Executive Coaching Testimonials
Executive coaching is about helping leaders accentuate their leadership effectiveness by helping them leverage on their strengths and understanding themselves better. These are some of the feedback that we have received from clients who have participated in the program and we feel honored from their willingness to share their experiences.
"Sometime in the Jun 2015, I decided to work with an
Executive Coach as an additional resource think through some
organizational issues that I was working on at that time. I
met with a few potential coaches and I decided to work with
Wai K. Our coach-client relationship developed over 9 months
and I find that Wai K was very professional in his approach
and skilful in helping me think through my situations. Some of
the areas that I wanted support from a coach was how to manage
various stakeholders and developing my top team, at the same
time how to be a better listener myself. Most of the time, he
played the role of my sounding board and the value that I
received through these session were higher clarity on actions
that needed to be taken. I find that working with Wai K also
provided me with a reminder on what is important as daily
issues tend to sometime derail our focus. I would recommend
him to any leaders who is looking for an executive coach as
resource and support to help them on their journey.
CC Puan, CEO
Packet One Networks (M) Sdn Bhd.
"When I started out, I was given a choice to suggest a mentor
or go with one picked by HR. I decided that I wanted to get
out of my comfort zone and capitalize on the experience
decided to go with Wai K, suggested by HR. The experience
spanned from self-discovery, to learning and finally
practicing what I learnt. The one aspect that I would like to
call out is that, nothing was shoved down my throat. I was
always made to look for the answer from within me. Wai K
listened when I had an opinion and did not try to influence my
thought process, he led me to think and there were
self-realization moments which were thoroughly a-ha... and the
light bulb would go on. Why had I not noticed this before, has
been largely my reaction. Why did I need it? As a leader, I
can come across to be constantly saving the world sometimes
this can be undermining other people from learning or
discovering. I needed to know my blind spots and the coaching
helped me with that. I became more open to feedback and
certainly also gained a lot of confidence and the ability to
be assertive. Most importantly, i have become more aware of
how what I say or do may be perceived and can be entirely
misinterpreted. Coaching was not recommended because I was not
a good leader, but to make me a better one, and I thoroughly
enjoyed my experience with Wai K. Being open minded about the
coaching and consistently reflecting helped me maximize on the
experience. I would definitely recommend this to both beta and
alpha leaders. Wai K is an amazing coach, with so much
insight. Thank you."
Jasmine Begum, Director
Legal & Corporate Affairs, Microsoft (Malaysia) &
Emerging Markets
"Wai K, I just want to thank you for all of the wonderful
support that you have given me throughout our coaching
session. I know that without your help and support, I would
not have gone very far. Over the past one year, I've been able
to see a significant difference in my public speaking skills.
I also experienced a new level of confidence when I address my
team, not only in public but in difficult one on one
situations.he techniques and questions that you asked me on
our first session and subsequently, continues to serve me to
this day. A simple technique of closing my eyes, placing
myself in the situation and seeing myself becoming the person
I want to be has really helped me to find my confidence. Thank
you for bringing me to the next level and assisting me in
realizing my full potential. Your coaching has changed my
outlook on my leadership position. Thanks to you, I am now
embracing my leadership skills and aiming to be the best
leader I could possibly be. I owe you many, many countless
thanks."
Zafri Ab Halim, CEO
Great Eastern Takaful Insurance
"In the past year since early 2011, the Senior Leadership
Team of Maxis embarked on an Executive Coaching &
Development program. For this program, I personally selected
Wai K to be my appointed Executive Coach over all others as I
found him to be very pleasant gentleman with an amiable
personality. During the course of the program, I found my
sessions with Wai K to be extremely helpful in both my
personal and professional development. Not only does Wai K
brings with him vast experience in executive coaching, he also
demonstrate strong capabilities to grasps work
issues/challenges quickly. He is an extremely good listener
who never fails to ask prompting questions at the right time
and manner. Through his questions and our open discussions, I
was guided to seek answers and solutions to any
issues/challenges I was facing. I found it useful to discuss
"almost anything" with Wai K, be it on a personal or
professional level. He conducts himself very professionally
and never fails to offer support and assistance required. I
would highly recommend Wai K to any other professional
executive who is in search of an Executive Coach."
