David had been working for a large, corporate organisation for 8 years when the opportunity to take on a senior role at a smaller company presented itself.  

He enjoyed his current position as Senior Director of Business Operations, but he knew working for a smaller organisation would provide new experiences and allow him greater influence over business decisions.  

David accepted the job, but as he’d spent the latter part of his career working for an organisation with their own way of doing things, he did worry there may be some gaps in his experience. Therefore, to ensure he felt fully prepared to take on the new role, David needed to identify, then work on any gaps in his knowledge.  

Having already had some experience of coaching, David understood it was a great tool for both self-discovery and development. He knew having a good coach onboard to help him navigate this change in his career, would be of huge benefit.  

With that in mind, he conducted his own research and shortlisted 3 coaches whom he felt could meet his requirements.  

Paul Starbuck was one of those coaches.  

It was clear immediately after speaking with Paul, that he was the right man for the job. Trust was high up on David’s list of priorities and because they had contacts in common, he knew Paul could not only talk-the-talk, but he also had genuine knowledge and experience to back it up.  

“Paul has lots of operational experience – more than me – and I wanted to be able to tap into that. I said to him: ‘If there is ever a question I can’t answer, then please help me.” Thankfully, Paul managed the balance between coaching and sharing insights, brilliantly. He asked the right questions and helped me to identify blind spots in my own knowledge.”  

 Coaching with Paul 

Having had coaching before, David knew that ‘you get back what he put in’, and with his new job looming on the horizon, he was keen to get started. 

Together, they worked to prepare a structured transition plan and Paul provided a safe space for David to speak freely and tackle any issues which were standing in the way of his success.  

Something David was eager to address, was the sense of ‘nagging doubt’; he kept feeling like he wasn’t the right person for the job, and it was starting to affect his self-confidence. 

“Early on, Paul told me to take some time to write down everything I have achieved; what I’m good at and all the great things that I have accomplished. He said whenever I doubt myself and feel like I can’t do something, I should read my list. This turned out to be great advice; I’m now my own confidence booster.”  

Another area of concern for David, was that it had been a while since he had managed a large team, so he felt he needed to brush up on his leadership skills. 

Paul helped David build greater awareness of his own communication style and gravitas, to be more aware of his role as a leader and to understand the leadership qualities he should bring to each situation.  

“Paul once told me that I should check in with myself regularly, and ask: “Am I in leader mode or operational mode?” I actually have that question written on a post-it-note, stuck to my desk.”  

Where is David now?  

David made the move to the new company, and with the support of Paul, he smoothly navigated his first few months inside the new organisation. He worked to identify areas where he could add significant value and forged some great relationships in the first few months.  

Through coaching, David’s confidence grew; he now has more confidence in himself, more confidence when tackling difficult issues like conflicts, and has the confidence to say no, allowing him to concentrate on the things that are most important. 

David describes Paul’s coaching style as professional, challenging, and inspirational. His advice to anyone considering taking up coaching with Paul, is that if you’re prepared to be challenged and be willing to put the work in, it will be an extremely rewarding experience.  

“Working with Paul will be transformative, I’m certain about that. I’ve been very successful in my transition and surpassed my own expectations. Paul’s coaching played a big part in that.”  

A Word from Paul: 

David was a fantastic client to work with; he was really committed to his own development.  He worked hard in the sessions and in between to develop the skills and insights which would help him to find his place in the new organisation. 

Once he started his new role, he was diligent in working on all aspects of his development. He quickly increased his contribution and effectiveness inside the new organisation and built some big relationships very quickly. This hard work resulted in his career moving even further forward in a short space of time.   

I think David has a very bright future.