Mike Pearton
Port Elizabeth, Eastern Cape, South Africa
12
Years of Coaching Experience
2850
Coaching Hours Logged
About
The decision to engage an Executive Coach (like marriage) is a weighty matter. After a substantial corporate marketing career and 20 years of promoting my own consulting, coaching and mentoring business, the following is what I believe to be the minimum amount of information required to make an informed decision prior to engaging on a one-to-one basis and making a final call.
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A short, true, and interesting story about Executive Coaching.
I recently worked with an Executive Director (let’s call him Joe) who believed that he was very good at managing the all-important work / life balance dynamic. His CEO, the company HR Director, his wife and family, and later, his medical doctor, strongly disagreed. They could see his sporadic tense, and at times aggressive, and even, damaging, behaviour while the fact that he was achieving his (very tough) performance objectives told him that everything was fine.
Donald Rumsfeld, was accredited with musing that his concern was that there were times when his executives, "Did not know what they did not know". Going back even further, the Greek philosopher, Epictetus, noted that “It is impossible for a man to learn what he thinks he already knows”. The word "Impossible" is a bit strong but it can quite often be very difficult to modify behaviour simply by shining a light on it. In this particular case it achieved very little. Joe did, however, readily accept the option of engaging with a Business Coach given that this would be with a seasoned, experienced, professional who had significant experience of the "boardroom environment". Looking back in hindsight (that exact science activity), a major attraction was the opportunity to explore the topic in the safe space that is Coaching.
I use a Solution Focused coaching framework and have found this to be particularly well suited to the business environment. The whole approach is positive and (as you will have guessed) the focus is on developing a solution to a particular situation. Stephen Covey, all those years ago, spoke about "Beginning with the end in mind" and that is a very good insight into this coaching protocol. After a short period of time to build a bit of rapport (mainly done through encouraging Joe to revisit, and share, his Personal Values Profile, which he had done some time previous, by completing the online Life Values Inventory questionnaire), we approached the main issue at hand.
Unlike some coaching frameworks, we did not start with the CEO's views, or those of his very wound-up PA (who was reviewing her employment options), or even those of his concerned family. We started by formulating a Preferred Future Statement for the topic of Work / Life balance which Joe fully embraced as his own. In essence this was "To create a situation that allows me more free time both during and after the workday". Joe initially defined two measures of success: 1. He would take part in the company monthly golf outings with his fellow senior managers, key customers, and key suppliers which were scheduled for the last Thursday afternoon of each month (and which he seldom, if ever, joined) 2. He and his wife would be active in the Rambling Club they had joined two years ago and participate in the monthly weekend event which included a night away. Joe then added a third behavioural measure five sessions into the programme and it was a major Tipping Point for the coaching intervention. 3. He would never again take another antacid tablet. If you cannot see why this was so important, then email me at [email protected] and I'll elucidate it for you!)
In the interests of keeping this story within the space available, the rest of the programme focused on examining Joe's use of time against his goal of achieving his Preferred Future Statement and its success measures for making efficiency improvements. After eleven coaching sessions, Joe and I declared the process a success and the other parties fully agreed. As Joe put it, he had “not only seen the light but now controlled the power switch”.
Languages
Meeting Modality
Who is Mike Pearton?
I am a seasoned business professional, with a wide range of experience at a senior level. A self-motivated individual with above average interpersonal skills. A strong bias toward achieving defined objectives through the promotion of strategic thinking, strong management and leadership, clear communication and organisational alignment.
During my corporate career I held senior positions in Marketing, Sales, and Human Resources, mainly in a manufacturing environment and later, in Business Support with a national franchise operation. Virtually all my work experience was gained with international organisations i.e. Unilever, Pilkington, PG Group (where I spent the last 23 years of my formal employment).
As Company Human Resources Manager I was a member of the Executive Committee reporting directly to the CEO. In addition to my functional responsibility, I also had a significant broader strategic accountability relating to corporate governance and diversity.
