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Our Services : Developing Talent : Coaching profile - Charles Woodruffe

Dr. Charles Woodruffe

I am particularly interested in coaching people to overcome issues of confidence and assertiveness that are rooted in their ways of thinking about the world. I take a holistic approach and look for themes that run outside the workplace as well as within it and aim to identify perspectives that now limit the person achieving their potential. I have a particular interest in attachment theory and in using its insights in coaching a person to understand how our beliefs about other people causes us to behave towards them in ways that, in turn, causes them to behave in ways that reinforce our original beliefs. This can be a virtuous or vicious circle and, in coaching people, I try to help them move from the vicious circle of doubt to the virtuous circle of confidence. My overall aim is to help otherwise able people acquire the 'people skills' they require as leaders and team members.

Coaching Style and Approach

My coaching is generally with people who are highly regarded by their employers but who are seen as having some awkwardness in their style with others. I try to pinpoint with the client the essence of what others notice about them that is off-putting, give them accurate but supportive feedback and work with them on the causes and means of modifying their behaviour.

Qualifications/Society Memberships

PhD in Psychology (Personality), London University
Chartered Occupational Psychologist
Associate Fellow, British Psychological Society (BPS)
Member of the Division of Occupational Psychology, British Psychological Society
Member of the Division of Counselling Psychology, British Psychological Society
Member of the Special Group of Coaching Psychology, British Psychological Society
Fellow, Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development (CIPD)
Publications in Journal of Personality and Social Psychology and Journal of Personality

Clients & Comments/Testimonials

Examples of Clients

1. Potential board member of major public sector organisation. At the start of coaching, this person was limited by their acquiescence to the demands of others. This meant that they were unable to work strategically on genuinely top priority matters but instead were swamped by attending to low level matters imposed by those at the very top of the organization. Coaching helped them become more assertive with their seniors and with their team enabling them better to concentrate on longer-term issues appropriate to their role.

2. Corporate Finance Team leaders for a major investment bank. Over many years I coached the new team leaders at this bank to become better at delegating and to saying no to the directors. They were typically extremely bright and motivated individuals who were also becoming prematurely burnt out by the demands made of them. Coaching helped them manage their workloads both by making much better use of their team members and by being more assertive with their seniors.

Contact details

Email address: charles.woodruffe@humanassets.co.uk

Phone number: +44(0)20 7434 2122