Coaches Corner with David Clutterbuck

1. Who or what inspired you to do what you do?
First off was having a mentor at school – my English teacher, who used to digress into philosophy, architecture and many other realms of knowledge. From him, I learned to take an eclectic perspective and the joy of learning from everything. Second was an academic called Kathy Kram, who introduced me to the theory of mentoring from a US perspective – even though so much of the theory was wrong! Then my colleague and co-author the late David Megginson – we became co-mentors and co-coaches. And also my blearing disabled son, from whom I still learn so much!

2. What do you find the most challenging about your work?
Working with "learning overload" – the more knowledgeable I become, the bigger the backlog of potential learning I acquire!

3. What's the biggest lesson you have learnt in recent years?
Letting go to create space to grow.

4. If you could wave a magic wand and have one wish for you or your coaching practice, what would it be and why?
To clone myself as an AI, so I could bring coaching and mentoring to the billions, who do not have access to it!

5. Tell us a fact that not many people know about you ...
I am a children's author
I take on a new learning challenge each year
I trained as a stand-up comedian and head up the research committee of the London Comedy School