What I Offer

Executive Coaching

For leaders who need clarity, not just conversation.

A calm, challenging space to think deeply, grow confidently, and lead with clarity.

My coaching is centred entirely around you. Your goals, your leadership, and the growth you want to create. I combine 35 years of leadership in the Royal Air Force with professional training: EMCC Senior Practitioner accreditation and a Professional Certificate in Executive Coaching from Henley Business School. Sessions are online, in person or outdoors - Bristol-based, working with leaders UK-wide.

Is Executive Coaching Right for You?

Executive coaching works best when you're facing something that requires clarity, not just advice. You might be:

  • Navigating a transition — new role, new team, new level of responsibility

  • Making high-stakes decisions with incomplete information and conflicting pressures

  • Managing complex stakeholders where relationships matter as much as strategy

  • Leading through uncertainty — organisational change, market shifts, operational challenges

  • Feeling the weight of leadership — pressure, isolation, or questioning your approach

  • Ready to grow — you know there's a next level in your leadership but can't see it clearly yet

If you're looking for quick fixes, cheerleading or someone to tell you what to do — this isn't the right fit. If you want a thinking partner who will challenge you respectfully and help you find your own answers — let's talk

What Coaching with Me Looks Like

  • Discovery Call

    We explore what you're facing, what you want from coaching, and whether my approach fits. An honest conversation about fit, both ways.

  • Coaching Agreement

    If we're a good fit, we agree the format (60 or 90 minutes), delivery (online, in person or outdoors), frequency (typically every 2–4 weeks) and an initial commitment — usually six sessions. You set the goals; everything is confidential.

  • Ongoing Partnership

    Each session: progress check-in, deep work on the current challenge, structured reflection, and specific actions to take forward — with brief email support between sessions. You leave every session with greater clarity and renewed confidence in your direction.

Choose the Format That Fits Your Thinking

  • Standard Coaching Session

    • 60 or 90 minutes

    • Online via Zoom, or in person — Bristol or your location

    • Ideal for steady progress on defined goals: ongoing development, accountability, momentum

    • Most clients book a bundle of 6 × 90-minute sessions over 6 months — the space between sessions lets the self-work embed, with optional check-ins in between

  • Outdoor Coaching Intensives

    • Half-day (3–4 hours) or full-day

    • Walking-based reflection — Clifton Downs and Ashton Court locally, or the Mendips and Brecon Beacons

    • Ideal for major transitions, strategic thinking and breaking patterns

    • No outdoor experience needed — we walk and talk at a comfortable pace

Coaching an Individual vs. Your Whole Leadership Team

The formats above are for coaching you, one to one. If it's your whole leadership team, here's how the options differ:

  • Team coaching - the same as 1:1 coaching, extended to your whole leadership team. Regular sessions, coaching methodology, no fixed agenda. We work through what's actually live for the team as it comes up, over months rather than a single day.

  • Leadership Team Away Days & Workshops - anything from a single facilitated day to a full alignment programme: individual conversations to surface what's really going on, then one or more offsite sessions to work through it together.  See Leadership Away Days →

  • Executive Retreats - a structured step back combining coaching, reflection and the outdoors: a one-day intensive locally in Bristol, or a multi-day residential retreat away. For leaders and teams who need to properly disconnect, not squeeze in another meeting. See Executive Retreats →

Leadership Under Pressure

Helping Leaders and Teams Scale New Heights

Leadership Under Pressure • Helping Leaders and Teams Scale New Heights •

What Leaders Bring To Coaching

  • Leadership Identity & Confidence

    Moving into a bigger role. Finding your voice. Overcoming imposter syndrome.

  • Clarity in Decision-Making

    Navigating complexity. Weighing options when there's no clear answer.

  • Managing Change & Transition

    Leading through restructuring, market uncertainty, role changes.

  • Relationships & Difficult Conversations

    Stakeholder management. Building trust. Team dynamics.

  • Culture & Leadership

    Building high-performing teams. Addressing underperformance.

  • Resilience, Pressure & Wellbeing

    Sustainable performance. Managing stress. Avoiding burnout.

  • Strategic Thinking & Prioritisation

    Seeing the bigger picture. Cutting through noise.

  • Purpose & Direction

    Reconnecting with why you lead. What's next after success?

How I Coach

My coaching is client-centred, non-directive and grounded in partnership. You set the agenda — I don't tell you what to do; I help you think more clearly so you make better decisions. I challenge respectfully: I'll ask the questions you're avoiding and name what I notice, always in service of your growth.

I bring lived experience — 35 years leading in high-stakes environments — alongside professional training: a Professional Certificate in Executive Coaching from Henley Business School and EMCC Senior Practitioner accreditation, one of the highest coaching standards in Europe.

In sessions I draw on established approaches — the GROW model, cognitive-behavioural tools, solutions-focused techniques and Gestalt methods — matched to what you need, not applied by formula. And when it helps, we take the thinking outdoors: some of the best insights don't emerge in an office.

New College Swindon Dave Tait Non-Executive Director
Institute of Directors England, Dave Tait Certificate in Company Direction
Dave Tait Certified Facilitator Everything DiSC Workplace

Accredited & Affiliated

Dave Tait EMCC Global Individual Accreditation EIA Senior Practitioner
Dave Tait Trustee & Non-Exec Director, Mountain Heritage Trust
Dave Tait Chartered Member CIPD

What Leaders Say

  • Dave Tait 5 star reviews

    "An absolutely incredible experience"

    “I took part in the leadership retreat run by Dave and wow — what an absolutely incredible experience. I cannot thank Dave enough for the tools and lessons I’ve taken away. I went in sceptical — what would a military leader know about running a small business? How wrong I was. I learnt so much and have implemented the tools from day one. I can immediately see the benefits in my business and would recommend the retreat and Dave’s coaching to anyone in a position of leadership or management. Truly worth every penny.”

    Lottie, Business Owner

Invest In Your Leadership

Executive coaching is an investment in how you think, decide and lead.

Investment is discussed on your discovery call.

Every engagement includes all coaching sessions, between-session email support, confidential action summaries, and access to coaching frameworks and resources.

Frequently Asked Questions

Ready to Think More Clearly

Book a discovery call. We'll explore what you're facing, what you want to achieve, and whether coaching with me is the right fit.

Or email me directly: hello@davetait.co.uk