Episode #41: Robert Stephenson – The Scaffolding of Change (and When to Discard It)
Robert Stephenson no longer carries trinkets in his pockets. His need to wear crystals that represent his spirituality has lessened. This, he says, is because he has come to embody the meaning of those items in his very being.
This shift has characterised an important period in Robert's life, in which he has departed from his role as director of Animas Centre for Coaching and launched his own coaching business, Fan the Flames Ltd.
Robert talks about openly and honestly about why he left Animas and the impact this change has had on him, and he describes how he has truly stepped into his power since his first appearance on The Coach's Journey Podcast in July 2021. Back then, Animas provided a framework – or scaffolding – for Robert's work. So what happened when that scaffolding was no longer present?
Our conversation explores Robert's transformation in depth, offering valuable lessons about how to manage change and how to grasp opportunities that arise when our circumstances change.
Robert explains how he made decisions led by intuition, discovered through play, or inspired by dreams, as he took ownership of his future while embracing his "nowness".
In this episode, we talk about:
Recognising change in ourselves
What are the stabilisers we use in our lives? And can we take them off?
Embracing endings and managing change
Listening to our bodies and accessing our deeper knowledge
How to move "from loss to legacy"
Robert also talks about the courage it takes to remove the masks we wear in our lives and careers, and the new ways people relate to us when we show up as ourselves.
To learn more about Robert, visit https://www.linkedin.com/in/robert-stephenson-2491a21/ or listen to his first appearance on the podcast https://www.thecoachsjourney.com/podcast/episode-27-robert-stephenson-animas-how-to-say-yes-and-become-a-conduit-for-change
For information about my wider work, my writing or to buy my books, visit www.robbieswale.com.
Music by My Good Man William: listen on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/4KmeQUcTbeE31uFynHQLQg
To support the Coach's Journey, visit www.patreon.com/thecoachsjourney and to join the Coach's Journey Community visit www.thecoachsjourney.com/community.
Things and people we mentioned (that you might be interested in):
- Robert’s previous appearance on The Coach’s Journey Podcast: https://www.thecoachsjourney.com/podcast/episode-27-robert-stephenson-animas-how-to-say-yes-and-become-a-conduit-for-change
- The Hero's Journey, by Joseph Campbell https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Hero's_Journey_(book)
- Founder of Animas Nick Bolton https://www.animascoaching.com/about-animas/our-team/nick-bolton/
- Johan van Bavel – https://www.linkedin.com/in/johan-van-bavel-mcc-4826b34/
- Claire Mitchell https://claire.simplero.com/
- Coaching Inside and Out https://coachinginsideandout.org.uk/
- Jenny Bird https://www.coachsupervisor.co.uk/
- Todd Roache https://www.toddroache.com/
- Natasha Harris https://mindbodysoulenergy.co.uk/
- Claire Dale https://www.companiesinmotion.com/claire-dale
- Robert Holden https://www.robertholden.com/
- Poem by Ingrid Goff Madoff - https://www.facebook.com/hollieholdenlove/photos/what-do-you-do-when-you-are-stuck-do-you-know-to-go-inside-to-ask-for-inner-guid/1417314465052422/
- Isik Tlabar https://www.isiktlabar.com/
- Kate Lander https://www.ivyhouse.co.uk/team/kate-lander/
- Extraordinary, by Elke Edwards https://www.ivyhouse.co.uk/thebook/
- Three Principles https://changeinaction.com/3-principles-based-coaching/
- Elaine Rémy https://viesjamaicanrumcakes.co.uk/coaching-cake/
- Andy Cahill's podcast, The Wonder Dome https://mindfulcreative.coach/the-wonder-dome
- Information about Robert’s group programme https://www.linkedin.com/posts/robert-stephenson-2491a21_fantheflamescoaching-fantheflamesgroupciaching-activity-6961262939651637248-9gQS?utm_source=share&utm_medium=member_desktop
ABOUT ROBERT STEPHENSON
With a background that has roots in performance and theatre, Robert Stephenson's journey to coaching and training has taken him along a varied path of experience and learning.
Having originally trained as an actor and mime artist, physical theatre was a big part of Robert's early work. Specialising in theatre and education within schools, he has worked collaboratively with a number of organisations, and these collaborations sparked his interest in coaching.
Robert also trained as an NLP Practitioner and hypnotherapist, before passing his Diploma in Transformational Coaching and gaining accreditation through David Drake's Narrative Coaching, Simon Western's Analytic Network Coaching, Peter Hawkins’ Advanced Coaching and Claire Dale's Physical Intelligence programme.
Accredited by the International Coaching Federation, Robert held multiple training positions before becoming centre director with Animas Centre for Coaching.
He moved back into the world of freelancing to work with Ivy House London, More Happi, Physical Intelligence Institute and the Intention Centre for Leadership Coaching, as a facilitator, trainer, coach and supervisor.