Paul Berry - External Relations

Paul Berry - Director of External Relations

My approach to my coaching and supervision practice

I believe humans are complex, and it’s not possible to fully understand human nature. This belief is reflected in my coaching practice. For example, I believe in human agency and self-determination, yet I also believe non-conscious factors influence why we do what we do. I also believe our environment hugely shapes who we are, how we behave and how we make sense of our world. I also believe the notion of control is largely an illusion, despite us all trying to exert control over our lives.

All of which means that there is no single theory about human nature that informs my practice. I draw on several, depending on their usefulness to any particular engagement. I try to see client issues through a systemic and complexity lens. Which means I don’t just focus on the individual, but I also focus on their relationships and broader systemic factors that may be at play.

I see myself as a collaborator, not an expert. I rarely use tools within my practice, other than the tool of my ‘self’. As such, understanding how I make sense of my own world, assumptions I make and biases I hold, is a critical influence on the quality of my practice.

What APECS means to me

I believe humans are complex, and it’s not possible to fully understand human nature. This belief is reflected in my coaching practice. For example, I believe in human agency and self-determination, yet I also believe non-conscious factors influence why we do what we do. I also believe our environment hugely shapes who we are, how we behave and how we make sense of our world. I also believe the notion of control is largely an illusion, despite us all trying to exert control over our lives.

All of which means that there is no single theory about human nature that informs my practice. I draw on several, depending on their usefulness to any particular engagement. I try to see client issues through a systemic and complexity lens. Which means I don’t just focus on the individual, but I also focus on their relationships and broader systemic factors that may be at play.

I see myself as a collaborator, not an expert. I rarely use tools within my practice, other than the tool of my ‘self’. As such, understanding how I make sense of my own world, assumptions I make and biases I hold, is a critical influence on the quality of my practice.

Value I bring to my clients

The purpose of my coaching and supervision is to help clients improve the quality of their thinking. This is an expression of a value that underpins my work; critical thinking.

I seek to create collaborative relationships where I play the role of thinking partner, noticing how clients make sense of their world. My aim is not to change their worldview, but to help them become aware of alternative perspectives. Hopefully, they then hold any particular perspective lightly, which I believe is an essential capability for navigating complexity.

My interest in critical thinking, judgement and decision-making is probably rooted in the 15 years working in derivatives trading.

Examples of coaching/supervisor work

I have been working as an Executive coach and leadership consultant since 2012. I have associate relationships with other coaching companies, as well as having clients for my own business. My background in Performance Psychology has meant my client focus has not exclusively been on coaching; I have an interest in the psychological factors influencing performance at individual, group and organisational levels. Constructs such as confidence, resilience and motivation are of particular interest to me.

My work is industry agnostic, and I have worked with senior leaders and groups in industries such as investment banking, private equity, policing, fintech and media. Since late 2022, I have been working as an internal coach for one of the world’s favourite airlines, with responsibility for their executive coaching proposition.

Qualifications and Experience

Master Accredited Coach APECS

Certificate in Coaching for Leadership: Psychodynamic Approaches (Tavistock)*

Professional Certificate of Advanced study in Coaching & Supervision (Oxford Brookes)*

MSc Coaching and Mentoring Practice (with Distinction)

MSc Performance Psychology

MSc Investment Analysis

*ongoing

Psychometrics:

Hogan. HPI, HDS, MVPI

Neo-pi

Academic publication

Berry, P., 2021. An alternative conceptualisation of coach expertise. Coaching: An International Journal of Theory, Research and Practice, 14(2), pp.202-213.