My Philosophy

It’s hard to be a young man today. 

Our educational system seems to work against boys’ physical, emotional and intellectual development process. Many adolescent boys don’t have positive male role models and mentors to help them navigate their path to manhood. The world is a very different place to what it was 40 years ago, and yet the “masculine ethos” hasn’t been redefined accordingly. The traditional masculine virtues no longer seem so virtuous; instead, so much about being a man is now considered to be “wrong”.

As a result, many of our sons are struggling to adapt. Many, increasingly, are falling behind.

The solution is not simply for boys and young men to “become more like women” and “develop their feminine side”.

It is absolutely crucial that young men are able to connect with their emotions, their values, their strengths and their deep selves, and have opportunities to explore the full range of human development.

It’s also crucial that they learn to do this in a way that respects who they are as men – how men develop, communicate and function, and what’s important to them. A way that honors young men as human beings who will be called on to contribute the masculine virtues to society.

Coaching is a highly effective technology to help young men come to know themselves, test their strengths, and build their skills through action and experiential learning. The coaching relationship provides the kind of mentoring and listening – the individual understanding, support and encouragement – that boys need to thrive, succeed and contribute. It’s a way of hearing, seeing and appreciating them which honors who they are, and their unique path and way of walking it.

It’s time for men to rethink our contribution to the new world we live in, based on an aware, appreciative, responsible expression of what masculinity has to offer contemporary society. This starts with our sons having access to the full range of their talents and possibilities, and having the skills and support to explore and develop their opportunities.