I am internationally accredited by the Institute for Independent Business International (London). Accredited Associates are required to have a proven track record of a minimum of 20 years of senior management business experience and demonstrate their proficiency through peer review at the Residential Business School in London. I completed this process in 2004.
Coaching is often offered by individuals who have high levels of theoretical coaching process knowledge and good coaching qualifications but who are sometimes short of actual senior management practical experience at an executive level.
I have coaching, management, and leadership knowledge, skills, and experience applied and honed at an Executive Team level. If my offering is of interest, you can request a copy of my abbreviated CV by sending me an email at [email protected]
I use a Solution Focused coaching methodology, and a cornerstone of my coaching process is the technique known as Socratic Questioning. If you are not familiar with this very useful management tool, then it is certainly worth googling. It is centred on the fundamental principle of Truth First and is often quite refreshing for the Coachee.
After more than twenty-five years of corporate experience, I have managed my own consulting, coaching and mentoring business for the last twenty years. Over the last twelve years I have focused almost exclusively on Executive Coaching, and today my primary focus is on the transformation and empowerment of executives who want to reach new levels of effectiveness through self-awareness.
I have my own personal coach who is a certified and practising Career Psychologist – he keeps me up to date and on my toes and also weighs in with advice and guidance as needed.
Why coach with Mike Pearton?
I provide high-quality, personal growth-focused, coaching and mentoring services. The agenda is always the Coachee’s, and assistance can be provided in a number of areas.
- Developing yourself – self-awareness | assertiveness | work-life balance | communication | conflict management | delegation | influencing | problem solving | procrastination |
- Improving team performance – cross cultural issues | effective meetings | performance management | strategic focus |
- Managing work processes – an area where an independent experienced third party is often invaluable - a safe space to reflect | a personal testing ground before you launch | managing change | negotiation skills |
- Other topics – glass ceiling | emotional control | self-motivation |
- Planning your next step – promotion | retirement |
Coaching Loft – Facilitating coaching administration and reporting
Given that my coaching Practice has continued to grow, I recently took the decision to partner with Coaching Loft, a sophisticated coaching platform that was voted the best coaching management software in 2024. It has been reported that more than 3,650 professional coaches and 117 organisations worldwide currently use this renowned coaching support system.
There are a number of distinct benefits for each of the parties involved in the growth-focused coaching process i.e. the Coach, the Coachee, and the coaching sponsor / company. These include:
- Appointment scheduling
- Shared calendars
- Parties can schedule independently
- The CL calendar syncs with MS 365, Outlook, Google etc.
- Integrated video conferencing
- A bespoke CL system
- Can also integrate with MS Teams and Zoom
- Client / Sponsor Portal
- Access to shared space and private space
- Access to agreed goals, milestones, and progress made
- Chat facility
- For quick interactions between Coach and Coachee – seamless and efficient
- Journals
- Separate space for Coach and Coachee
- Record personal notes, points for discussion and preparation for sessions
- Coaching Agreement
- As required, a base document can be modified to suit the parties needs
- I also publish my Personal Principles and Values as an Accredited Associate of The Institute for Independent Business (London)
Packages
Executive Coaching
“Excellence is never an accident. It is always the result of high intention, sincere effort, and intelligent execution” - Aristotle – Ancient Greek Philosopher (384 BCE to 322 BCE)
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- Executive coaching is a strategic partnership.
- The engagement is highly personalised and involves identifying areas for improvement, goal and milestone setting, and the ongoing measure and review of progress.
- The purpose of the process can include growing the Coachee’s self-awareness, emotional intelligence, confidence, and strategic thinking capacity. This has the effect of improving leadership style, decision-making and problem-solving skills, innovation, productivity, and overall well-being.
- The initial focus is usually on clarifying and refining insight into personal values. Given that values are the single-most powerful drivers of positive behaviour, this process provides a solid foundation for realistic behaviour change.
