Dr Phil St John Renshaw

Background

Phil started his career in international banking working in London, New York and Sydney. He then moved into the corporate treasury and corporate finance world, going on to become a Finance Director in the IT sector. Soon after he tuned into the important fact that people, and hence people skills, generate the numbers. And with that insight, he launched a new career. He is now a management and executive coach, leadership development facilitator and, through his research, an expert in leaders-who-coach.

His greatest passion is teaching managers and leaders the skills of coaching to use in every day life in order to create leaders-who-coach.

This ground-breaking work is based on previously overlooked research which addresses the critical distinction between the processes used in professional coaching, and the very different use and application of coaching skills within leadership.

Research opportunities

Current Research

Phil's research interests have moved into the area of leadership and, in particular the modern views of collaborative leadership which replace the traditional, broken and yet still strongly advocated models based upon the idea of the hero-leader.

Along with his business partner and Cranfield Visiting Fellow, Dr Jenny Robinson, they have researched and published in the intersection of coaching and leadership. They have laid claim to the new term "leader-who-coaches", to move the academic and practical fields forward. They are pracademics seeking to change the old failed model that assumes leaders should BE coaches - in contrast to developing effective leadership capabilities which include these skills. Their practical impact is growing through their innovative diagnostic tool (the GIZMO) and the COTG Skills Report that it generates.

PhD Research 2015-2019

Organisations predominantly remain incapable of demonstrating the value of their international assignment (or expatriation) programmes. These programmes are based on a belief-system and the management of these programmes is generally through cost not value. Despite this lack of knowledge, the use of international assignments, whether long-term or otherwise, is increasingly widespread in global organisations facing talent shortages around the world. Phil's Doctoral research focussed on what the value of these interventions is, how it is created and where it sits. And hence ultimately how we can practically help organisations evaluate and increase the positive impact of these vital assignments.

Current activities

Phil is active as a facilitator and coach in various Cranfield Executive Development programmes. Currently in the Breakthrough Leadership Programme.

His book, Coaching On the Go, is used in various settings including the Talent Development Programme.

Phil has provided facilitation, coaching and supervision support into several programmes including the Executive MBA, the full time MBA, the Masters in Management and the Mastership programmes in Business Strategy and Leadership. His main focus is the provision of coaching support and the teaching of coaching skills for leaders.

Phil delivers a regular Masterclass for PhD students on the impact of your philosophical perspective on your research.

Clients

A wide range of clients providing facilitation, leadership development and coaching/coach training over the years including Novartis, Veolia, Capgemini, PwC, National Trust, NHS, UnLtd and more.

Publications

• Articles in journals
• Conference papers
• Books