Tutor of the month - In Professional Development

This month’s tutor of the month is Steve Barry. Steve has been amazing over the last few weeks, delivering our in house programmes and open courses, receiving exceptional feedback from all the delegates.

We recently caught up with Steve to find out more about him and hear his thoughts about working with In Professional Development. You can read a selection of his answers below.

What 3 words would you use to describe In Professional Development?

Fun – Progressive – Ambitious

What is the biggest challenge you’ve overcome in your career?

Stepping out of a “regular” job to work independently as a consultant. There is a whole set of different rules at play and it takes a lot of time to adjust.

What would you say your biggest achievement in your career is?

The last 6 years of consultancy work has done more for my own personal development and self-confidence than I could have ever imagined. It’s been hard, stressful but very rewarding and I wouldn’t change it.

What do you like the most about your role as an associate tutor?

I genuinely enjoy the variety of the groups of people we engage with. Whilst the issues are often very similar, the delegates themselves bring it to life and every course is different from one month to the next.

What would you say are the biggest lessons you’ve learned over your career?

I’ve taken some wisdom from the people who’ve managed me and their sayings have really stuck with me and given me the confidence to keeping going. Pearls of wisdom so far are: 1. Remember what we do is not life and death, so keep it in context. 2. Don’t forget to KISS it (Keep it Simple Stupid), saving me loads of time. 3. I’m better at what I do when I’m surrounded by people who have different strengths and abilities. We really are better than the sum of our parts.

Do you have a hidden talent and if so, what?

I started learning to horsehide as it has been an ambition to do a ‘city slickers’ style holiday next year to mark my 50th birthday.

What one invention would you uninvent and why?

Email – time consuming and largely there for audit purposes – bring back face to face discussions and trust that we’ll do what we say.

Name one thing on your bucket list or an ambition of yours…

I want to swim in every ocean in the world

If you had to pick an animal to best describe you what would it be and why?

My inflated ego would choose an American Eagle although I can sometimes be very sloth like

Tell us something most people don’t know about you…

I joined the 20% of the population last year by having my first Tattoo, the Statue of Liberty. Not a hint of a midlife crisis anywhere in sight, honest.

If you would like to know more about what we do visit INPD or head over to our Linked In page for more thought-provoking ideas.