Testimonials
These client testimonials highlight the range and depth of impact achieved through David’s consultancy and coaching work, and his two books.
Testimonials for Consultancy and Coaching
“It’s important for others to understand, one of the reasons this has worked so well is that you listen, understand the problem and help us do our work.”
Commodore Chris Hockley RN, Commander Naval Base Clyde
“I was struggling with a problem which seemed immense and in one short sentence in one short conversation, David completely transformed the way I was thinking about that problem and tackling it. I had tried every avenue and simply could not fathom an answer. Frankly, he saved me from insanity.”
Senior executive, UK business
“David feels like one of the team. He has a great all round approach to things. He really understands people and business and knows exactly the right approach to get the best out of both. Nothing we have thrown his way has stumped him and everything we have thrown his way has improved considerably. Every business should have access to someone like him.”
Fiona Smyth, Director & Owner, TotsBots Ltd
“Your posts are thought-provoking, and I always read them.”
Julie Grieve, Edinburgh
“Your real strength has been mediation – getting people to talk to each other who wouldn’t do that naturally. I just don’t think we would have got there without you.”
Captain Peter Merriman RN, Deputy Naval Base Commander
“Classic self-starter. Able to interpret what’s required, take board level responsibility and make it happen without needing further input, whilst coming forward with options when appropriate. I didn’t need to worry about it from one meeting to the next. Projected a company image without seeming to be biased. Created a win-win. The only one around with the skills to make this happen.”
Craig Lockhart, Managing Director, Babcock, Marine Division
“David was instrumental in setting up the management board and programmes office at the Clyde Naval Base – a difficult task with many differing views on how best to achieve success. As a Director at this facility I found his support invaluable. Having just read David’s new book I now understand why he was so successful and I would highly recommend his work to anyone looking to improve business efficiency and effectiveness through improving relationships.”
John Hanlon, Director, MoD
“Played the role of neutral and played it well.”
Senior Director, public sector organisation
“Listens. Very quickly gets the main thread – the nub of the problem. Never confrontational, at all. Points people in the right direction without getting their backs up (and there are some difficult characters). Very much helped keep things together. Things were destined to be difficult, but they weren’t difficult.”
Gail Wilson, Hotel and Catering Manager
“An ability to focus on the key issue and avoid distractions.”
Martin Jones, Managing Director, Training consultancy
“Safe pair of hands, implementer par excellence.”
Robert Patullo, Director, Archangel Informal Investment
“David’s ability to analyse and understand complex practical, theoretical and political issues and the further ability to synthesise practical solutions is first class.”
Dr Neil Grant, Director, formerly BAE SYSTEMS
“Pioneer.”
Braveheart Ventures
“Not afraid of tackling difficult situations.”
Gavin Gemmell, Chairman Scottish Widows, Lloyd TSB Banking Group
“Orderly, measured and gets things done whilst maintaining a reflective and considered point of view.”
Barry Sealey, Chairman, Archangel Informal Investment
“Only one we’ve got who can shape the front end of projects.”
Simon Kirby, formerly Managing Director, BAE SYSTEMS Marine
Testimonials for Speaking
“I very much enjoyed listening to David’s thoughts on this absolutely fascinating topic. Each of David’s steps could provide a day’s seminar on their own. David provides an informative, practical, structured approach to this vital skill and area of leadership. His mastery of our question and answer session really brought the subject home on a practical level to the audience.”
Craig Vickery, Head of ACCA Scotland
“From the feedback we have received to date it was a fantastic session enjoyed by everyone, with the only drawback being that it wasn’t long enough!”
Megan McCreesh, Bright Purple Resourcing Ltd
“I regularly use the phrase ‘people do business with people’ and David brought real life to these words. The thought provoking session gave our business club members insight into how mastery of relationships can be a real and tangible benefit for any business.”
Robin Brown, Carlisle United Business Club, and Chairman, System People
“Your session was great and a brilliant way to start the day. The take up of your book I think shows the impact you had with the audience… Thanks again for your excellent session.”
