightened awareness of my colleagues, thanks to you!
- Karen Borofsky, Women Entrepreneurs in Science & Technology Event Organizer, US
I asked you to help me take my business to the next level, and we’ve done it. With your help I’ve doubled my staff, moved out of my basement, taken on national clients, increased our visibility in the marketplace, moved into new market areas, developed and coalesced my team, built strategic alliances, and clarified my company’s “credo”. Not a bad track record! It’s exciting to partner with you in Atomic’s growth.
- Doug Garnett, President, Atomic Direct, US
Speaking with Deborah when I’ve doubted myself, she’s “normalized” my experience and left me knowing that my perceptions – tho not always in line with popular opinion – are no less legitimate. I also watched her facilitate a workshop in South Africa that challenged how I see the world. The resultant new perspectives permeate through the work I do, and have led to insights I use with some of my clients as well.
- Bennie Pienaar, Executive Coach, Facilitator, and HR Consultant, S. Africa
I got wonderful feedback after today’s management retreat and the team looks forward to working further with you. You have a great style and a lot of insight and perspective on our organization that just got the conversation flowing.
Executive Retreats
This feedback is from the 1998 UK pilot of Catalysts for Change
Most illuminating.
- Richard Dixon, Architect
Very useful to see my leadership facets “embodied”.
- Laura Fisher, Telecom Sales
As time goes on, I realise that I got more from the course than I originally realised. I’m calmer, dealing with things I’ve put off for years.
- Karen Seymour, Manager
Offered great clarity of insight into what needs to be done. Powerful view of what has blocked me.
- Rick Morgan, British Diplomat
A feature of Catalysts for Change was a focus on inspiration. This more conceptual exploration of leadership enabled me to internalise rather than externalise the leadership process.
Four months on: It’s coming up to four months since Catalysts for Change enabled me to reassess my life in relation to work. I came away from Dartington Hall with a different perspective on how I dealt with my job and also a tangible action plan for the future.
I remain surprised about one fact. I used to work in a developmental group that actively sought new opportunities for personal growth. We adopted a term “disintegration on re-entry” as a way of explaining the effects to the individual of returning to their usual workplace after experiencing an intense developmental process. If anything, I experienced the opposite after Catalysts, and was able to clearly articulate what I perceived to be my net gains to many of my colleagues. Catalysts for Change was, for me, a significant life experience.
- DS Gerard Hancock, Metropolitan Police