Spotlight on Kevin Parker
Facts and figures:
Tell us some facts about your business
I have currently 20 coaching clients, all of whom are senior managers in medium to large sized companies.
In addition we are using coaching to support training and development events for middle managers. From September last year through till the middle of next year every participant will have had three 1:1 sessions. We envisage over 300 people going through this process.
The serious stuff
Why did you decide to become a coach / mentor?
I have always felt there has been a gap in the change programmes that I have supported. They rely so much on senior management leadership for success and yet apart from training and workshops they have little support. After all they are the most successful products of the current culture and have the most change to do.
How did you get into coaching / mentoring?
Firstly through my NLP training, which made me understand and then develop the skill set needed. Secondly the Coaching Institute course made me realise how I could set it up.
What is your greatest coaching / mentoring achievement (or should we ask what's the greatest achievement of one of your clients?)
The greatest change I have seen with my clients is the way they have opened up their thinking and realised how much they can influence the way they think and act. In particular my clients have become more confident and more goal orientated. This has applied as much to their work life as private although my focus has been on work. Some of them have reported some great changes in their relationships with their partners and children.
How would your clients describe you?
Open, approachable, resourceful, and challenging.
What are your core values and principles?
Making a difference. I always feel that everyone I coach has far more potential than they realise - my role is to keep trying different approaches to help them realise they have.
How has coaching/mentoring assisted your career / life development?
I don't think you can be a good coach until you have used these approaches on yourself to build your own self-awareness, confidence and skills. They have made a huge difference to me and helped me climb out of a self-developed plateau.
The lighter side of life
What do you do when you're not working - hobbies, interests, clubs etc?
Walking the dogs. Acting or directing at the local drama group. Hill walking. Playing golf very badly. Cooking. Chairing the local community centre
Who / what makes you laugh?
Clever jokes, pomposity. Comedians who take normal situations to absurd extremes, such as Billy Connolly and Eddie Izzard. My children and my partner
How would your friends and/or family describe you?
Relaxed and easy going. Sometimes disorganised and absent minded. Enthusiastic, positive and someone who loves life
What else do want to achieve in your life or work?
Success and personal development. I would like to see my kids develop into well-rounded, well-adjusted individuals who want to make the most out of life.
Any claims to fame?
I've appeared on TV as an Extra and I once slept with Joanna Lumley (she was on the plane seat next to me!)
What's the most challenging thing you've ever done?
Setting up my own business. Leaving a marriage that wasn't working.
Who would you like to be stuck in a lift with - and why?
Depends how long the lift was stuck for! For humour - Alan Coren. For intrigue - Bill Clinton. For human interest - Nelson Mandella. For??? - Meg Ryan.
What makes you who you are?
There are no what only who. I always have the choice about how I respond in any circumstances. I drive my own brain.
Anything else you'd like to tell us?
Loads but I can't think what at the moment.
For more information about Kevin use our database NameSearch or contact
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