Dr Alan Watkins

CEO & Co-Founder

“I have dedicated my life to helping leaders develop and make better decisions”

Expert In: Leaders & Organisations
Style: Altruistic, Visionary & Enlightening

Biography

“I want to help reduce human suffering”

Alan’s purpose is both clear and ambitious. With his background as a physician and neuroscientist, it’s evident where his passion stems from. However, Alan made a significant shift 25 years ago. He moved away from individual patient care to address suffering on a broader scale.

His focus turned towards working with large multinational corporations, acknowledging their impact on people’s health, wellbeing and performance. Alan believes that while corporations can be a force for good, poor leadership can result in significant suffering.

Alan firmly believes that every individual has the ability to grow and develop. He advocates for more compassionate leadership, with greater inclusivity, knowing that better leadership positively improves the lives of thousands, even millions, within an organisation and its wider stakeholder community.

“We believe every single person has the ability to become a better, more complete and effective human being.”
Dr Alan Watkins – CEO & Co-Founder

Track Record Style Qualifications

Alan has helped companies treble share price, enter the FTSE 100, salvage difficult turn arounds and establish market leadership in their industry. He has coached many executive teams to significantly greater levels of performance, transformed organisational cultures, helped leaders discover their purpose and identify new ways to succeed. He is an inspiring and entertaining keynote and his TEDx lectures have
attracted over 8 million views.

Alan has an all-encompassing desire for the development of human
beings and the enlightenment of leaders. His style is deeply insightful and robustly challenging. He is also very supportive, encouraging and
humorous. He integrates his very broad mix of abilities and depth of
thinking on multiple topics to help clients transform themselves, their teams and their organisations, achieving result that even they didn’t think were possible.

In addition to his medical degree Alan also has a first class degree in
Psychology from the University of London and a PhD in Immunology from
Southampton University, UK. He has written numerous academic papers,
published in peer reviewed scientific journals. He is the author of eleven
books on topics from leadership to how to solve the world’s toughest
problems and he has three more books in preparation.

He is an Honorary Professor in Business Studies at Kingston University, London and well as a faculty member at the London Interdisciplinary School (LIS) and the Californian Institute of Integral Studies (CIIS).

“Alan Watkins was brilliant – extremely knowledgeable. Combination of expertise areas, neuro, psycho, management. He pitched it at the right level.

I am much calmer, balanced and conscious in terms of getting to the next level, I’m now able to deal with greater job pressures with greater confidence. I feel I’ve been able to take the next step – impact has been noticeable for myself.”

Jeroen WelsSenior Leader, Unilever

“This was different to what I’d done before and that’s why I really liked it. Complete helped us as much individually as collectively.

I’m certainly happy with the progress that I’ve made. Thousands of coaches and courses have never given me the value I get from working with Complete.

They showed us how, as a team, we could evolve to make us faster and more effective at alignment. They gave us the ability to see conflict as positive and constructive. We developed the ability to welcome and seek out conflict and disagreement, and then incorporate that into a stronger overall solution.”

Alasdair LenmanChief FInancial Officer, YBS

“I’d experienced other coaches, but Complete’s understanding of leadership is at that next level. I came across their approach through Dr Alan Watkins’ TEDx talk and through reading his books; 4D Leadership and Coherence. I liked the science underpinning the work and using the bio-feedback to prove that I was making objective progress and could improve with the support of my coach.

I’ve spent a lot of time and money on my development over my career, and in my opinion Complete really is the highest standard. It’s elevated my level of thinking and made a massive impact on my ability to be a leader, a coach, a sales trainer, a parent and even a husband.

The program was really practical. There were lots of different tools and skills and my coach explained how to apply them at work. For example, I remember a time I used the SHIFT skill and it literally saved me about $500,000.”

Simon BeardCEO, Culture Kings

“I have gained a lot from this, and it hasn’t stopped, its an ongoing thing. It helped me understand myself a bit more and become a better, happier version of myself. I can’t think of anything else I have done in terms of development that comes close to this. It’s helped me in challenging situations and think more clearly. It’s done a lot. I am surprised at how great it has been. I have realized that there is so much more potential and a few more gears and levels that I can move through. Not sure if I am able to do that, but I feel more confident that I can. The tool belt – I was using a mallet for everything.“

Scott MillarCEO, Exactive

“Alan [Watkins] adds so much value from his ability to understand the needs of the group. His ability to understand what is not said, but still present. Raises it in a constructive way, conducive to action.