Catriona Headley, President, Scottish Young Lawyers Association
“David Fraser is a compelling speaker who can convey complex principles with ease and clarity. We found his talks to be fun, interactive and memorable with plenty of practical tips and food for thought.”
Steven Mitchell, 6 Degrees Networking
“Thank you for your talk. I found it very encouraging & thought provoking with areas of learning for all of us.”
David Nicholson, Membership Manager, Dundee & Angus Chamber of Commerce
“Your talk was excellent and inspiring.”
Roger Dunnett, Partner, Walker Dunnett & Co, Chartered Accountants, Business Advisers and Independent Financial Advisers
“The speech was perfect and hit all the right notes for the evening.”
Emily Howie, Alumni Manager, University of Glasgow
“I am sure I speak for the rest of the attendees in telling you this was a thoroughly engaging encounter.”
Graham Hayward, Deming Learning Network
“A very talented and engaging speaker.”
Prof. Anton Muscatelli, Principal, University of Glasgow
Testimonials for Large Group Facilitation
“Helped bring a discipline to the meeting, as well as help and facilitation. Made tremendous interjections at the right time, helped people reconnect with what they personally needed to do to make the project successful.”
John Louden, Alliance Manager, Jacobs Engineering Ltd
Testimonials for ‘The Mastery of Leadership: Presence and Practice in Transformational Change’
“David’s book has taken me on a voyage of self-discovery and caused me to reflect deeply on my own leadership style. I love the idea that mastery means “learning to learn” and the saying from Confucius that to be a leader, you must first become a human being. That’s just one of many fabulous quotes in the book. I personally have found much of the journey of leadership to be an inner one, requiring both a willingness to change and a preparedness to be wrong. This excellent book has developed that thinking further, which matters, because, as David says, ‘History shows, time and again, that ordinary people are capable of extraordinary things if led well.'”
Dr Graeme Waddell, Chairman, Energen Biogas
“Incredibly relevant and thought provoking: The Mastery of Leadership has been a constant companion over the past weeks as I’ve travelled. The simplicity and clarity of David’s writing has absorbed me as, in my privileged position of leadership, I seek to widen my understanding of the keys to successful interaction with all stakeholders. It takes courage to recognise and dismiss inherent mediocrity and experience life outside of our respective comfort zones, but David clearly demonstrates the wonderful opportunities that can emerge from combining the forces of power and love, for example. I’m excited about sharing these learnings and differentiating myself by being that orchestrator.”
Ishbell MacPhail, Regional General Manager, Dell Corporation
“David has written a timely and important book that is genuinely useful and easy to read. It consolidates many of the techniques and approaches that will be needed to produce and earn the right to more collaborative, progressive, and productive workplaces. Specifically, it offers us the means to inject fairness and respect into the workplace and create environments where leaders help people to relate to each other, customers, and their work, to progressively increase their competence and capability, and also to enjoy the level of autonomy needed to produce fulfilment and great results.”
Jim Mather, Chairman, Gael Ltd
“David has put together a very interesting book that both provides the means of raising our game of leadership in business and other organisations and challenges us to do so, not just in our home city of Glasgow but beyond. I found a wealth of ideas relevant to the needs of leaders wanting to lead their organisations in a truly enlightened and empowering way. For its future success, a city of enterprise undoubtedly needs leaders of the quality and agility and wisdom this book will help create. David has a keen eye for cultural issues too and what’s needed to address them. Expect your assumptions to be challenged!”
Stuart Patrick, Chief Executive, Glasgow Chamber of Commerce
“This is a book rich with profound insights and calm intelligent reflection, coupled with robust analysis. I loved all the quotations peppered throughout the book. It contains a unique, flowing blend of ancient and contemporary wisdom, packed full with challenging and uplifting thoughts and concepts: “Are you following your parents’ map?,” “set yourself free,” “be free of limitations,” “excellence is not an act, but a habit”… I enjoyed the easy, conversational tone of the writing—almost as though David were sitting alongside me in the same room. Overall, it clearly demonstrates every leader’s need for both power and love, as personified by Nelson and referenced by others – balancing the tangible and the intangible and discussing the un-discussable – an inspirational read.”
