Episode #9: Barry Ennis - Follow The Fire
His determination and attitude took Barry Ennis from runner to leader of senior management teams and multimillion-pound projects in a television career that involved a BAFTA-winning show, seven series of Who Wants To Be A Millionnaire? and… Beyonce! But when, in a moment of struggle, he took himself through a self-coaching exercise, he realised that his work in television didn’t speak to the values and passions that were at his core. He set out to find something different, and knew he had found it when - part way through training as a coach - some transformational work with a fellow student lit a fire in him.
Since then, he has followed that fire to the sense of wonder he gets from the right learning, relationships which have enabled his business to thrive, and his new business, The Wake Up Method, providing organisations with a proven way to motivate, inspire, train and retain the next generation of managers and leaders.
In this episode, we talk about:
What he learnt from building his first business, The Guerilla Experience, (with business partner Teresa Klasener,) from their first event, to working in organisations, to what brought that company to an end.
How he created his first corporate coaching offer during a call with a potential client.
Why he says he runs a business, rather than works as a coach, and why he finds the term coaching unhelpful at times.
The dangers of social media and how he uses it.
Plus, Barry talks beautifully about his upbringing and where the stories that have supported his business have come from, including how the distinction between ‘I have a place’ and ‘Know your place’ has made all the difference for him, leaving him in power and not hopelessness.
For more information about Barry, visit: www.TheWakeUpMethod.com, @TheWakeUpMethod on instagram or https://www.linkedin.com/company/thewakeupmethod
For information about Robbie’s wider work and writing, visit www.robbieswalecoaching.com.
Music by My Good Man William: listen on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/4KmeQUcTbeE31uFynHQLQg
Things and people we mentioned (that you might be interested in):
~16: Barefoot Coaching - https://www.barefootcoaching.co.uk/
~16: Kim Morgan - https://www.barefootcoaching.co.uk/about-us/kim-morgan
~20: Transactional Analysis - https://www.itaaworld.org/
~31: Giles Barrow - https://gilesbarrow.com/
~44: Mariana Ipkendanz - https://www.linkedin.com/in/mariana-ipkendanz-acc-125a70143/
~48: International Coach Federation/ICF - https://www.coachfederation.org.uk/
~69: Teresa Klasener - https://www.linkedin.com/in/teresaklasener/
~78: BetterUp - http://www.betterup.com
~82: The Berne Institute - https://theberne.com/
~87: The podcast episode where I spoke to the guest, Joel Monk, about the neuroscience of goal setting was this one: https://www.thecoachsjourney.com/podcast/episode-6-joel-monk-conversations-at-the-cutting-edge-of-coaching In it, we refer back to this episode of the Coaches Rising Podcast with Richard Boyatzis: https://www.coachesrising.com/podcast/how-to-access-optimum-growth-states-in-coaching/
~95: NABS – https://nabs.org.uk/
~97: Kate Rees - https://www.katereescoaching.com/
~101: Fiverr - https://www.fiverr.com/
~103: Barry’s Brag Alert post on Linkedin - https://www.linkedin.com/posts/barry-ennis-coach_wakeup-coaching-coachofthemonth-activity-6630457599294783488-Rrly
~109: Michael Neill - https://www.michaelneill.org/
~116: Abraham Maslow - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Abraham_Maslow
~119: Soil, Soul, Society by Satish Kumar
~120: Ken Wilber - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ken_Wilber
FULL BIOGRAPHY FROM BARRY
MISSION & STYLE
Described by clients as 'exacting', 'compassionate' and 'straightforward', with a unique style utilising ‘warmth and humour to navigate difficult areas’ as well as a ‘confident ability to challenge and hold to account’.
I believe that coaching, or as I like to put it, Whole Person Development is more effective and powerful when it is made accessible and available to everyone. Full scale culture and organisation shift doesn’t just happen at the top of the iceberg, it needs the solid transformational momentum from the masses. Effective change is a personal decision not a professional objective.
Founder and CEO of The Wake Up Method®, designed for people at all levels and backgrounds within an organisation. On a mission to deliver excellent premium quality coaching to everyone regardless of background, identity, experience or seniority. Delivering a mix of face-to-face and digital sessions with an emphasis on Community, Collaboration and Action, alongside thought provoking workshops, seminars and events.
I specialise in applying the latest Transactional Analysis methodology and theory in my practice at the individual, team and system level. I am an experienced Coach, Facilitator and Presenter, proficient in content design and delivery, and bring my personal brand of professionalism along with humour and storytelling to enliven content and process.
PROFESSIONAL BACKGROUND
My background is in TV production and management. My career saw me work in senior management roles in a mixture of independent television production communities and large scale American and European studio/distributor media corporates. A career of 7 series of Who Wants To Be A Millionaire?, getting Beyonce on stage (on time) for ITV, through to working alongside studio heads at Sony in LA for their European TV production company shopping spree.
Starting as a runner with a firm determination and attitude, I have also lead senior management and project delivery teams, and went on to deliver a £2M project for Channel 4. ‘Old People’s Home For 4 Year Olds At Christmas’ was the first to bring paid partnership production into the coveted primetime Christmas season slot, going on to win numerous awards including a BAFTA. Based on the premise that giving up and accepting limitations is not the only option. By introducing a nursery group of 4 year olds into a care home for the elderly, we improved the motor skills, mental health and overall lives of not only the older adults, but also the children. A true demonstration of where positive intention, connection and support can help flourish and nourish the lives of everyone.
I created and lead an internal mentor scheme for young people from diverse backgrounds to enable clarity, purpose and passion for their future careers in the media. Working with media partners and the independent TV production community in the UK, we recruited, mentored and coached young talent from the broadest spectrum of demographic. Something I am immensely proud of to this day.