Testimonial
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Sophia Lim, Senior Vice President
Sales & Service, Maxis Telecommunications
"Wai K is a remarkable executive coach with a proven track
record. As a certified coach who has been a CEO himself
previously, he not only speaks with authority but also coaches
with pragmatism. His simple coaching techniques, amongst
others, on effective questioning & listening skills are
exceedingly powerful. Silence is golden while waiting for
coachee to response. Never advise, let the coachee
self-discover the problem and provide own solution methods,
are extremely effective in getting quick improved results from
top to junior management and even from those who are about to
retire and to those who just joined the company. His pleasant
and humble personality as an executive coach is extraordinary"
Chew Soi Ping, Executive Director
Nestle Bhd, Malaysia & Singapore
"This is an excellent program which clearly demonstrate to me
the way coaching is to be done, through your demonstration of
your skilful & excellent coaching style with me during the
entire program. I have learnt to communicate with more
patience, listening and understanding through raising
questions, reaffirming and summarizing, confirming etc. and
have developed a stronger sense of networking in the
organization. This approach has helped me generate in my staff
better understanding of the situation/problems, minimizing
emotional elements and create better ownership of the
solutions. Since the awareness, I have drastically reduced my
telling/providing solution approach. I have since continued to
practice the coaching style as I am convinced that this is
very effective, useful and important management quality and
tool in any workplace. This management approach has enhanced
my relation at workplace, train staff to think better and
create better ownership of their work, problem and solutions.
This one-on-one approach is an excellent approach which has
allowed me to bring to my coach's attention some real life
experiences being faced in the work place, and through
coaching, help me resolve the matter in a different and more
effective manner. This approach have also allowed me to
discuss real situations with confidentiality without holding
back, hence the effectiveness. Wai K clearly demonstrates his
leadership skills, qualities and professionalism during the
entire program, thus helping me learn faster and easier
through real life role model. He acts like a mentor and is
generous with his time to genuinely help me. I highly
recommend this course for senior executives and managers who
are open minded and determined to learn and enhance their
leadership skills and styles. Thank you coach."
Theresa Yau, Senior Manager
Sales & Channel, HSBC
"Before the coaching sessions with Wai K, I would describe my
leadership style as very much directive and some times quite
"bossy", as I would like to get things done quickly in my way.
However after the coaching, I realized the importance of
developing my subordinates; just instructing them what to do
and how to do it is not enough. I discovered that as a leader
I need to invest time and effort to explore and be curious
with what ideas my subordinates could contribute towards
solving problems. Being curious is the key to develop people,
as only when you are interested in knowing people's
capability, ideas, options they could have, I have discovered
that I can identify the best ways to solve issues most
effectively together with them. This is the key learning I
experienced with Wai K's coaching program and I have begun to
see the benefits to myself and my team. Thanks to coaching,
thanks to you, Wai K!"
Denis Li, Senior Manager
Nestle, China
"I find this program very rewarding and enriching for me
because it has helped me sharpened my thinking process,
assisted in prioritization of values and enhanced my decision
making. Leong is an excellent coach. Wai K is a real expert in
this specialized skill and I would recommend this program to
anyone who desires to lead a team for performance excellence.
I have learnt how to draw out from my team members, using the
coaching approach, their resourceful states, ideas and
strategies. This coaching program has helped both me and my
subordinates to be more motivated, pushing for excellence."
Amos Yap, Academy Director
Prudential Insurance
"When I started my 3 month coaching sessions with Wai K, I
was a little sceptical about what I could gain from the
experience, but I was prepared to be open minded. However,
after only our second session, and to my surprise I sensed an
opportunity to enable a real shift of my mindset about my role
and my behaviours toward those in my team, and an awareness of
the difference that I could make in my own effectiveness as a
leader.
By the time we completed the sessions, I can honestly say it
has been a truly enlightening and valuable experience, which I
am already seeing solid benefits in the way I enact my role
and interact with my team. It has also been a fun experience
and focused my mind on the importance of seeking positive
outcomes.
Wai K is a gifted coach and has helped me to understand the
distinction between managing and leading, and get me firmly
moving on my own change management journey to be a more
effective leader by adopting a coaching mindset in day to day
team matters and with our change management program. I know am
not a polished leader but Wai K has really given me the
confidence to grow on my leadership journey."