Gill Gray, Business Development Manager, CeeD Scotland
“David Fraser has sought to condense the accumulated wisdom of many years of study and practice in and around leadership. The result is a book full to the brim with ideas, insights, and provocations. If you don’t come away from reading this with the desire to try something a little different in your own leadership practice, it won’t be for the lack of new ideas.”
Professor Robert MacIntosh, Head of School of Management and Languages, Heriot Watt University
“I found David’s book thought provoking and enlightening. I liked the emphasis on the wisdom needed in leadership, not least the ability to admit to not having all the answers. David combines broadly based and well-informed thinking with a practical approach. This is highly relevant both locally and internationally.”
Andrew Fulton, President, Scottish North American Business Council
“David’s advice is practical, insightful and entirely useable, which is exactly what leaders are looking for in a book like this. The content is very readable and is actionable from the start, perfect for busy leaders in ever more complex organisations. We can all easily learn from David’s experiences and advice as the thing we all have in common is our humanity.”
Abi Mawhirt, Head of Organisational Development, Dundee and Angus College
“I have enjoyed reading David’s well-researched, engaging, and insightful book. What he says resonates strongly with attributes Ceridian values such as being authentic, transparent, and adaptable. There is much on offer here in the way of models and structured approaches to help an organisation—and an individual leader—develop high-performing people, build teamwork, and foster a culture of genuine accountability.”
Doug Sawers, Managing Director, Ceridian UK & Ireland
“Gem, after gem, after gem – I loved it! Throughout the book the author puts into words issues that have often frustrated me but I could not articulate like “being truly human seems to disqualify us from a fully professional or business career.” There is lifelong learning in this book. Challenging the notion of “it’s just the way I am” and giving the responsibility for our behaviour firmly back to us is simultaneously terrifying and wonderfully empowering. It’s bold to defend the intangible and state that it has real meaning and purpose. Parts of the book were surprisingly spiritual for one who has no religious message. At times the subject matter is profound, introducing the idea of “self ” and discussing the “soul.” Being able to explain these concepts so eloquently is inspiring.”
Dr Elaine Marley, Research & Development Manager, R-Biopharm Rhône Ltd
“I enjoyed reading The Mastery of Leadership. I like its approach of initially focusing on developing and improving the inner self before then working outward to reach others. David Fraser has included several little templates or formulae that guide the reader in easy steps to self-improvement. Examples are drawn from a wide range of subjects such as astronomy, history, philosophy, and quantum physics. These are topics that perhaps don’t often feature in business books, but they add to the reading and learning experience. It is an easy read and I recommend this book.”
John McDougall, Chairman of Safehinge Ltd and Chairman of CeeD Scotland Ltd
“Dr Fraser “gets it” in terms of all aspects of leadership and relationship mastery. In this deeply thought-provoking book, he has brilliantly captured and shared not only his own practical experiences over more than twenty years in hard-edged industry, but a further decade of relevant research from sport, business, and life on the subject, taking our current thinking to the year 2020 and beyond. Not everyone has the same starting point; many are distracted by life’s challenges, but if there’s a possibility that you have talent within, you really should identify it and use it.”
Donogh O’Brien, Director, Aspen People Ltd
“The Mastery of Leadership is a book that not only helped me understand how to be a better leader in the workplace, but how to be a better leader in my home. It takes you on a journey of acquiring a deeper wisdom that calls you to a higher purpose in life and in leadership. It helped me understand how my personal faith impacts my ability to lead.”
Amy Tippins, CEO-RTL Digital Media, LLC
“Dr David speaks with complete authority on the subject of the mastery of leadership in handling change and growth. His latest book sets out the powerful ideas underpinning the transformational work he does helping leaders to truly lead using well-researched approaches that work. I find the person totally congruent and the book highly compelling, as it challenges preconceptions and gives much needed clarity. If you need to lead then this is a must-read!”
Peter Thomson, “The UK’s Most Prolific Information Product Creator”
“This book is less of a “how to do leadership” and more of a “how are you thinking about leadership” resource. It’s a book that stimulates reflection and challenges thinking and one that will tempt the reader (and certainly this reader) back between its covers time and again to savour the questions it poses. In a changing world, “leaders” need to evolve and change, and this book is an excellent tool to support this process. Having read it, I am now looking forward to going back to the start, to see what further treasures it holds!”
