Ken Smith

Integral Coach

Ken Smith’s martial arts training started off in 1977 with studying the southern division style, Wing Chun and a northern division family style, Lune Whan Kune . In 2002 he joined YMAASA and trained under Corlius Birkill as a private student.

His professional career started off as a tobacco and coffee farmer moving on to forestry. Here he was the Founder and CEO of various contracting companies for 20 years. Ken was elected to the Executive Committee of the SA Forestry Contractors Association (SAFCA) for eight years of which four years as chairperson. He participated in several development interventions in the forest industry and as a Director of the Forestry Contractors Productivity Initiative (FCPI), a Section 21 Company, presented several workshops on productivity, change and risk management to the industry. He initiated several new innovative business concepts in forestry for which the companies under his direct control received various rewards.

In 2006 he embarked on a career change hence qualifying himself as a coach through the Centre for Coaching (UCT), INSAfrica. He started coaching in the beginning of 2007 and currently has about 650hours of coaching and mentoring. He incorporates his extensive experience in Mind – Body Practices into his coaching programs. Some of his clients include Mnet, Subaru S.A, Megapro, Motorite, Lafarge, Lothlorien Paper Mill, Blue moon and the Legal Aid Board.

Apart from his studies in Chinese Martial Arts, Yoga, Hypnotherapy and Reiki he completed various business courses at the University of Pretoria Business School. He is also an accredited International Identity Compass and Adfen E-scale Enneagram consultant.

His approach towards coaching is from an integral perspective assisting his coachees to live from a space of centeredness, presence and fullness thereby allowing them to see their current reality with “fresh eyes”.

He offers coaching in either English or Afrikaans.

Products on offer

Coaching

Performance coaching, Developmental coaching and Transformational coaching
Integral leadership coaching
Team coaching and development
Life coaching
Mentoring
Motivation Architecturing - Personalised Motivation Tools and Strategy for Retaining Employees who are Critical to
Business Success

Assessment instruments

The Identity Compass
The E-Scale (Enneagram) Profile

Stress Management

Integral Life Practices and Philosophy Workshops

Other services

Hypnotherapy
Reiki Jin Kei Do

Memberships

• COMENSA – Coaches and Mentors of South Africa
• MCF - Meta-Coach Professional Development Group
• SAIH – South African Institute of Hypnotism
  

Testimonials

“As a person Mr. Smith is very progressive and of undisputed character and integrity, enjoying the respect of the forest industry. He participated in several development interventions in the industry and is a Director of the Forestry Contractors Productivity Initiative (FCPI), a Section 21 Company. He presented several workshops on productivity and change management during the FCPI interventions. Mr. Smith initiated several new innovative business concepts in forestry and was a leading contractor to design and develop Black Economic Empowerment. He also serves on the Contracting Working Group to develop a BBBEE Contracting Sub Charter and Balanced Scorecard. Mr. Smith possesses a very wide general knowledge and in depth knowledge of the development, training and forestry environments. He is an excellent leader and manager with a high capacity for business.”
Dr. J.C. Steenkamp (CEO SAFCA and Snr. Lecturer, Resource Economics: NMMU)

"Ken Smith is propably one of the top Executive and Business coaches in South Africa today. Not only does he have a keen understanding of modern business practices, but his integrity is beyond approach. What amazes me the most is his ability to coach so-called "uncoachable" managers and his ability to establish rapport and trust in a very short time. His knowledge and expertise of the Identity Compass Coaching Profiling instrument is world-class and the feedback from his LAB Coaching Project clients has been absolutely phenomenal. Inherent in Ken's approach to coaching is his meticulous preparation, his creative reflective assignments and his follow-up, as well as the additional value-add he provides to every one of his coachees. Many coaches are in the game to make a quick buck. Some, like Ken, has a true calling and an unmistakable talent to work with business leaders."
Larry Erasmus (COO: INSAfrica and Assistant-Project Manager on the LAB Leadership Coaching Project)

“Without doubt I can confirm that Ken was able to add a new found value to my life and being. I would recommend anyone having the opportunity, to walk a bit off road of your life with Ken. If you think you cannot learn more about yourself or improve yourself, I am certain you will be pleasantly surprised. Thanks Ken.”
Andre Roeloffze (Project Manager, Sephako Cement)

“The coaching was more a beginning of a process than an event. The coaching assisted me in looking at my approach to people, situations, challenges, - daily life – in a more open minded and broad perspective. It allowed me to seek clarity on issues, look at the broader picture as it were. Ken, your approach was calm and relaxed, yet ensuring that the desired message and relevant information was understood by myself, and that effective learning took place.”
Wayne Russell (Studio Manager, M-Net BCS)

“Coaching means a process to show the protégé a goldmine inside his/her person underlined by mutual trust between the parties. The protégé is being challenged to mine the raw material and turn them into skills, knowledge and experience. The cardinal points of the process are self awareness and the preparedness to consolidate my strengths and learn on how to improve my weaknesses. I received excellent coaching from you.”
Mashudu Nenngwekhulu (Justice Centre Executive, Thohoyandou)

“Since I had Ken as my coach, I have now become a better leader. I realized that I can now understand myself better and to empower those that I am managing. He recommends that I should from time to time do simple but very useful exercises that are helping in reducing my stress level. Giving myself time off is helping me to make serious decisions with clear and open minded. His session is not only once sided. He shares his experiences in life generally and that makes me to open up and to share my experiences openly. Through his assistance I have now became more assertive and positive towards my job. Keep up the good work that you are doing and continue to empower others.”
Jacqueline Maimela (Justice Centre Executive, Modimolle)

