DR DAVID LOWE
Coach. Educator. Author. Researcher. Podcaster
David has coached a wide range of individuals and organisations — from start-ups to established enterprises — across multiple industries, including pharma, travel, health, fashion, charity, wine, government, law, agriculture, automotive, and finance.
He holds a doctorate in coaching and mentoring from Oxford Brookes University, where his pioneering research explored the experiences of spontaneous humour in dyadic coaching — how it emerges, how it is received, and how it affects the coaching experience — alongside a postgraduate certificate in Business & Personal Coaching from the University of Chester, Professional Certified Coach (PCC) accreditation with the International Coaching Federation and a range of Agile-related qualifications.
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Interview with David
David: That I was responsible for not “damaging” the client, that my actions alone could cause them harm.
The DNA model that Linda Spencer and I created. Its foundation is simple: we never assume the first topic a client brings is the one that actually needs exploring.
A client was determined to get back into sport in their spare time. But when we looked at how that would ripple through the rest of their life, they realised it would mean less time with their wife and newborn child. That was the moment I understood just how intricate and interconnected our lives really are.
That if humour is an authentic part of who they are, they feel braver about bringing it into their coaching.
That they have to be the clever one with the clever questions.
I was mentoring and teaching people, and wanted clarity on what actually separated those from coaching. The moment I started learning, I was transfixed.
I’ve come to appreciate how unique everyone’s perspective is. When we’re younger, we tend to think our view of the world is the truth, or that some single truth is out there waiting to be found. Now I see that there’s only ever a perceived truth, and many people hold onto theirs tightly, unwilling to let go. Where others get frustrated by someone’s refusal to broaden their view, I’ve learned that’s usually fear talking, not stubbornness or delusion.
It’s a tricky question, because everyone I think of, I’d want to coach for what they give me rather than for them. The exceptions are people who took their own lives, Robin Williams among them, but then I’d be stepping into the role of saviour, and that isn’t coaching. So my answer is: the person reading this.