The Vortex Program

Reviewed: 2024

“Hey David, Not sure where to post this but wanted to add my positive voice to the review bank out there. See below. Wow! Wow! And wow! Just when I thought I'd heard the most poignant and game changing principle and was still in the process of digesting it, along would come another one! Again and again and again! For three days straight! This could only come from a man who has dedicated his life to self growth and who is consumed with a drive to see growth in others. These principles are principles for smashing life, first of all, then principles for unlimited growth in organisations. I've found myself contemplating them again and again as I've faced demons within myself, challenges within my family and opportunities for improvement at work. Thanks a million for an amazing, life changing course! Cheers,”

Reviewed: 2023

I was fortunate to have my employer engage the services of David who was working with the Executive Leadership Team. He was coaching each of the group leaders individually and was engaged with many of the senior leaders in the business where he focused on personal and professional development. David also conducted group strategy sessions where the focus was on how a group can achieve more co-creatively. This was proven in action, to have more meaning and therefore better results, which also helped people get out of their own silo and into the group organisation. David is a dab hand at getting to know a person on a deep level. He understands each person’s individual needs and is respectful of how a person needs to be coached. People can often get lost in their day-to-day agenda’s and when you are out of the weed’s and in David’s care, he helps you find the answers that you have deep down. Never once have I been with David and been told what to do. Very often have I been with David where I have found deep down the answers of what needs to be done and with some refinement through our discussion, I have left our meeting focussed and refreshed. David has helped build on my pre-existing skills, considering my personal complexities, and helped me package my problems at any given time, in a way that has given me confidence to act. His techniques help bring clarity! He has particularly helped with the problems that go with managing difficult people that have all resulted in positive outcomes. His expertise in this regard has been invaluable. I have had some personal and professional difficulties in recent years around anxiety and stress and this has led to a fear of making decisions in some cases, but second guessing the decisions you do make in others. He has helped me find the answers I need for my decisions and helped build the confidence needed to act. A year ago, I would walk into a meeting room, nervous and in fear of public speaking. David has changed that one year on and I walk into Executive meetings, prepared, and assured and this has been the best experience I could have asked for. Our values are totally aligned with the mastery of attitudes and behaviours however David’s ability to deal with awkward customers is second to none. He has helped me go deep and really drill down on my own attitudes. We have worked through stress status and how I react in these situations and what I could do differently and how. I have a far better understanding of me, than I did before, and this will keep me in step for the rest of my career. David would add significant value to any organisation that wants to develop its leadership culture, business practice and performance. He can go deep in his analysis to get to the core of problems and identify the opportunities for growth. David is highly skilled and will help develop a business based on strong attitudinal competence, developing the right leadership behaviours, team building and creation of business strategies. He will help focus your people to produce a greater ROI in a happier work environment.

Reviewed: 2023

David’s helping us improve Splend’s leadership capability and culture, as we prepare to significantly scale our global fleet platform through electric vehicles. I have certainty and confidence in his work due to long standing support David has provided to me over my career.

Reviewed: 2023

I recently had the pleasure of participating in a leadership development session led by David. His proficiency in orchestrating the event was exceptional, controlling pace, content, and structure with flawless precision. David brought to the table astute observations coupled with perceptive exercises that instigated meaningful thought and reflection. His inclusive, warm, and engaging delivery style truly distinguished him. For anyone aiming to refine their leadership prowess, David's adept coaching comes with my highest recommendation.

Reviewed: 2022

Before I met David I was experiencing a lot of self-doubt and indecision, as well as a challenging interpersonal and leadership environment at my workplace. I felt like I was ‘stuck’ without really knowing why (there was clearly something subconscious going on!) Whilst working with David I had major insights into my personality, leadership style and my subconscious beliefs and patterns that were keeping me ‘stuck’. I also acquired a deep understanding of the interpersonal conflicts I was experiencing, my role in them and how I could resolve them / come to peace with them. As a result of my work with David I am now inspired and have some helpful tools and insights to help me grow further. I now feel confident to manage conflict and I feel clear about my path ahead. If you want to improve yourself, then I recommend David because he has a way of unlocking your subconscious belief and helping you to make progress without evening knowing that you’re being coached! David is one of those very rare, 100% authentic, grounded humans who has done the work himself. He walks his talk and has a wisdom of the deeper meaning of life.

Reviewed: 2020

David handed me a copy of ‘Master the Power of Your Attitudes’ (MPOYA) just over a year ago. This was a time when my attitudes were largely unquestioned, deeply entrenched and often unhealthy. As I worked through MPOYA, I was encouraged to scrutinise these attitudes, often in excruciating detail. It was a lengthy and confronting process; but this should not deter you. After all, rewiring the habits of the mind is no easy undertaking. If you decide to embark on the journey that is MPOYA, you should not do so without full commitment. Every page has a purpose that, when properly realised, culminates in something very unique: a fresh outlook on life. I sincerely hope that anyone who reads this testimonial gains as much as I did from this terrific resource. Good luck on your journey.

Reviewed: 2020

He knows our business, knows our people and he has facilitated the personal and career growth of our people which in turn has helped the business grow. In a measure of business efficiency improvement, we saw a better than 20% improvement in staff efficiency, and that resulted in us becoming more successful in bidding on larger more profitable contracts. The larger contracts were executed faster and more efficiently with better cooperation between departments and that pushed the company’s profitability up by 30%.

Reviewed: 2019 edition Attitudinal Competence workbook

David's work on attitudes presents significant and life-changing concepts in a practical and thought-provoking manner. His thorough coverage of important information for our time, such as the power of thought, emotion and intention, is a must-read for anyone committed to their own personal development and that of their employees. This book has application for any age group.

