Insight Grows in Conversation
‘I would highly recommend Stephen’s approach to developing leadership thinking and practice. His wise and considered approach is affirming and supportive.’
Pat Murden, CEO of the Diocese of Westminster Academy Trust.
Executive coaching and reflective consultancy for people with significant responsibility in education, faith and other purpose-led organisations.
WHO I WORK WITH
I work with people whose decisions shape organisations, communities and the lives of others; people working within mission-driven organisations shaped by purpose as much as performance.
Some are navigating a variety of forms of change, others are stepping into greater responsibility, or considering what should come next. Others value having a confidential space in which to think carefully about their leadership, relationships, quality of judgement and sense of direction before decisions need to be made.
I also work with organisations through reflective facilitation or ‘retreats’, leadership development, or research consultancy, particularly where thoughtful dialogue is needed around questions of purpose, culture, identity and change.
WAYS OF WORKING
Every piece of work begins with conversation rather than prescription.
I begin with you: where you are now, what you are facing, and what you hope might become clearer. Rather than imposing a pre-packaged solution, I shape our conversations around your particular context, circumstances and concerns, so that the work stays close to what is actually true for you rather than what fits a standard framework.
For individuals, this most often develops into a coaching relationship contracted over several months, meeting regularly enough to sustain momentum between conversations, while leaving room for reflection in between.
For organisations, the shape of the work follows the question at hand, whether that is facilitated dialogue at a moment of change, support for a leadership team finding its way through a transition, a ‘retreat’ to assist team development or individual insight, or a piece of research consultancy grounded in evidence rather than assumption.
Whatever the form, the work is grounded in thoughtful attention and careful enquiry, with the aim of helping you see more clearly, understand more fully and move towards purposeful action.
About Stephen Parker
I am an executive coach, educator and Professor of Beliefs and Values, with more than three decades’ experience of working with leaders, professionals and organisations.
My work brings together leadership, education, values, judgement and human development. I hold academic posts as a Teaching Associate at the University of Oxford and Visiting Professor of Beliefs and Values at Lincoln Bishop University. I have also held senior academic and research leadership roles in higher education and am Editor-in-Chief of the Journal of Beliefs & Values. My extensive experience of doctoral supervision and researcher development sits alongside work mentoring academics, professionals and senior leaders across education and public-purpose organisations. These experiences have given me a close understanding of what it means to hold responsibility for people, organisations and ideas.
My coaching provides a confidential space in which people can think carefully about demanding situations, difficult decisions and what may be required of them next. It is informed by long experience of education, research, leadership and institutional life, together with a sustained interest in how people make sense of their work, their values and the responsibilities they carry.
I hold a PhD in religion and public life and a distinction-level MA in Pastoral Care, Counselling and Human Development, and am currently undertaking advanced professional formation in Executive Coaching at Hult Ashridge Business School as a member of EMCC Global.
My approach is calm, reflective, direct and gently challenging. I help people slow down, see their situation more clearly and move towards purposeful action without losing sight of integrity, context or what matters most.
Stephen Parker talks about his style of coaching.