Tom Plantinga, CEO
From Visible Strength To Safer Honesty: How One CEO Began Naming The Private Pressure Behind Public Composure
Name: Tom Plantinga
Country: Netherlands
This story is shared with permission. It reflects one CEO’s experience of beginning to name the private pressure behind visible strength, creating space for safer honesty, clearer reflection and steadier next steps through confidential one-to-one advisory support.
To what extent did you feel safe opening up to Paul?
9/10
To what extent has Paul helped you gain clarity about what you were carrying?
8/10
To what extent has time with Paul left you feeling calmer, lighter or more at peace?
8/10
To what extent has Paul helped you feel more strengthened or steady in yourself?
7/10
In which areas, if any, did greater peace, calm or clarity make a noticeable difference for you?
close relationships / home life
confidence / steadiness
clarity of circumstances
Looking back, how valuable do you believe greater inner peace, calm or clarity was in that season of your life or leadership?
Highly valuable
In your own words, what did it mean to have Paul alongside you in that season?
Paul is a person you can trust. If you're open for him he will step in and reinforce you not by taking over but by standing at your side and by giving you what he has received about you. You will be encouraged and be built up. For me it worked both ways. By being encouraged and built up I could give it back to Paul. If you're engaging long enough with Paul you will become a team and it can feel like family. Sometimes he is a bit too enthusiastic but I rather have that than a dull non inspiring person. But with all things in life . The proof is in the pudding!
What, if anything, felt different about the way Paul listened, responded or supported you?
We just had a good connection. Things flowed naturally.
If appropriate, can you share one practical way greater peace, clarity or steadiness helped you in life, relationships or leadership?
It's very simple, rest or peace is the barometer for all my decisions. If there's no rest or peace I will not take a descesion. First I need to be back in that place of rest. Paul has proven to me that he can guide me back into that place.