Expatriate, Senior Regional Manager
Oil & Gas Industry
"Wai's coaching has changed my life! I look at my
personal/professional life with more enthusiasm, feel more
confident and have rediscovered my purpose in life. I would
like to acknowledge Leong for the genuine support provided and
I always felt rejuvenated after every coaching session. When
Leong challenges me to think about what is important for me,
my commitment level in wanting to improve and the actions I
intend to take. His active listening, hearing beyond what is
being said, asking powerful questions that sets me thinking,
helping me reframe my perspectives and sharing with me his
experience. His non-threatening style of coaching helps me
focus on an area at a time. He never fails to acknowledge me
in every session. His tone of voice, the way he speaks makes
me feel safe to talk to him right from the very first session.
That helps to bring my true self out. My coach is a natural.
Keep up the good work coach!"
Tan Khar Hoay, Human Resource Director
NGO Industry
"I have found the coaching sessions to be very valuable and
helpful to me. Being a new coach in training and in the
process of setting up my business the coaching sessions have
been great to inspire and spur me on in the right direction.
Overall it has worked really well. We have been able to cover
many different subjects related to me as a coach. It has
helped me to better understand the role of a coach and how
powerful coaching can be. The most effective thing that Wai
did for me was to help realize a few UAC's that has been a bit
of a hinder for me setting up my business. Leong has also
helped me gain a better understanding of my potential niches.
Leong has been a great coach for me; very affirmative,
encouraging and quick to acknowledge which has created
enthusiasm. I can very much recommend him as a coach!"
Niclas Collen, Life Coach
Malmo (Sweden)
"This program is very powerful. It is the best personal/work
development program I have ever experienced. I have developed
so much self-awareness with this coaching program that my
ability to manage my subordinates have improved tremendously
as a result of this awareness about my strengths. It is my
honor to have the opportunity to be coached by you. Through
these coaching sessions, I have learnt different strategies of
handling difficult situations and managing people. Most
importantly, I have developed a stronger sense of
self-awareness & self-control which is very useful at work
& personal. I have also gained a better understanding in a
macro view on how a corporate function in terms of
expectation, culture & motivation for its employees to
strive to reach a common goals together. A big thank you, Wai
K!"
Sebastian Yeoh, Asso. Clinical Research Mgr
Pharmaceutical Industry (Singapore)
"I have found the sessions to be very useful. My overall coaching goal with Wai was with regards to building a coaching practice as an executive coach. Wai has been able to very effectively support me by:
- helping me see that my previous experiences and credentials are useful in building my credibility as a coach through his questions.
- helped me explore ways in which I could market my services.
- using role plays to help me explore various ways I could handle a trial session with a CEO prospect (my first with a senior executive);
- sharing with me his own experience in executive coaching, and asking me how that would benefit me;
- helping me see some pitfalls to avoid in executive coaching when it is organisation-sponsored.
Wai gave me space to find myself as an executive coach. He
did not hold up an ideal model which I HAD to follow. He did
not once intimate that I was lacking in this or that area. He
did not make me feel inadequate. Instead, he just let me be
myself, and partnered me on this expedition of discovery. I
guess this was just what I needed - a companion who could
encourage me when needed, reflect back to me my own thoughts
and feelings and re-package them in a way which made more
sense, and provide the accountability which is so important in
reaching a goal. The most effective thing that Wai did for me
was to build my confidence as an executive coach. Looking back
from when Wai first started coaching me about 2 ½ months ago
on December 8 till today, my confidence has grown from about 3
on a scale of 1 to 10 to about 8. I now feel that I can coach
my targeted clients - senior executives and high potentials -
in most areas. I also realise that I have particular strengths
in communication especially public communication and
behavioural changes. Of course, the coaching programme has
been immensely valuable. But Wai has helped me achieve this
level of confidence much faster than if I were to do it on my
own. Included in this is that I need not be anxious over the
outcome of the coaching. He helped me see that it's not up to
me alone, but it is a partnership. Hence I should just enjoy
the session, and flow with client. Wai has an easy-going,
gentle style which would go down well with a wide variety of
clients. He is obviously an experienced executive coach
(having many years of coaching behind him)."
