The Dutch Coach Approach

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Ton de Graaf (1962) is The Dutch Coach.

Owner of Quest Coaching Netherlands

Global Executive Coaching

Ton started his leadership experience in 1982 when he served with the Royal Dutch Military Police as  Commander of  a NATO International Provost Platoon. He additionally served eight years with the Royal Dutch Air Force where he reached the rank of Captain and served on a number of international military posts. In 1992 he was honorably discharged and appointed as Captain in the Reserve.

He studied Labour– and Organization psychology and started his career in the corporate world. In 1993 Ton received his first training as a Personal Coach. He served as an interim-manager with an Insurance Company, change manager with a market leader in the construction industry and as a Interim manager and Human Resources Development manager in the Banking and Insurance industry.

After successfully completing his training (with honors) in 2004 with the leading training company for Business Coaches in the Netherlands, he founded Quest Coaching, an Executive and Business Coaching firm.

Ton is proud to be a full member of the Worldwide Association of Business Coaches (WABC), the leading association for Business Coaches.

Ton served on the WABC 2005-06 International Certification Program Expert Panel and is currently a member of the WABC Accredited Award Panel. In 2009 he was appointed WABC’s International Representative.

From 2006 until 2008 he served as a trainer with International Coach Academy (Australia), an ICF accredited  academy, where he trained students to become Certified Professional Coaches.

Ton is one of the very first coaches in the world who is designated by the Worldwide Association of Business Coaches as a Chartered Business Coach™ (ChBC™).

From the press release:

The Worldwide Association of Business Coaches (WABC) has awarded Ton de Graaf of the Netherlands, the prestigious Chartered Business Coach designation. This international credential, the first ever chartered-status designation for business coaches and the industry’s most advanced credential, is reserved for the world’s most senior coaches. Chartered Business Coaches have completed the WABC Accredited (Chartered Level) program and have achieved a record of excellence and leadership in their field.

Wendy Johnson, WABC president and chief executive officer, comments, “The Chartered Business Coach designation is as good as it gets. This credential singles out the world’s top business coaches, the ones who have the most experience, skills and training. A Chartered Business Coach is at the pinnacle of our emerging profession—a leader, an influencer, an example to us all.”

We have access to a phenomenal international network of experienced and certified coaches. Many international oriented companies appeal to our extensive network in order to roll out Human Resources Development programs in alignment with their strategic policies. Feel free to contact us if you want to know more about this.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

A little bit more about my background. My grandfather (from mother’s side) was a miller. Although he passed away before I was born, my uncles continued to run the mill and I have spend many holidays carrying big bags of flower around. Believe me, that’s hard work!

My fathers was a tailor, like his father he learned the trade by sitting cross-legged on a table. And eventually became even a Master Tailor, which really meant something in those days. Making other people look good and delivering High Quality was what his profession was all about, he taught me that (and how to use a needle and thread as well!).  

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I choose a military career (travel the world and learn how to lead the troops under harsh circumstances)  and later turned to the corporate world and became an ‘agent of change’.  But still I adhere to the core values of my ancestors: making other people look good, work hard and deliver high quality service.

 

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About the Dutch Coach