The person behind Pauls Tools
About Paul Donders
I've been walking alongside leaders for more than 35 years — and being on the journey with you is the best part of it.
Leadership author · mentor & trainer · walking with leaders since 1987
Why Pauls Tools exists
I didn't build Pauls Tools to sell something. I built it because I believe the questions it asks are the most important a leader can ask: not how you think you lead, but how you actually do.
I wrote my first book, Creative Life Planning, in 1995. Over thirty-five years and many books I've tried to translate complexity into simplicity — without losing the reality of complexity. The Value-Added Leadership model is the heart of that: competence and character, results and people, with identity at the core.
In the mountains
Where the ropes and compasses come from
The mountains are my practice room. On a via ferrata, what counts is what counts in leadership: trust in the rope, a clear next step — and the honesty to know your own limits. When you come across ropes, compasses and trails in Pauls Tools, they're not textbook metaphors. They come from my life.
As an author
Paul's books — from 2002 to today
- Leading from the Middle2026
- 50 Years of Leadership2025
- The High-Trust Organisation2024
- Power – The Freedom to Serve2023
- Mastery 4.02021
- Design Your Business2020
- Appreciation2018
- CEO 4.0 – The Journal2017
- Creative Life Planning 3.02017
- Resilience2015
- Valuable and Effective Leadership2015
- Mastery2012
- Appreciation – The Inspiring Power of Mutual Respect2011
- Healthy Leadership in the Church2010
- The Inspiring Leader2007
- The Authentic Leader2005
- One-2-be2003
- Power Check2001
- The Leader as Coach2001
- Creative Life Planning1997
And in private
If these daily impulses carry you the way they've carried others, that's all I hope for. And if you ever want to go deeper, I'm here.