The outcome of the journey has been self-awareness, be mindful of impact and shadow I can cast, read the environment more clearly and awareness of the size of the journey I have ahead of me. Additional perspective. Read through different lenses. There has been an impact in NA SC, not working very well, he helped me think about that and work through the team re-design. Next week we have a session that will be an inflection point. 2020 is the first year we have co-created, Alan has played an important role in that design.”

Ale EboliAnonymous

“We have made considerable progress which can be seen from our financial results.

They helped us to move quickly from the day-to-day reactive work that was all consuming at the start of the pandemic to our longer strategic vision, making sure that we continued to make those longer term strategic investments.”

Louise StonierChief People and Culture Officer, Pets At Home

“I don’t think we could have asked for more. You were incredible professional, sensitive, motivational and tuned very quickly into the team. I enjoyed it a lot, as do I believe the rest of the team. It’s a journey… and we’ve started. Thank you!”

Ian GibsonChairman, Morrison’s

“The coaching journey was very structured, good space between the sessions to practice. It seemed flexible and adaptable, Peter always tried to focus on what was relevant to me as a person. He is very knowledgeable, well-read and passionate about the subject. He always seemed to have a relevant technique that we could use.

I recognise now that I wasn’t in control of my emotions previously, there are now techniques and methods that I can use to be more in control and recognise my emotions.

Unlike other leadership methodologies I have looked at in the past, the fact that you recognise it all starts with physiology in the first place is where Complete are different – a very insightful and refreshing approach to organisational development.”

Tim StranackSenior Leader, Community Fibre

“What our business has been through in the last few years has been transformative. The business was underperforming and now we’re winning. That success has been the team coming together faster than we would have done without Complete.

I’m sceptical when I meet organisations like Complete, but I was impressed by Alan. There was passion, the way he described things it felt practical and doable. I get nervous of models and theories on their own, I like to see theory applied in practicality. But Complete’s experience resonated with the challenges we faced. I felt they understood.

The Complete programme does bring in an element of neurology which puts the leader firmly in the space of being in control of their behaviour and ultimately their leadership style.”

Peter PritchardCEO, Pets At Home

“You have helped me make a personal breakthrough. Simple words, but very powerful for me.

I really did find the sessions helpful on a number of levels, so thank you again. Hope the work with you continues!”

Peter DuffyEasyJet

“We now have the conversation in the room and can challenge constructively. We’ll ask each other, ‘What does this mean for the organisation?’ It’s not just about what this means for you. This takes the heat out of the conversation and allows for a more strategic discussion about what’s right for the organisation.

One of the things I’ve realised is that the executive team still has to have a bit of fun together, but to do that you need to feel trusted and safe. If you don’t trust each other, your guard never truly comes down. Working with Complete has allowed us to be less guarded in a safe environment and to have a bit of fun, but it always feels controlled.”

Stephen WhiteInterim CEO, YBS

“Seeing team members exhibit new leadership capacity has been incredibly rewarding for me personally, and beneficial to the organisation as well.

Everyone on the team has been able to move into the second person – to consider other perspectives. When I first came in two years ago, there were a lot of strong personalities who wanted to be heard. What we know now is that‘s not necessarily the best way to move the organisation forward. Individuals on the team have put this perspective-taking into practice and have been able to navigate successfully some very difficult change. Seeing team members exhibit new leadership capacity has been incredibly rewarding for me personally, and beneficial to the organisation as well.”

Sue Graham JohnstonHead of RBU UK/Ireland/Africa, Linde

“Working with Dr Alan Watkins made a fundamental and positive difference to me personally and to our firm. His analytical ability and knowledge are unparalleled and his methods are groundbreaking. I recommend working with him.”

Julia CookManaging Partner, The Change Management Group

“Alan – Thank you so much for running the session at Swinton Park. I don’t think we could have asked for more. You were incredible professional, sensitive, motivational and tuned very quickly into the team. I enjoyed it a lot, as do I believe the rest of the team. It’s a journey… and we’ve started. Thank you!

Dalton PhilipsCEO, Morrisons

“Alan Watkins is very good at highlighting the importance that emotions have on your energy levels. Can use in the all aspects of life.

I find myself when I coach my team or give feedback, using the examples that I heard from Alan. E.g. Bosses with low EQ, teams that struggle to come together and find a common vision. Very practical. One area which had to do with self-belief – writing an appreciation letter to self what great. The coaching is not cheap, I came in with doubts, but I have to say I really embrace it and believe. It’s an exceptional gift that the company has given to me.

Alan adds so much value – it’s probably his balance and that he lives by example. It would be difficult for him to credible if he wasn’t himself. Very transparent and open and willing to share personal things. Walk the talk and show his vulnerability.”

