Core coaching skills

This book is unusual in that it's aimed at organisations rather than individuals who want to get involved in coaching. It's great for guidance on setting up and running coaching programmes within the workplace. There is a useful distinction between coaching and mentoring, including a table.

The book is deceptively easy to read, yet full of useful content with the text divided into short sections with large print. It is very practical, including appendices with sample agreements and forms you can use as a basis for your own. There are real examples of statements you can make and questions you can ask. It illustrates different ways of expressing the same thing to sound less dogmatic and more collaborative.

How can a line manager coach a member of his/her staff? There is likely to be baggage and conflict of interest. The author uses case studies to illustrate how this can be done.

You do get the feeling that coaching will magically unlock people to rise to great heights, but the author mentions realism. Even with the most expert coaching, some people may already have reached their full potential and cannot be promoted further.

I would definitely recommend this book for its usefulness and ease of reading along with comprehensiveness. The principles can be applied to any organisation, whether small or large, public or private sector.

Reviewed by Rachel Hooke