“The coaching sessions were very helpful for me especially that it was done during a hectic time of the year. It helped with the coping techniques. The one on one coaching is a threatening one especially if is a person like me who likes to hide at the back. But Ken managed to make me relax and be comfortable. He found out where I needed coaching by asking me. He is a very good coach and I can recommend him to anyone.”
Tsakani Maluleke-Sihlangu (Justice Centre Executive, Tzaneen)

“The coaching sessions were very helpful for me especially that it was done during a hectic time of the year. It helped with the coping techniques. The one on one coaching is a threatening one especially if is a person like me who likes to hide at the back. But Ken managed to make me relax and be comfortable. He found out where I needed coaching by asking me. He is a very good coach and I can recommend him to anyone.”
Tsakani Maluleke-Sihlangu (Justice Centre Executive, Tzaneen)

“I found the coaching sessions very fruitful and beneficial. I managed to identify my weaknesses and strong points. I also learnt practical ways of dealing with the weaknesses and problematic areas. I have applied and found the skills that I learnt useful in the working environment. The coach was professional at all times. He was knowledgeable in the field and made me feel comfortable to express myself. I am satisfied with the sessions that I had with you Ken.”
Matthew Shongwe (Justice Centre Executive, Ermelo)

“The coaching was very beneficial to me in terms of becoming more strategic in managing my unit. You were able to provide me with tactics that I can use in confronting challenges within my working environment and also you made me understanding myself, my behaviour better. The most valuable tool that I believe has added value is how to deal with stress. Your exercises prove to be very effective and I believe it will assist me even with my life.”
Thabo Ledwaba (Justice Centre Executive, Polokwane)

“Ken Smith took me through the coaching process in a very professional manner and he always created a good and conducive atmosphere. He showed keen interest in my well-being, was accommodating and always willing to listen and respond where necessary. For some time now since the sessions, I have been seeing our Centre making impressive strides in terms of performance to the extent that our SPA was first runner-up at recent LAB achiever awards, for which I believe I played a part and my speech there was well received. I am now able to approach any situation with confidence. Ken Smith is really good at what he does and I would grab with both hands another opportunity to work with him.”
Rodney Mashego (Justice Centre Executive, Witbank)

“I can start by saying how incredible I thought the coaching was. It truly could not have come at a better time in my life and that I think was really why I tried to get so much out of it. I know that it was meant to be about Management and I seemed to have drawn out a completely different aspect from the coaching, but for me I saw it as - My disability to manage due to an incorrect mind set. I think it was an exceptional idea, the coaching itself, as well as being able to discuss/chat to someone who has a complete different background and view point about things. Ken I found you to be a very Patient, Caring, Straight forward person who knew exactly how to make me feel very comfortable even while tears were pouring down my face. The process was very detailed which I liked and the material to read was very enjoyable and useful. I would highly recommend your coaching to many people and would be greatly privileged if I would ever have the opportunity one day to do it all over again.”
Janine Hobbs (Executive Chef, Lion Sands)

“Since I started my coaching sessions with Ken Smith over a year ago, I have experienced growth in my leadership skills as well as on a personal level. I have found that the process allows for self reflection and provides the ability for one to clearly focus on what they would like to achieve in the present and the future. Through this process I have gained confidence in myself both personally and in the workplace. I am more aware of my thinking preferences, and I understand how to communicate better with my peers. The process has also made me more aware of risk management and today I am able to quickly identify the types of risks that could impact negatively on my business, prior to this, I was totally oblivious of these facts. I am now more proactive in identifying issues prior to them happening. On completion we achieved what was required, in fact the perception turned 180 degrees and I was surprisingly awarded with a bonus cheque to recognize my efforts and dedication. Ken Smith is an excellent coach, he has impeccable listening skills and is able to hone in and unpack what an individual is saying and narrow it down in such a manner which is understandable and identifies learning gaps. Both the mentoring and the coaching process have been systematic and consistent, each session has recapped what was covered previously prior to moving to the next level. Ken has been consistent in all our sessions, and follows up religiously after each intervention.”
Yvonne Dante (Manager: MNET Broadcast Services Post Production)

“I was coached by Ken Smith from April 2007 to November 2007. The coaching assisted me greatly in understanding why I do things and has given me the ability to become aware of set thinking patterns and to change these thinking patterns. Ken as a coach was brilliant in allowing me to find answers and distinctions at my own pace. The distinctions offered were spot on and assisted in allowing me to see things from a different perspective. My only wish is that this process could continue.”
Morne Viviers (National Technical Manager, Subaru)

“I was made a Sales Manager at Megapro Marketing and was then put on the Integral Leadership Coaching course with, Ken Smith. From where I started to where I ended up in terms of myself, how I felt about myself, my working environment and how I operated in the working world, I improved by leaps and bounds. I feel better as a person both at work as well as at home as a family man. I certainly have grown more in confidence as well as on how to handle certain situations as a manager and what I need to do and how I need to react in certain situations. I thoroughly enjoyed every moment of the coaching. Ken Smith is an extremely good coach and has a wonderful way of getting the messages across to me as well as a wonderful way of teaching things. He is an extremely patient person as well as honest. All of the above mentioned things that I believe I have achieved and become better at have been all thanks to Ken and his magical ways of getting the messages across to me.”
Gregg Murray (Sales manager, Megapro marketing)