Real Thought
The best you!
That's the simple mission of Real Thought. To help you discover and release the best version of you.
Keith Antoine
Keith is a performance coach with a rare and extensive practical coaching background in both elite sport and business. His athletics coaching includes GB National Sprints Coach for over a decade on both Olympic and Paralympic programmes, personal coach to European and World Junior medalists, athletes to European, World and Olympic Games and Paralympic champions. These same coaching skills are welcomed by executives from organisations large and small all around the world. His workshops have evolved from coaching to specialising in conversation skill development with a focus on generating thought and raising awareness in others to support development, enable choice and sustain performance.
An exceptional keynote speaker, Keith combines his coaching and storytelling skills with principles and experience. More than motivational, he delivers engaging, thought-provoking sessions that enable each audience member to take their unique next step forward.
After decades of designing performance programmes for elite athletes, Keith is enjoying designing corporate solutions for those who are serious about their performance.
It's in the conversation
People love designing systems and processes to drive improvement or rectify deficiencies. However, applying any system or process will eventually come down to a conversation. And the equation is a simple one: great system/process + poor conversations = under achieving. The cost of poor conversations can be measured in under-performance, ineffective leadership, low staff engagement, poor succession planning, and high staff turnover because lots of people don’t leave jobs, they leave poor managers. So, what are the benefits of holding more effective conversations? No surprise, it’s the opposite to all of the above plus a whole lot more.
Effective Conversations
This innovative modular programme improves confidence and competence to address any challenge (both positive and not so positive) involving people through everyday conversation. It deepens the level of thinking on both sides of the conversation, generating higher levels of awareness which in turn supports a shift in attitudes, choices and actions. This isn’t training - it’s personal development in a small group (maximum 6) setting.
Effective Conversations - a bit more
The key difference is the focus on actual skills rather than theories or models. The skills are defined, allowing progress to be measured. Participants set their own starting point and progress at their own rate through multiple practice and review. Our performance coaches are experts in developing skills to a set timeline as opposed to having nice chats to generate warm feelings. (PS. There’s nothing wrong with warm feelings.) Using actors, practices use real events, generating real feelings and emotions. Measurable improvement in competence naturally boosts participants’ confidence. Real 'play' with the skills between modules keeps the practising constant which embeds the development.
It’s different. It’s challenging. It’s fun. It works.
Personal and team coaching
Working in partnership with Keith is a different experience. He brings his intuitive coaching skills, honed through decades of enabling elite performers to succeed, to the corporate arena. His relentless focus is on you, as opposed to some coaching theory, process or formula. He helps you to go to places you’re unaware of or reluctant to go to, and yet it feels okay because he is exceptional at paying attention to, and following your focus. He coaches you, not a topic. So instead of only looking at what you initially put on the table, be prepared to end up checking out the whole house! Working with Keith feels safe because while he may be prompting you to think, you decide how far and how fast you go. His approach flows and evolves to match your needs, so whether it’s challenge or support, intense or relaxed, your progress always feels right to you.
Keynote speaker
Using his coaching skills Keith has a proven talent for delivering outstanding keynote presentations. His sports approach is easily accessible because it’s not about the sport. He delivers a narrative that is relevant, entertaining but above all thought-provoking. Clients choose Keith because they want more than entertainment. They want a different outcome. Nothing changes without relevant thought, and generating thought is his forté. There is no standard talk. He builds from client context and desired outcomes. Using stories, data, anecdotes and more than the occasional joke blended with the context and outcome, his thought-provoking delivery prompts practical idea-generation leading to value-adding actions and outputs. His style is highly interactive and engaging making each person feel involved, and his ability to read the room, the mood and hold the audience is impressive.
A keynote from Keith is serious fun.
Get in touch
keith@realthought.co.uk
Don't worry, you don't need to ride a bike to get in touch. I just do that so I can keep eating cake. 😊