Episode #27: Robert Stephenson - How to Say Yes and Become a Conduit for Change

Saying yes has shaped Robert Stephenson's life. 

Accepting opportunities and seeing where they took him propelled Robert as he became a trained actor, a narrative coach, and the director of Animas Centre for Coaching - one of Europe’s largest coaching schools.

While this optimistic disposition has guided him through a career that he thinks of as "a quest", he has not shied away from difficult conversations around diversity, inclusion, and even climate within the coaching space.

He shares his own experiences to help create vital dialogue that is free from shame and embarrassment, and to break down barriers in the industry.

He now leads a coaching community at Animas that is constantly evolving as its many thousands of members learn and grow, and is the host of the Coaching Uncaged podcast.

Robert draws on his theatrical roots as he brings the spirit of improvisation and creativity to coaching, helping people channel their passion, work from their emotions, and live their stories.

In this episode, we talk about:

The vital role of creativity in coaching

Recognising that coaching moves at a separate speed from the world and how jarring it can be to move from on speed to another

The Hero’s Journey and the narratives we are all part of (or think we are)

The power of saying yes and how Robert decides whether to say yes or no

Making room for improvisation and experimentation as we build our coaching businesses

Why Robert is so energised by conversations about diversity and inclusion in coaching, and how he has brought his coaching skills to those conversations

Robert also speaks articulately about his journey as a leader, his role in the spectacular growth of Animas, and how he and his colleagues inspire and motivate the community.

For more information about Robert, visit: https://www.animascoaching.com/about-animas/our-team/robert-stephenson/ or https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/coaching-uncaged/id1326900151

The Inclusion Summit Robert mentions in the episode is set to happen in August 2021 on Thursday evenings. Details are still to be confirmed, but visit the Animas website or follow the Animas social media accounts to stay up-to-date.

For information about Robbie’s wider work and writing, visit www.robbieswalecoaching.com.

Music by My Good Man William: listen on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/4KmeQUcTbeE31uFynHQLQg

To support the Coach's Journey, visit www.patreon.com/thecoachsjourney and to join the Coach's Journey Community visit www.thecoachsjourney.com/community

Things and people we mentioned (that you might be interested in):

~10: Creative Partnerships https://www.creativitycultureeducation.org/programme/creative-partnerships/

~10: Mathilda Joubert: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mathilda-joubert-8299705/

~13: Coaching for Dummies https://www.dummies.com/business/management/coaching-mentoring-for-dummies-cheat-sheet/

~13: The Grow Model https://www.performanceconsultants.com/grow-model

~15: London Coaching Group on Meetup https://www.meetup.com/London-Coaching-Group/

~15: Nick Bolton, founder of Animas https://www.animascoaching.com/about-animas/our-team/nick-bolton/

~20: Nash Popovic https://www.uel.ac.uk/staff/p/nash-popovic

~23: Narrative therapy and narrative coaching https://www.bacp.co.uk/bacp-journals/coaching-today/july-2015/the-stories-we-tell/

~25: Joseph Campbell, The Hero's Journey https://qz.com/1436608/this-classic-formula-can-show-you-how-to-live-more-heroically/

~42: David Shephard https://performancepartnership.com/about-us/david-shephard/

~49: Celia Greenwood https://www.wacarts.co.uk/homepage/ceo-and-founder-celia-greenwood-steps-down-this-month

~55: Unclassified theatre company http://totaltheatre.org.uk/archive/features/treading-boards-or-treading-water-mime-mainstream

~65: Chris Grady http://www.chrisgrady.org/

~66: Nick Bolton’s retirement letter https://www.animascoaching.com/blog/an-open-letter-from-nick-bolton-on-his-animas-retirement-282/

~1.05: Liz Gilbert https://www.elizabethgilbert.com/

~1.30: Coaching Climate Alliance https://www.climatecoachingalliance.org/

~1.35: Animas Impact https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/animas-centre-coaching-launches-new-social-impact-arm-emma-koubayssi/

~1.35: Animas Creating Space https://www.animascoaching.com/creating-space/

~1.38: Sonia Gill at Heads Up https://ukheadsup.com/about-us/meet-the-team/

~1.42: Transactional analysis https://www.goodtherapy.org/learn-about-therapy/types/transactional-analysis

~1.43: How to Have Impossible Conversations, by Peter Boghossian and James Lindsay https://www.goodreads.com/en/book/show/43885240-how-to-have-impossible-conversations

~1.46: Jackee Holder http://www.jackeeholder.com/

~1.46: BACP feature by Robert, on diversity and inclusion in coaching https://www.bacp.co.uk/bacp-journals/coaching-today/january-2021/a-wealth-of-experience/

~1.50: Robert's LinkedIn profile https://www.linkedin.com/in/robert-stephenson-2491a21

~2.04: Che Walker's Revolution events https://www.wacarts.co.uk/homepage/revolution-review

~2.09: Steve Chandler https://www.coachingprosperityschool.info/