Florence Madden, NLP Master Trainer and Executive Coach
“For anyone who leads in any aspect of life—in an organisation, in the community, with family or friends—this book will make you reflect on how effective you really are, and set you on the path to improvement. A calm, thoroughly-researched, and thoughtful guide to mastering leadership.”
Heather McArthur, Raeburn Career Coaching
“This is a profound book, yet not difficult to read. In 12 concise chapters, David Fraser clearly explains why it is important that leaders firstly consider their relationship with themselves prior to understanding their relationships with those they wish to lead. Liberally sprinkled with helpful quotes, this book will be invaluable to those who are willing to change. Reading this book will not, on its own, make leadership easy, but those who read it can change and become better leaders.”
Andrew Sutherland, CA, part-time finance director, non-executive director
“David gets straight to the heart of the matter with his book The Mastery of Leadership: You cannot be a transformational leader without being connected to you – head, heart, and everything in between. David brings together both ancient wisdom and modern thinking and weaves these beautifully with his own thoughts, ideas, and experience to present a case for a new type of leader. That leader is you as a whole person demonstrating courage, love, and compassion. For me, this book is a powerful way to open up conversations with ourselves and others about the true intent and purpose of how we lead. There is so much in this book that leaders can explore, both in relation to their thinking and their practice. I would thoroughly recommend this wonderful book to leaders and to those who support them as an insightful exploration of what truly makes a transformational leader. Having just finished it, I am already thinking about going back to do some further thinking.”
Diane Seaborne, Speaker, Authentic Leadership Coach & NLP Trainer
“This book is challenging, uncompromising, and well worth engaging with. In quite a slim volume, it covers a lot of vital territory, looking at leadership in an inspiring and practical way. If you want to change the organisation you’re involved with, that change starts with yourself. There is much here in the way of practical exercises and food for thought to help you do just that. It is packed with nuggets of genuine wisdom and quotes to ponder – and live by.”
Ken Symon, Business Writer and Editor
“David’s writing style makes The Mastery of Leadership an easy book to read though the ideas it contains made me reflect, at length, on my own views on, and style of, leadership. Fortunately, David’s personal experiences and insights provide great guidance on how to go about putting the ideas into practice and the confidence that implementing the approach will lead to a fairer, more collaborative, and more productive work place.”
Professor Neal Juster, Senior Vice-Principal and Deputy Vice-Chancellor, University of Glasgow
“David has written a powerful book full of grace and wisdom. It is not a casual read if you want to get the maximum from it. It requires an openness of mind and heart and a willingness to look at yourself first as you consider where you are in your journey towards leadership mastery. Very early on David alludes to what will be required when he writes, “If you want to be a great leader of other people, you need to begin by being a great leader of yourself, and that’s where our emphasis is going to be. Successfully leading organisations follows from that.”
He weaves together the wisdom of multiple others while returning to his theme that “leadership starts with you.” It can be rightly said that he is offering his philosophy of life whereby leadership is neither attitude nor trait but rather an integral expression of core identity. Essential to this philosophy is the movement from duality and the tensions inherent in linear, either/or thinking to wholeness and the flow inherent in systemic, both/and presence. Such presence, manifested in heightened awareness of self and other, and what it means to be a whole person, positions being human at the core of his vision. Savour this book. Return to its mature reflections regularly, and you will find yourself resonating with your own higher purpose and empowered to lead masterfully.”
Gene Early, Internationally recognised leadership and organisational development advisor
Testimonials for ‘Relationship Mastery: A Business Professional’s Guide’
“Very positive, helpful and enlightening. Always pertinent and balanced, and even profound. Invaluable.”
Harry Reid, former Editor, The Herald
“With some books you just know that it is going to be worth every moment spent with it. This is one of those books. David is practical and has a logical way of thinking which is missing in many authors’ approaches to subjects like this. He combines the pragmatic with the creative… quite a talent. This is a superb book full of practical advice. Once I opened this I just knew that it would be one of those books that I come back to time and time again. It is easy to read and invaluable. I recommend this highly.”
