Certifications

> Master Facilitator for Zenger Folkman

> Master Accreditation Trainer & Master Distributor of the PeopleKeys® DISC Personality System™

> Authorized Partner & Facilitator for The Five Behaviors®

> Global Training Partner - The Leadership Challenge®

> Certified Practitioner for Reina Trust Building®

> Certified Solution-Focused Coach (CCPC Global)

> Certified Coach (International Coaching Federation)

> Fellow – ITOL (Institute of Training and Occupational Learning), UK

About Ian Tan

Ian Tan is the Founder, Chief Enabling Officer, and Principal Consultant of Lifeskills Institute, a leading authority in Asia dedicated to human potential and organisational performance. With a singular focus is to empower people to live their best lives, Ian enables his clients to discover their purpose, maximise their potential and to lead their communities and organisations with impact. Since 1996, Ian has driven Lifeskills Institute’s growth from a training and consultancy business to the well-trusted, one-stop Life skills authority in Asia it is today.

As a Master Facilitator for Zenger Folkman, a leading world authority on data-centred, strengths-based leadership development, Ian delivers high-impact leadership development and corporate training programmes for key industries, sectors, and markets in the region. These award-winning programmes are grounded in research and employ a unique, strengths-based development methodology.

Ian draws on his training and experience in human psychology, coaching, counselling and business, to connect with diverse audiences and work with leaders at all levels in organisations. Over the last 20 years, more than 200,000 people across 20 countries came through his certifications, training, consulting, and coaching services. The diverse audience come from MNCs, SMEs, and educational institutions.

Ian is also one of Asia’s pioneer Master Behavioural Consultants, specialising in behavioural analysis, leadership development and strength-based change. As the Master Accreditation Trainer of the PeopleKeys®-DISC Personality System™, Ian has accredited thousands of other behavioural consultants such as HR professionals, senior management, trainers & consultants, educators, and business owners throughout the Asia-Pacific.

As a certified Solution Focused Coach and facilitator for some of the world’s leading assessment tools used for strengths-based development, Ian also holds a degree in Social Science & Applied Psychology and a Master’s Degree in Guidance and Counselling.

Ian recently co-founded Best Of Me Pte Ltd – the first Asian-based digital platform that combines Human, Science and Technology to democratise coaching, making coaching accessible to everyone. The mission is to empower individuals, teams and organisations to unlock their fullest potential through personalised coaching.

His work and his passion are encapsulated in his personal mantra – “Do what I love in the service of people who love what I do”.

Testimonials

“I had the privilege to attend the “Extraordinary Leader” Workshop that Ian conducted. I was genuinely impressed with his facilitation skills and even more so by the way that he brought the key themes and important messages to life. We subsequently had a 1-1 session during which he very skillfully coached me through ways that I could become more effective in a practical sense, but also inspired me to take concerted action to achieve my full leadership potential. Having spent nearly forty years in sales based on three continents, I can honestly say that Ian brought a really refreshing approach to his craft. Personally, I found him to be highly engaging and credible and was left with the distinct impression that he very much ‘walks the talk’. All in all, time exceptionally well spent with an exceptionally gifted Chief Enabling Officer and fine gentleman.” 

— George Urban, General Manager, Large Enterprise Operations at Fuji Xerox APAC Operations

"Ian is a brilliant coach, with a nurturing style of engaging the coachee. I’ve observed and learnt how important authenticity and genuine concern for the coachee differentiates the Master coach from the ordinary coach. While techniques can be learnt, processes can be adopted, having a genuine interest in the person we are coaching, is indeed the key differentiator."

- Sylvia Koh, Former Chief People Officer, Ex-Head of Group Organization Development & Transformation, CrimsonLogic

"The process (training/ coaching) with you (Ian) and Lee Fong worked exceptionally well despite you being situated in Asia, and what I specifically found valuable was both your direct personalities and your evident long experiences as coaches. I also found very good value in you coming from a slightly different culture than me and my team which I found adding an additional edge on our conversations, both one to one and in the team discussion. I was at first hesitant about you not being present when we reviewed the 360 results in the team, but in the end, I can see that it was actually an advantage to have you on the screen as a “fly on the wall” as you said Ian. This forced us to manage the conversations sometimes on our own, but you were excellent in orchestrating this from the side and when we were back on track, you just took on the role as a listener instead. In this way, the discussion felt like our own and people invested much engagement into it. I am convinced that this exercise has moved the level of leadership of our team to a new height."

- Lina Karlsson, Executive Vice President Antiseptics, Molnlycke

"I had the privilege to listen and learn from Ian Tan recently. He is an exceptional trainer on the subject of Leadership. He is passionate in nurturing individuals to be leaders, and to be the best person one can be through self-discovery and self-awareness. What makes him different from other trainers I have encountered is that he truly connects with the audience! He went the extra mile to share a couple of great articles on the subject of self-awareness (post training) which I found to be really helpful and relevant."

- Mazlin Haznee Mahmud, Deputy General Manager, Securities Commission Malaysia

"During the last 12 months I received the fantastic opportunity to learn and improve the managing and coaching skills through the programme and professional coaching by Ian; finding his knowledge, encouragement, passion and patience a clear benchmark and good example."

- Enrique Reyes, Country General Manager, Interplex Industries, Inc

"A highly recommended trainer - I had Ian as my DISC trainer. His effort and commitment during and post training to his participants is above and beyond. Ian is very patient, insightful, and knowledgeable in his areas of training. A humble individual who was/is always there when his advice and ideas are sought after. A well-informed trainer whose in-depth experiences and knowledge on subject matter are worth tapping on. Thank you, Ian!"

- Celina Batten, Director of Talent Consulting & Founder, Eureka, UK