Alberto Di LeoCEO, Exactive

“Alan Watkins’s methods of making complex ideas accessible to the masses are second to none, in my opinion.”

Anonymous

“I just wanted to thank you for an excellent couple of days with the team this week. The energy during the sessions and the early feedback from the team has been great, and some of the tools you have introduced us to will undoubtedly help us be more effective as a team. I have personally taken a lot from the sessions too, especially from the personality profile work where you explained some of the pitfalls and opportunities we’re likely to face in terms of strategy development, recruitment, and leadership. The team really responded well to the stories you told around how clients had responded to things in different ways over the years, as this really brought the techniques to light.

The quiz was fab too – and a great way for us to get to know each other a bit better too, which is great for everyone not just the new members of the team.”

Banking CEO

“Having read several of his books, watched his Tedx and other talks and met Alan several times, I can say with certainity that he is one of the most Energetic and profound Thought Leaders I have come across. Alan is years, maybe decades ahead of his time and a true Polymath. His deep awareness and compassion drives his passion to explore and bringout the best versions of the people he delivers to. Look forward to see his work more mainstream in several Leadership and Team development areas that it deserves to be.”

Alex RochaManaging Director, The IT Partnership

“I hired Alan to be my business coach after a small beauty parade. One key question I asked everyone was “At the end of 12 months, how will I know if I’m any different/better?” All the others said more or less the same thing, which amounted to “you’ll just know….” By contrast Alan’s response was “I’ll prove it to you scientifically with empirical data!” This had me intrigued and after he talked me through the process I signed up immediately. I’ve been with Alan for almost 2 years now and the effects have truly been transformative. Inwardly I feel great and my energy levels improved by 150% – (I know that from the range of tests carried out at the beginning and end of the first programme). Outwardly, people began to comment after about 4 months on my increased levels of passion and energy. Alan’s passion for helping people and his gigantic (but humble) brain help to make his coaching highly effective, but great fun also.”

Peter NeedleFounder & President, Segura Systems

“I have known Alan and “Complete” in one way or another for 15 or so years, across three companies (RSA/DLG/Aegon) and four teams.

Alan was ever present in many of those team development days, guiding, teaching and challenging as we went on a journey towards being a brilliant and effective team.

I have learnt and tested the frameworks and models, been up and down many a spiral, become a “healthier and happier” leader and managed through more VUCA worlds that I could have dreamt of during that time. I still believe that you need a complete framework to be best leader you can be, over all my leading life I have found none better.

Being a champion brilliant leader has always been my aim, my teams have been in rowing boats, on running tracks and swimming in Swedens archipelago’s to try and optimise our performance.
I thought getting to level 3 as a team was pretty good until Ifound out there were 10!

A massive thanks to Alan and team for their personal support and for leading a business that has positively impacted the performance of myself, my teams, my business and many many people’s wellbeing.

MikeAegon

“Alan Watkins has been an immense source of inspiration in our bold journey to establish a next gen private equity firm and standard.

Complete has empowered our vision to put the “I” back at the core of the asset management industry.

To define our Purpose.

To inspire and acceleration growth around us.

SebastienManaging Director, Px3 Partners

“Thank you for another powerful coaching session. I am truly impressed with the comprehensive methodology and the tooling you have built. This is hugely powerful stuff!

Alan, I am in awe (emotion! Perhaps my favourite) about what you and your team have created. I am curious to embark on the journey and will let you know my further thoughts as I am progressing.”

Pieter LigthartRussell Reynolds

“I am writing to express my sincere gratitude for your time over last 2 days. Every word you said were golden nuggets and I’ve been reflecting on them ever since. It has been a blessing to have discovered you. You have inspired me in ways which you can’t imagine.”

Abhinav KumarPrudential

“I have done a lot of personal development in my commercial and HR career. Before meeting Dr Alan Watkins I considered myself to be more knowledgeable than most and widely read on many aspects of human development. But in a few short minutes Alan transformed the quality and precision of my thinking. We spent a few hours chatting offline during the breaks and in the evening while he was coaching our HR leadership team. He asked such precise and brilliant questions it literally stopped my in my tracks and helped me quickly discover something much more fundamental than I had been thinking. He quickly connected some disparate thoughts I had on several topics that were not yet joined up in my head.

Alan is an exceptionally rare person who can bring incredible depth, subtlety and brilliance than in the few days I have known him have already changed my view of the future. Honestly, I am still processing his profound words. Its a gift which keeps giving. I am now more optimistic and inspired to explore even more what I am my team are truly capable of with Complete’s guidance!”

Abhinav KumarPrudential