Stuart Clark, Senior Developer & Advocate of Community

I was in need of help, as I felt my career and leadership ambitions were a pipedream and I was not on the right path. I wanted to understand and learn how I could learn the often-problematic abilities required to persuade and influence people, even those over who I had no direct authority.

Identifying and improving my leadership style by formulating and implementing effective leadership strategies. Sometimes hard work is like a pie eating contest where the prize is more pies. If you don't have all the facts yet, you shouldn't have a strong opinion yet. 

I felt like I had stalled in my career and having an external and non-bias opinion helped. This new perspective made me feel empowered and provided me with tools helping my thoughts around leadership become more natural. It's always worth your time to show you care about others.

Transparency, kindness and compassion. Making me feel I am capable of handling any challenge and the strengths I have. The knowledge share is not something which will last a few weeks or months, this is something which will improve my leadership journey, and have invaluable impact on my long-term success. 

A leadership coach was not just an instructor; they were also a counsellor and motivator - a partner. In your career you need someone to play the devil’s advocate who will be judgement free and a person to  bounce ideas off, and a guide to help navigate situations and communication.  You won't always be a priority to others, and that's why you have to be a priority to yourself. Learn to respect yourself, take care of yourself, and  become your own support system. Your needs matter. Start meeting them. Don't wait for others to choose you. Choose yourself.

Once in a while, we’re given a very rare and special opportunity to connect with someone unique. I would like you to know that I am so sincerely grateful that we had the chance to meet, you are one of the most virtuous and caring people I have ever met. You helped me accept myself and clear doubt which had lived like a monster under the stairs for many years. I used to think I could fix anything in my life if I just tried a little harder or gave it more time. But your help showed me that some things aren't meant to be 'fixed.' Sometimes all you can do is make peace with it and move forward, knowing you were doing the best you could. Kindness like yours can move mountains.