Sue Knight, author NLP at Work
“David was instrumental in setting up the management board and programmes office at the Clyde Naval Base – a difficult task with many differing views on how best to achieve success. As a Director at this facility I found his support invaluable. Having just read David’s new book I now understand why he was so successful and I would highly recommend his work to anyone looking to improve business efficiency and effectiveness through improving relationships.”
John Hanlon, Estates Director, HM Naval Base Clyde, Scotland, UK
“After a week, my two teenage boys seemed to mature and grow in the way they related to their younger siblings and their father and me.”
Samantha Gluck, Owner, All Media Freelance LLC, Houston, Texas, USA
“Relationships matter in every walk of life, and a read through these pages will provide much to think about and many opportunities to change and improve. Good relationships are worth striving for.”
Professor Sir Kenneth Calman, Chancellor, University of Glasgow
“A fantastic ‘how-to’ manual for finding better ways of connecting with other people. Really practical insights apply to colleagues, clients and family relationships equally. Dr David Fraser also tells his own very engaging story and includes other real-world examples which are easy to identify with. David uses insights from NLP and other disciplines which are proven to work well. However this book is much more readable than many other books based around NLP. Just one tiny example – the explanation of how valuable it is to be able to use ‘peripheral vision’ at will was really illuminating, and the exercise (on pp98-99) is easy to follow and gave real tangible results. Highly recommended read, and even more worthwhile if you do the exercises and apply some of the learnings.”
Madeleine Allen, Allen Training Ltd.
“David Fraser gets it! The struggle out there is the projection of the struggle in here. We can’t begin to heal the world until we heal in here.”
Stuart Hepburn, NLP Trainer
“Excellent – an integrated system for effective relationships, drawing on several different domains and inspirations into a freshly unified approach. The structure is really good and clear and logical and the content equally useful in professional, social and family contexts. Very readable. A dozen copies for family and close work colleagues please.”
Hillary Sillitto, Chartered Engineer
“In addition to being a good ‘read through’ this book is great to dip into when searching for some insight into what may be holding you back – there is a wealth of great content to help increase personal effectiveness.”
Ian Laird, Managing Director NiTech Solutions Ltd.
“Hugely enjoyed reading this book!!!! I love the stuff about relationships being more than communication skills. I enjoy and appreciate the honesty throughout. David draws attention to the qualities shown by good leaders and I find that helpful and inspiring. I am moved by the spiritual depth of the writing.”
The Revd. Scott S McKenna
“An excellent book, simply written. Very empowering.”
Karen Mason, Leadership Coach
“A very practical self-help book with the right amount of personal experience, academic background and anecdotal evidence and no slant towards either the male or female reader. Great for women in the workplace, especially where men predominate. The techniques are very helpful in levelling that particular playing field.”
Morag Cook, Programme Manager (Public sector)
“Accessible and relevant. Each chapter has something that resonates with me… and I suspect anyone who wants practical ideas on how to work more effectively with others. Relationships Made Easy is going on the Recommended Reading list for my courses!”
Florence Madden, Management Development Consultant
“David Fraser reveals the essentials to successful relationships with colleagues, friends, and loved ones through his direct, easy to read style and use of very personal examples. Whether you are new to the subjects he writes about or are already a practitioner you will learn something from this book.”
Marnie Roadburg, NLP Practitioner, Retired Director of Disability Service, University of Edinburgh
“Loved the honesty of the book and the anecdotes throughout. Especially impressed by the applications chapter.”
Miriam King, Head of Group Operations (Public sector)
“Loved it! Very easy and interesting to read. Nice approach of being one of us and not claiming mastery of NLP. David keeps it simple.”
Eleni Sarantinou, Life Coach
“A stimulating read which has caused me to reflect and has influenced my approach to interactions both with my family and at work.”
Julian Thomas, Senior Project Manager
“The author has distilled the key elements of a number of disciplines, such as NLP, to produce a book that can be ‘used and abused’ by the reader to succeed across a range of life’s challenges – interact with it, learn from it and apply it.”
