About

Stephen Lewis Elms

Creator of The ELMS Method

From Sidelines to Spotlight, The Journey That Built The Method

I’m Stephen Lewis Elms, a speaker, coach, and the founder of The ELMS Method. But long before I taught leaders how to communicate with power and presence, I was the one struggling to be heard.

I spent over 20 years performing at the intersection of three high-pressure worlds: elite sport, live performance, and frontline politics, places where confidence isn’t optional, communication is currency, and presence is power. And I learned, through trial and error, what truly makes people listen.

Whether I was on a rugby pitch wearing international colours, on stage entertaining thousands, or standing in council chambers fighting for the unheard, I realised the same thing again and again:

The people who win aren’t always the most talented.
They’re the most convincing.

That’s why I created The ELMS Method.

What Is The ELMS Method?

The ELMS Method is a high-impact coaching system designed to make you more attractive to buyers, backers, and believers, by helping you communicate your value with absolute clarity and confidence.

It’s built on real-world experience, not theory.
And it’s been shaped by everything I’ve learned from two decades of leading, performing, pitching, negotiating, persuading, and watching others fall short not because they lacked talent, but because they lacked technique.

Whether you're stepping into a boardroom, a stage, a pitch, or a panel, The ELMS Method equips you to:

- Speak with clarity

- Lead with confidence

- Influence with purpose

- And own every room you walk into

Because when you communicate like a leader, people treat you like one.

Why I Do This

I do this because I know how it feels to be underestimated.
To have more to say, but not know how to say it.
To feel like you’re on the edge of a breakthrough, but something’s not landing.

I’ve coached over 100,000 people across the UK, from professionals to politicians, from performers to young people who’d been written off. I’ve seen what happens when someone finds their voice, and I’ve seen what happens when they don’t.

And here’s what I believe:

Leadership starts with communication.
Confidence is a skill, not a gift.
And the right words, delivered the right way, can change everything.

That’s what I’m here to help you do.

The Best of Both Worlds, Culture & Credibility

As the first Black councillor elected in Sunderland and a 12-time National Entertainment Award winner, I bring a rare blend of credibility, charisma, and cultural intelligence to every session.

I’ve performed at the O2, run youth programmes that changed lives, and helped leaders, creatives, and change-makers go from unheard to unforgettable.

Whether I’m on a mic or in a meeting, I turn real-world experience into real-world results.

Ready to Work Together?

Whether you’re building a brand, growing a business, leading a team, or preparing to speak in public, The ELMS Method is your unfair advantage.

This isn’t just coaching. It’s transformation.

Let’s get to work, and get you heard.