YTL, Director,
Building and Construction Industry, Singapore
"This is an excellent program and I would strongly encourage
many others in this organization to participate in it for the
benefit of the individual and the bank. The sessions with Wai
K has helped me develop my coaching skills to coach my team
members to share and achieve common goals and vision. I have
discovered techniques that were very effective in motivating
and strengthening my team cohesiveness. The program too
improved my confidence level when dealing with different
situations and people. I have discovered my strength and
further enhance those areas and also it allow me to identify
opportunities. The discussion with Leong opened up my mind to
possibilities which I would never have considered before. He
also provoked me to rethink about the barriers and how to
overcome them. The most powerful thing personally for me in
the sessions was in the questioning techniques and role-plays.
The techniques used were very motivational and it inspired me
to excel further. In addition, it has enabled me to extract
higher value out of team members practicing the same
techniques on them.
For example my team's sales target was to achieve RM1b in new
business by December 05. Using the techniques learnt, the team
members willingly pushed themselves and we achieved our year's
target in August 05! By November 05, my team achieved RM1.4b
in assets! We expect to close the year at 1.5b (50%
over-achievement). As a reward, my team was chosen as the
first team to hold off-site meeting at Tioman Island (outside
Kuala Lumpur) in September 05. My team has also collected
RM30,000 in incentive award for our next year trip abroad. The
most effective thing that Leong helped me was to build and
enhance my confidence level. He also has assisted me in
identifying my potential and transformed my belief and
behaviour towards achieving higher goals. I shall never forget
his statement "WHAT'S STOPPING/PREVENTING ME TO..." You
thought me a lot and allowed me to discover myself including
my strengths and give me options on how to deal with certain
situation. This is a great program an I'm thankful to the bank
for enrolling me into it and others should be given the
opportunity to attend the same."
Maimunah Alias, New Business Dev. Mgr
Banking Sector
"Wai K, it has been a pleasure having you as coach over the last year. To pen a few words as to how I have benefited from our sessions will not do justice for the amount of benefit I have garnered from your good assistance given. I have benefited tremendously in this executive coaching program. You have helped me strengthened my leadership abilities over the six months period culminating in my promotion to Regional Manager. The coaching has created a higher level of self-awareness about my leadership styles and it has also sharpened my skills to engage and build teams to shared my vision and goals. Being coached has helped me indirectly to pick up coaching skills to coach my team members. It is a very powerful management tool. Specifically you have enabled me to do the following in a much better manner:
- Change my management style to one of more Coaching and Mentoring
- Stayed focused on the main goals to be achieved in my Area of Management and get better results through my people
- Improve balance between Work and My Life
- Rehearse and explore better methods and means of influencing people
- Better strategies to deal with conflict situations
- Build Trust through the emotional safety bank approach with work colleagues
Thomas Varughese, Regional Manager
Banking Sector
"This program was particularly rewarding for me in learning
how to seek alignment with various parties on goals and
objectives e.g. with subordinates, peers and superiors.
Seeking agreement and achieving consensus, especially in
difficult situations where these goals/objectives may not be
directly linked to their own performance measurements. This
program confirms that 'growing' the people in your team is the
key in achieving superior results and performance. The ability
to be a good leader is in how effectively one supports and
work with the teams through effective coaching, guidance and
obtaining their buy-in on a strategy to be implemented.
Leadership goes further to the ability to work effectively
with the other departments and seeking their
alignment/agreement on proposed strategies. At the same time,
the ability to keep an open mind on ideas and suggestions that
can improve the overall strategy is the key in moving forward.
I will continue to focus in developing my team and focusing on
the individuals' growth through coaching to achieve overall
results for the business. My challenge is to inculcate this
into the rest of the team members so that every layer of
management practices this coaching approach. Thank you Wai K
for helping me jump start this process."
Linda Yip, Regional Sales Manager
Banking Sector
"I should have taken coaching years ago. I have developed a
higher sense confidence in myself and my leadership and
management skills. Wai K has been able to pinpoint and coached
areas in my life that needed help and this has resulted in my
peers and subordinates seeing a difference in me. The sessions
have helped me defined my objectives and focused on my
priorities. I truly feel a tremendous change in my outlook in
life and my behavior. I have learnt good coaching skills and
strategies in handling difficult situations and developing
people. I enjoyed the coaching very much. We used actual
working cases and situations for our discussions. The agreed
approaches or strategies were applied and the progress and
outcome were monitored and followed up. I not only learnt but
also achieved a lot. I appreciate very much Wai K's coaching
and will continuously apply what I have learnt from the
coaching sessions. Thank-you coach."
