Meet the Governors: Paul Watkins

Paul Watkins, who recently joined our Governing Body, talks about his involvement with EMCC UK, and why he became a Governor.

Tell us a little about yourself.

I work as an executive and team coach. I'm one of the recently elected Governors, so I’m still finding out how things work here, and how I can add value.

Why did you become an EMCC UK Governor?

My reasons for representing the members as a Governor include wanting to contribute to the increasing professionalism and recognition of our practice.

The work of a Governor is, broadly, to help the organisation consider and build in strong governance instincts and practices. Good governance adds value by being transparent and ethical, focused on tackling operational challenges in ways that complement the big picture vision. It always seeks the best outcomes for our members and clients and is never content with merely staying out of trouble. So we continually question our governance practices.

The Governors are also a resource for members, giving confidence that the directorates are working on topics that are important and valuable to EMCC members. We help the directors to clearly articulate how they are doing that now, and fit the future needs of future members.

Why is EMCC UK membership important to you?

Because it provides a credible, professional set of standards. My clients can count on the quality that EMCC accreditation implies. I feel assured that the EMCC is working in the interests of its members.

Do you have any particular areas of interest in EMCC UK?

As Governors, we try to align ourselves with groups, networks and directors. I have the privilege of links with the Team Coaching group, with the regional networks in the West Midlands, Thames Valley, and Bristol & Bath, and with the Directors for Coaching Practice and for Marketing & Communication.

Through our connections, we hope to offer an additional conduit for members to get their voices heard by the EMCC.

What recent EMCC UK event or resource have you found most engaging?

Many of us attended the recent Festival session on ‘AI in coaching’. As a participant, I had the cobwebs of complacency blown from me as I was offered a skilful and eye-opening insight into the marvels that machine learning can offer our clients and our profession. I recommend that members look at the recording, which will be available soon.