Reviewed: 2019 edition Attitudinal Competence workbook

This valuable workbook provides step by step coaching on achieving improved personal outcomes by probing aspects of attitude and examining how these might be transformed. In my experience the combination of approach and topic is unique in personal development texts.

Reviewed: 2019 edition Attitudinal Competence workbook

As a Profit Improvement Strategist consulting to a wide range of businesses I see numerous examples of how poor attitude defeats both individuals and companies. Master the Power of Your Attitude is the best workbook I have seen to help people realise their own potential and gain invaluable insight into how colleagues and subordinates see them. It should be required reading for everyone in business.

Reviewed: 2019 edition Attitudinal Competence workbook

In this excellent workbook, David Deane-Spread has provided us with fundamental tools for life mastery. In a practical step by step fashion, he shows us how to first understand and then take command of our attitudes, instead of being governed by them. He challenges the notion - "I have no choice" and blows it out of the water, revealing how we can always retain our power and never have to surrender to circumstances

Reviewed: 2019 Attitudinal Competence workbook

This book is a brilliant tool for anyone seeking to provide leadership for their own life and leadership for others. This book gives you the ability to discover what your values are and how your attitude is influencing your life (and the lives of all you connect to). Take this book and work with it, own it and discover what you can create for yourself.

Reviewed: 2019 Attitudinal Competence workbook

David Deane-Spread’s work at Fremantle Ports using his methodologies outlined in Master the Power of Your Attitudes has greatly assisted a number of our operational Team Leaders to positively focus on implementing change.

Reviewed: 2019 Attitudinal Competence workbook

Whether you are just starting out on your journey, or are looking for a booster to take you to the next level of success, the information and exercises in this workbook will make a significant difference. Complex concepts are made clear, and the accessible style means that you can work through from start to finish, or dip in as you need.

Reviewed: 2019 Attitudinal Competence workbook

In this concise and practical workbook, David Deane-Spread provides a powerful yet simple blueprint for mastering our attitudes and a key to understanding the behaviour of others based on a recognition of their own attitudes. Master the Power of your Attitudes is a workbook for life. As you move through the pages, your understanding of yourself (and others) grows to a point where you cannot wait to read the next page to see the revelation about yourself that awaits. The book is a valuable tool for anyone – whether you are in a work situation where you lead or manage, or whether you just want to achieve more in your life – this book is for you.

Reviewed: 2019 Attitudinal Competence workbook

Changing your 'system' of thinking to become happier or more fulfilled is not easy, but as David Deane-Spread affirms, with correct practice, it is possible. This workbook contains much practical wisdom and will show you realistic ways to increase your life/work enjoyment. It may be the best investment you ever make.

Reviewed: 2019 Attitudinal Competence workbook

David has provided very useful illustrations of how our own thought patterns can be negative and lead to misunderstandings and to de-motivation. By his examples David shows how to broaden our thinking and to improve understanding with win-win outcomes for individuals and organisations.

Reviewed: 2019 Attitudinal Competence workbook

Revealing and insightful exploration of our attitudes and behaviour that’s sure to fascinate anyone with a desire to understand and master the workings of their own minds.

Reviewed: 2019 Attitudinal Competence workbook

Timely, realistic, user friendly and empowering. I have personally gained tremendously from reading this insightful look at the most critical aspect of anyone's life... their attitude to everything!

Reviewed: 2019 Attitudinal Competence workbook

The material in the workbook is exciting and tempts the reader to skim ahead. Do not give in to the temptation for the highest rewards are to be earned by proceeding thoughtfully and thoroughly through every page.

Reviewed: 2019

David came to the Dept of Planning, Lands and Heritage in mid 2019 to carry out a Presentation Skills workshop. I really appreciated the approach David took and the style of his coaching, his depth of knowledge is clear and undoubtedly comes from a background of experience. Looking forward to crossing paths again!

Reviewed: 2018

David is a gifted coach and mentor and his support and guidance has consistently transformed culture and leadership behaviours for many of my teams.​ His vast experience and training lends to coaching filled with practical tools underpinned with his unique set of IP, for participants to elevate their leadership skills​. I have engaged David to work with teams across many industries including outdoor education, fitness, corporate health and recruitment and he always delivers. David is especially effective at working with high level leadership teams and he has a unique knack of dealing with difficult situations. In many businesses there are people in the organisation that are barriers to progress. He helps leaders to respectfully navigate these difficult situations so the business can move forward with renewed vigour and an improved culture.​ Every time I have engaged David, the leadership behaviours of my senior leaders has improved dramatically which has had an amazing impact on the teamwork, comradery, culture and of course, financial success of our businesses. ​David is an invaluable partner and trusted adviser and the most effective Executive Coach and mentor I have worked with.

Reviewed: 2013

Take off the mask, do away with assumptions/perceptions, switch-onto manual drive and let people see your inner light and passion in that moment” These were some of the talking points in applying the power of respectful influence to enhance my leadership profile. David Deane-Spread asks questions that make you rethink your leadership behaviours within the reality of your surroundings. In my case it was putting into practice behaviours that I already knew but unable or unwilling to show; to allow my emotions to be present and always respectful. David continually reminded me “you can do this – you already know this stuff - you have it in you”. In my experience David Deane-Spread offers coaching in a style akin to that of an advisor; to enhance existing capabilities, improve resilience and to develop both personally and professionally.

Reviewed: 2012

I cannot thank David enough for being so upfront and direct to make me think on a higher level taking me out of my comfort zone. Reaching for the stars. His expertise and calm manner made me feel at ease. Sharing his personal story with me helped me to connect and understand where he was coming from allowing me to be more open and direct. So thanks David for all you do.

Reviewed: 2009

David has been my career coach for many years now. David is a humble, trustworthy person and I would trust David with my life. David’s coaching has helped me work through many difficult decisions and I am a better person at work and at home because of this.