Dr Luke Lin, Medical Director
Pharmaceutical Industry (Singapore)
"Wai K and his partner coached and mentored our management
team in 2003 in GSK and our managers in turn applied the
techniques they learned with their own subordinates. We began
to see behavior changes so much so that after the conclusion
of the Coaching Leadership Program, we had request from the
team for them to continue with it. I am more than happy to
recommend to anyone, be it on an individual basis or as a
corporate program that Leong is one of the best when it comes
to learning and more importantly applying what coaching and
mentoring is all about." (For a detailed testimonial)
Kenny Tan, Organization Development Mgr
Pharmaceutical Industry
"Thanks Wai K, for all the great things that I had learned
from you. In the beginning, I thought that this coaching was
just training or motivational session but now I discovered
that it is a very systematic and effective approach to
self-discovery and learning. It is very interesting to
realized how important for everyone to organize and manage
their thoughts and approach in everything that they do. The
leadership coaching sessions have benefited me in the areas of
developing a higher sense of purpose at work, a more balanced
work-life and it has also sharpened my leadership and people
coaching skills. My key objective of learning how to build and
manage teams has also improved."
CH Ting, Marketing Manager
Automotive Industry
"I find the coaching sessions with Wai K very thought
provoking, helpful and it brought clarity for me that lead to
action. I have learned the skills of asking questions more
effectively. The most powerful thing that I benefited from
this coaching is that it has helped me clarify my purpose and
objective for being a coach. I am very pleased with Wai's
approach and coaching style and this has created a very good
and positive experience for me."
Doris Ng, Branch Manager
Banking Industry, Singapore
The dialogue that I had with Wai K were very productive
especially on the skills of good probing to peel off layers to
reach the underlying core to learn on what motivates oneself.
It was also very helpful for me to enhance my skill to adopt
good coaching with my subordinates. I think working with our
subordinates is a skill area which we all as managers need to
build strongly and consistently. Building our area managers
skills not only makes them better managers but also the ripple
effects will create a positive environment where respect
between employees is created.
Choong Kit Son, Regional Sales Manager
Pharmaceutical Industry
"Before attending your coaching session, I didn't have the
slightest idea of what coaching session is all about. After
going through it for a couple of times, I found that it was
different from other training which I had attended. I am
grateful to my boss for including me in these sessions. Even
though this is only my third session, I have personally felt a
big change in me especially in what I want to be and my
attitude in life. It also helped to focus in my work and my
family life, increased my self-motivation and I made these
CHOICES on my own. One very good example was when we went
through the need for me to do physical exercise to improve my
health. I was giving a lot of reasons and excuses for not
doing it. Eventually I realized that it was an unconscious
CHOICE that I have made. Well, I now realized that I have a
CHOICE to be what I want. If I choose to be positive, then I
are positive and if I choose to be the other way round, then I
believed the result is always negative. I am confident that
with your continued coaching sessions, I will become a better
and more effective person at work and in my personal life.
Thank you coach Wai K"
Simon Soh, General Manager
Automotive Industry
"I have gained so much in the last 6 months since the
beginning of this coaching program. I feel more confident in
my leadership abilities and I now enjoy communicating with
others at ease. This program has given me valuable insight
about my aims in life and personal satisfaction at work.
Before this program I would rate my coaching abilities to be
about 5 (on a scale of 10) and now I'm confident to say that
it is about 9. Wai K, thank you."
Dr Mano Paranjothy , Medical Affairs
Pharmacuetical Industry
"Wai K, slightly more than year ago, I met up with you at
Centre Point, MC Donald where you gave me an opportunity to
interview you. Recalling the chat we had, I must say "Thank
You" to you as you have ask me one question that has made a
huge difference for me and that was " Is this what I really
want to do?" Ever since then I stop to ask this question when
I see something that maybe of interest to me but may not be a
long term fulfilment for me and with that I usually manage to
turn away what was not right for me. A year after our meeting,
I finally took up my NLP Practitioner Cert. I have now set my
goal to be a trainer and will make it there soon. I just
thought I'd share this progress with you as I really want to
thank you for opening up my mind through that chat we had. I
have been using that question to most of the people whom I
train and coach who seemed to be "lost" or "out of focus" and
it really helped. Once again, thank you."
Joanna Chong,
Certified NLP Trainer
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Empowering Asian Mindsets Through Coaching
Publisher: Pelanduk Publishing Company
Book Size: 5.4 MB or 228 pages