- The coaching methodology that I employ emphasizes that the class of problems is distinct from the class of solutions, and this focus expedites and reinforces lasting change.
- One of the cornerstones of Leadership development is the ability to engage, facilitate and inspire subordinates. With this mind I share coaching techniques and skills with the Coachee wherever possible.
- Talk to me.
General
- There is no specific duration attached to this programme. Experience to date shows that the process typically takes between three and five months to be completed.
- The seventy-five-minute sessions are scheduled on a weekly basis at a rate of €185 per session.
- The client is invoiced for sessions completed on the last day of each month and payment is due on presentation of such an invoice.
NOTE: If you are living in Africa, you may be eligible for a discount for this programme.
Emotional Intelligence
“The first thing you have to know is yourself. A man who knows himself can step outside himself and watch his own reactions like an observer” --- Adam Smith – Scottish moral philosopher (1723 to 1790)
“The first sign of a settled mind is that it can stay in one place and spend time with itself” – Seneca – Ancient Roman philosopher – 4 BC to 65 SD
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- There are many views regarding what exactly Intelligence Quotient (IQ) tests measure. These generally include reasoning ability | the efficient use of information and logic | cognitive abilities such as working memory, problem-solving, and logical reasoning.
- While a high (IQ), however, is certainly required for specialist positions such as professorships in the sciences, medicine, and computer science arenas, i.e. academic performance, there are generally weaker links to human relationships and general quality of life.
- Numerous studies have demonstrated that individuals with high Emotional Intelligence (EQ) scores perform far better when it comes to getting results through others i.e. Management and Leadership.
- Emotional Intelligence (EQ) relates to the ability to understand and manage your own emotions and influence / guide / facilitate the emotions of others. The five key elements here are Self-awareness | Self-regulation | Motivation | Empathy | Social skills.
- The good news is that, unlike your IQ which remains relatively fixed throughout your adult life, EQ is comprised of skills and abilities that can be systematically improved.
- Talk to me.
General
- This Short Coaching Programme in Emotional Intelligence comprises six seventy-five-minute coaching sessions covering the key elements and, most importantly, the application and integration of this learning content into your everyday working life.
- The coaching sessions are scheduled on a weekly basis at a rate of €165 per session or €990 for the full programme.
- The client is invoiced on the last day of each month for sessions completed and payment is due on presentation of such an invoice.
NOTE: If you are living in Africa, you may be eligible for a discount for this programme.
Management Reset
“The nearer a person comes to a calm mind, the closer they are to strength” - Marcus Aurelius – Roman Emperor | Philosopher – 121 AD to 180 AD
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- I have had consistent positive feedback from Clients about this Short Coaching Programme and the benefits it has had both for refreshing job focus and commitment and for staff retention.
- When work pressure becomes and remains relentless, management churn can seriously sap job satisfaction and efficiency. In short, it becomes difficult to see what has been done.
- Under these circumstances the opportunity to reset in a safe environment with a seasoned coaching partner can mean the difference between winning through and moving on.
- When pressure persists, the mind can be inclined, over a period of time, to reflect on apparently greener pastures rather than pushing back, refocusing, and building on the sunk investment made to date in the company.
- While each of these programmes is distinctly different, the type of topics often covered include Personal Values | Personal SWOT | Personal objectives | stress management | the defined scope, accountability, and responsibility of the Coachee’s position | the current reality | development and facilitated implementation of a Recovery Plan | the vital process of securing commitment and buy-in from a superior for this plan.
- Talk to me.
General
- This Short Coaching Programme comprises eight seventy-five-minute coaching sessions.
- The seventy-five-minute sessions are scheduled on a weekly basis at a rate of €185 per session.
- The client is invoiced for sessions completed on the last day of each month and payment is due on presentation of such an invoice.
NOTE: If you are living in Africa, you may be eligible for a discount for this programme.
