Customer Reviews

Co-Active Coaching: Changing Business, Transforming Lives

5 star:		(15)
4 star:		(8)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

"Co-Active Coaching" is written for the coach or prospective coach. The authors, Laura Whitworth, Henry Kimsey-House, and Phil Sandahl, share their model and ideas for coaching others in three parts. They then provide a toolkit for coaches.

Part I is "Coaching Fundamentals." Here they outline the model which places the client squarely in the center. The model focuses on the coach using his or her skills to focus on the client's fulfillment, balance, and process. The intake session is discussed here sufficiently to create the context of the later coaching sessions.

Part II is "Co-Active Coaching Skills." The authors detail in this section five skills key to the coach's success: listening, use of intuition, exploration of curiosity, action and learning, and self-management. There are activities to practice each skill at the end of each chapter--anyone wanting to coach should not skip these exercises, which are carefully designed to get to the heart of the skill described.

Part III is "Co-Active Coaching Processes." This section explains "the three core principles of coaching:" fulfillment, balance, and process. Especially helpful here is Chapter 11, "Tips and Traps," a valuable addition that warns and prepares the coach for things that may not go quite right....

The last section is "The Coach's Toolkit," and this alone is worth the price of the book. It includes Action Plans, Client Activities and Worksheets, Intake Checklists--everything a coach needs to begin a successful coaching program. A wise coach will undertake the exercises and worksheets for himself or herself, and thus will better understand what the client is asked to do.

As a life coach this is THE book that I recommend for anyone interested in learning more about coaching. The authors' philosophy that the relationship between a coach and client is a designed alliance is powerful and well articulated throughout the book. Each chapter is packed with information, tools and examples on coaching from the co-active model. It's also one of the few books I keep on my bookshelf in my office and I refer to it often.

As I began my training as a Personal and Executive Coach, I was searching for a book that could provide both theoretical and practical instruction for coaching. I found both in this book. The authors detail the philosophy behind this collaborative coaching model as well as provide practical solutions for coaches such as worksheets, etc. that clients can fill out. I can't imagine getting to the point I am out without this book, and highly recommend it to any coach at any stage in training.

I have been interested in coaching as a home based business for several months, and this book helped me get a clear picture of how to set up a method-based approach to coaching others.

The theory of co-active coaching that provides the title for this book makes sense: By making the interaction between coach and coachee a relationship of equals, both parties will feel less constrained by pre-assigned roles, and thereby freed to learn from another. Unfortunately, the rest of the book fails to live up to the promise of the initial intriguing, yet common-sense idea. Specifically, the coaching methods and tools described by the authors never progress beyond generalities that basically amount to this: The client already has the answers, the coach just has to bring them out by being curious and creating a safe place where the client can be honest and take risks. However, we [...] do recommend this book on the basis of a few features, like the excellent sample dialogues and illustrative hypothetical examples, which provide simple but valuable lessons to managers, consultants, teachers and all manner of would-be coaches.

Co-coaching is distinctive in that it involves both the coach and the client; it is also referred to as personal/professional coaching because it addresses the whole person (the whole of their life).

Many books we have reviewed on this subject, while of value within the workplace, do not strive to address the multidimensional nature of the individual. In contrast, the approach presented here is distinctly holistic.

The authors' offer a model plus a set of skills and techniques. The book is filled with specifics and excellent insights, and gives extensive guidance about how to be highly effective in coaching. About 75 pages are devoted to "The Coach's Toolkit," consisting of forms, checklists, exercises, resources and a glossary. This book offers a potentially powerful approach to coaching. It is, in our view, requisite reading for anyone involved in, or considering, coaching. Highly recommended.

Very straight forward with good explanations and has a ton of very useful tools. Obviously thought of highly given it was used as the reference for the coaching course I took. The only downside is that the course I took really heightened my understanding in a way the book never could have, which I suppose is true of all courses and shouldn't detract from this being the go to reference.

As a person that leads many different types of team this is a great book in giving me some additional tools for leadership coaching. The supplemental material adds some of the items that I've found missing in other books - such as the powerful questions to ask. Even the sample coaching sessions help as reminder references.

This book is an excellently written basics course on coaching. It focus' each of us on the tasks we know are important but sometimes neglect the subtle nature of doing it effectively. For example, listening, intuition, or what level of candor is appropriate. Read it and then keep it as a refresher when ever you feel you are off your coaching game.

If you are looking for a solid, client focused framework for professional coaching this resource is a must. In this book you are presented with a context for professional coaching, tips and traps and a great range of templates.

It is presented in an easy to read format that allows this information to be intergreated into a professional coaching practice - this is not just a book to read it is a book to take action on.