My passion and lifelong interest is people, human performance and an insatiable curiosity about life. I am inspired by people, learning and the irrepressible spark of the human spirit. This has led me on a fascinating journey through many different roles, a journey which continues. The thread that links this journey together is a deep exploration of the fundamental questions that interconnect us all. What does it mean to be a human being? Who am I, why am I here and where am I going? This path has given me a strong connection to who I am, and the privileged experience of getting to know, and work closely with, many different people, from all walks of life, cultures, nationalities and roles.

Professionally I began as an outdoor instructor working in the mountains of Great Britain. This started whilst I was at school and it gave me a love of the natural world, of mountains and adventure that is core to who I am. I then served with the British Parachute Regiment, initially as a part time soldier but for the most part as a regular officer. As well as commanding soldiers it also gave me the opportunity to train young infantry officers in tactics and leadership, which further ignited my interest in learning and development. From there I spent two years working as a Country Director for Raleigh International, the youth development charity, in Zimbabwe and Uganda, before joining a European training consultancy.

Since then I have been working as a independent coach, and consultant. Professionally, I have worked with, and coached, leaders and teams from some of the world's leading organisations, corporate, public and NGO. I also have extensive experience as a life coach, especially with individuals with goals to raise their performance level or who are facing major life challenges. Personally, I have continued to study, develop myself as a person and a professional coach, and to experiment with innovative approaches to learning and development. Who I am, and what I do, are closely intertwined. I have a deep vocation and passion about what I do.

For some time I have been experimenting with the integration of the different disciplines that I have explored in individual coaching and in programmes, which has led me to set up inspiring Life. In particular, I have taken my experiences from adventure education, leadership development and some of the latest ideas from coaching, and psychology, to create adventure based learning experiences. I have been running these regularly since 1995 for corporate groups across Africa, working with remote rural communities, and in 2004 was a team coach and consultant to a Channel 4 documentary, 'The Carrot or The Stick', which explored the impact of leadership and coaching on individual, and team, performance.

I have studied many different approaches in the fields of education, psychology, coaching and psychotherapy, and have just completed the UK's first MA in Psychological Coaching at the Metanoia Institute in London. I am a Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development, an International Mountain Leader (Accompagnateur en Montagne), and a qualified ski instructor. I live in between the UK and the French Alps.

I would describe myself as a psychologically minded coach who can work as an executive, life or performance coach, or in the emerging field between coaching and therapy. My approach is highly flexible depending on who you are and what is happening for you in your life. I am comfortable working across the breadth of your life and journey, or at depth in an area of great significance, meaning or challenge for you. At its heart my coaching approach is relational, existential and future focused; I bring all of me to the coaching relationship to enable us to work together in support of what is real and meaningful for you, to help you move forwards and experience life to the full.

"Ben's ability to listen and provide such insightful and perceptive feedback is really quite special. Having his support and objective observations has had such a positive impact on me when working in some extremely challenging and difficult environments."

Rupert Miller, Assistant Head of Mission, Medicins Sans Frontieres

 

"I thoroughly recommend Ben Clayton-Jolly to you as a professional and inspiring coach, as the Leadership Development course I participated in is the most rewarding, enjoyable and informative training I have benefited from. Ben's integrity, energy and genuine enthusiasm for seeing people grow is refreshing in a world of 'marketeers'. Ben lives his teachings and continues to encourage me to take new risks, to develop and expand my professional and personal horizons. A measure of a great role model is if they are there when you need them, and for me, when I stood at a professional crossroad and reached out to Ben, without judgement he coached me through my thought process, assisting me to find clarity and the motivation to move forward. I sincerely recommend Ben to you."

Amanda

 

"Somehow Ben managed to come along at exactly the right time for me. I was facing some significant, deep and complex challenges, and was confused and weary. His astonishingly perceptive assessment of my situation, coupled with his rapid understanding of my core values and beliefs soon provided some clarity to everything, and through his coaching, support and advice I very successfully navigated my way through the maze and out the other side. In this life, if you are lucky, you will meet three or four truly remarkable people who stand way out from the crowd. Ben is definitely one of them and I would not hesitate in recommending him to anyone."

Simon, Business Development Manager

 

"Ben is probably the most open and trusting person I have ever met – it usually takes me some time to form to trusting relationships – with Ben I felt that I could open up immediately. He is truly inspirational and his one-to-one coaching sessions have had a profound impact on the way I approach life."

Matt Stirland, Distribution Development Manager, Norwich Union Life