SME Business Process Mentoring
“Employ your time in improving yourself by other men’s writings, so that you shall gain easily what others have labored” – Socrates – 470 BC to 399 BC
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- On offer here is a Business Process Mentoring programme for SMEs (businesses typically employing up to about 100 people).
- The core of this product was developed by the founders of the Institute for Independent Business International (London) i.e. the body by which I was accredited in 2004. The institute was founded in 1984 and each subsequent (at one time monthly) intake of Associates continued the tradition of adding additional value to this assessment tool.
- In order to be considered for accreditation applicants were required to prove that they had 20 years of senior management business experience, attend a ten-day training and assessment programme at the Head Office in London, and pass muster with their course peers. Sadly, this organisation is no longer active (although there is still a website IIB | Home ) being an early victim of COVID.
- While large businesses have experts in all of the seven functional areas, Strategic Focus | Management | Marketing | Sales | Value-Add | Human Resources | Finance, SME’s typically only fully cover one or two of these disciplines in depth.
- This programme takes you through all seven elements and the multiple sub-elements, in a structured manner, working through the key concepts, in detail as necessary, assessing how your business rates against each, and assisting you in developing a plan to close the gaps in a prioritized manner.
- Visit my mentoring website at ( https://www.my-coach-and-mentor.com ) for a more comprehensive insight into the topics covered.
General
- This Short Coaching and Mentoring Programme comprises eight seventy-five-minute coaching sessions.
- The seventy-five-minute sessions are scheduled on a weekly basis at a rate of €145 per session.
- The client is invoiced for sessions completed on the last day of each month and payment is due on presentation of such invoice.
NOTE: If you are living in Africa, you may be eligible for a discount for this programme.
Authentic Leadership
“There is but one thing of real value – to cultivate truth and justice, and to live without anger in the midst of lying and unjust men” - Marcus Aurelius – Roman Emperor | Philosopher – 121 AD to 180 AD
“We are like books. Most people only see our cover, the minority read only the introduction, many people believe the critics. Few will know our content” – Emile Zola – French novelist and critic – 1840 to 1902
“We can easily forgive a child who is afraid of the dark; the real tragedy of life is when men are afraid of the light.” – Plato – 428 BC to 348 BC
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- If you are a successful leader and your mind is now starting to turn to thinking about the legacy you will leave behind you, then this may be the programme for you.
- Authentic Leadership has been described as a calling rather than a management proficiency tool. To interact with your organisation / subordinates in a mode of open and distinct transparency requires a high level of self-awareness and confidence.
- Depending on the breadth and depth of your personal insight you may benefit from completing one or more psychometric tests. While I am not a Psychometrist, I have worked with assessments for a good number of years. I have an affiliation with an international practice and can arrange for you to do any tests needed online.
- By way of considering your appetite for this type of coaching programme you may want to complete the Life Values Inventory online at Life Values Inventory — Values Clarification Program . This will give you a useful idea of the process. This free tool has been used by a wide range of businesses and institutions for a number of years and will provide a valid and useful insight into your core behaviour drivers.
- If this is of interest then we will need to set up a short call with a view to me learning about you, your challenges, your motivation to change and grow, and an initial identification of your coaching needs. We would also cover what you’re looking for in a coaching relationship, and my coaching approach and beliefs.
General
- There is no specific duration for this programme. Experience to date shows that the process usually takes not less than four months. Given that there is study material for the Coachee’s attention, there has been a tendency to handle content in blocks with gaps in between. This allows you, the Coachee to embed learnt behaviours and adjust the programme around your personal agenda.
- While my preference is for weekly sixty-minute sessions (to ensure project momentum) there is flexibility here, if for example, a two-weekly meeting better suits your agenda. My rate is €280 per session.
- The client is invoiced for sessions completed on the last day of each month and payment is due on presentation of such an invoice.
- Continued support has been a feature of this programme and a number of my clients continue to engage periodically with me after the completion of the base programme.