Brian Martin, Managing Director, Caltona Ltd.
“A book rich in ideas. Easy to read and digest because of the excellent way it is structured. Having read the book, I will keep it on my bookshelf to be dipped into time and time again – I find with relationships, you have to keep working at them. Wish I’d had this book twenty years ago.”
Tony Miller, Senior Lecturer, Robert Gordon University
“Relationships matter in every walk of life, and a read through these pages will provide much to think about and many opportunities to change and improve. Good relationships are worth striving for.”
Professor Sir Kenneth Calman, Chancellor, University of Glasgow
“A work colleague said that it had ‘transformed’ her approach. An inspiring book.”
Gayle Cattanach, Owner, MAM Ltd.
“David is deft at changing the language to easily understood layman psychology so you don’t get hung up on jargon… Once I started reading, I must admit I couldn’t put it down, mainly because it is simply fascinating stuff.”
Lindsay Scott, Arras People
“Easy to read and written in plain English with no psycho-babble. A book that everyone would benefit from reading.”
Denise Knowles, Relationship Counsellor
“An excellent book for anyone who wants better relationships with family, friends, and work colleagues. Intelligently written, well researched without being high-brow, and most of all practical. Easy to read but not simplistic. A book you will read and go back to many times.”
Gillian Penrice, Doctor of Medicine
“David Fraser’s book is refreshing in many ways. It is a very readable and well laid out approach to understanding the methodologies involved in communicating with others and enhancing the quality of our relationships. More than that though it moves into areas which many writers tend to shirk from, especially those whose work involves dealing with business leaders, professionals and organisations generally. The last chapters, titled Balance, and Love, together with the subtitle “Finding inner peace” of the third from last chapter move into deep and very personal territories and do so in a compelling way.
The quality of our relationships, at work, at home, and the inner relationship with oneself are fundamental to achieving and maintaining a sense of belonging and fulfilment in most people’s lives. Yet, as with so many important aspects of human existence how to achieve and maintain good relationships is neither taught much or well, if at all, in our education establishments, nor is it something we are born with. In fact the reverse is true. Some of our most basic instincts in life, and the most powerful ones, are concerned with self-survival, competition, egotism and status. These self-centred paradigms are the opposite of what David offers in his book.
It would be useful to be born with the contents of Relationship Made Easy in our minds. Given that we can’t have that the next best thing is to get a copy and start to apply the lessons in this important book.”
Martin Stepek, Chief Exectuive, Scottish Family Business Association
“An excellent book for anyone who wants better relationships with family, friends and work colleagues – so that includes everyone really! Intelligently written, well researched, without being high-brow and most of all practical. Easy to read – but not simplistic. Well written – sincere but not cheesy. In a different class from the usual ‘self-help’ flimsy nonsense. This is a book you will read and go back to many times.”
Gillian Penrice, General Practice Doctor
“I learned a lot about myself, new ways of approaching conflict, and techniques for getting to the heart of the matter more easily. Loved the easy-to-read format, the personal examples, and the related quotes. Definitely a recommended read whether you’re facing challenges in your personal or professional relationships.”
Julie Wise, Wise 1 Coaching
“A pleasure to have read David’s book and even more importantly, to interact with him because he is authentic in his reflection of his book.”
Marie Pijanowski, The Center for Social Connections
“Highly navigable, oozing common sense, and widely peppered with excellent – and not-so-obvious – guidance, plus being extremely practical and relevant to everyday situations. The whole experience of the book is absorbing and fun.”
Michael Leathes, Director, International Mediation Institute
“Personally I liked this book because it is written by a very highly qualified professional who has added NLP to his toolkit for success in his working and personal life. I find that, too often, books on these subjects are written by people immersed in the self-development world, and they sometimes lack a ‘real world’ practicality. David seems to have taken the best of what he has learned over the years, and made NLP accessible by giving the techniques everyday names and tips on how to apply them. Even as an NLP practitioner, I have refreshed and updated my knowledge, and I have recommended this to friends and colleagues as a ‘what’s in it for me?’ guide to NLP and to help them in working and personal relationships.”
Alison Hartley, Consultant and Business Owner