The Transformer’s Voice – Charlie Stainforth
| Name of Transformer |
| Charlie Stainforth |
| Context of Transformer |
| Charlie is discovering a sense of purpose in supporting people to support others. He runs an impact led leadership development business called Circl, which trains professionals to coach and be coached alongside young adults from underrepresented groups. |
| Why are transformations important? |
| When you wake up in the morning what’s the first thing you think about? It’s probably not the same thing every day, but for many people there’s generally a theme around things you need to get done. Do you ever consider how you ended up having to do all those things? What if you could flick a switch and all the things you needed to do just took care of themselves for the rest of your life, where would you end up? Financial Security? Ongoing Health? Good Relationships? What else? Maybe there’s something else you’d like to get done. What change are you going to make now to your thinking, your actions, your plans? That’s what’s important. |
| How can you make transformations a success? |
| Keep going! A transformation shouldn’t be a linear point in time, it’s not a success if you stop transforming. The caterpillar becomes the Butterly. Great, then what? Always strive to be better. Don’t stop transforming. |
| What advice would you give to someone embarking upon a transformation? |
| Change doesn’t happen in isolation. You need a team (family, friends, colleagues, mentors etc) around you but you’re not the focus of the project. Everyone supports everyone. The best way to do this is by asking good questions of each other. A good question is designed to make you think for yourself and come to your own conclusions. We spend too much time telling people what we think, not enough time asking what they think. Also be vulnerable, tell them when you don’t know or don’t have the energy to think and don’t forget to find things funny, especially when it’s all a bit serious. |
| What book would you recommend to help people on their transformation journey and why? |
| When Breath Becomes Air – Paul Kalanithi Paul is dying when writing the book and dies before it ends. His wife finishes it. Beautifully written and it’s good to be reminded about the time constraints when thinking about change! |
