"Co-Active Coaching: Changing Business, Transforming Lives" by Henry Kimsey-House, Karen Kimsey-House, Phillip Sandahl, and Laura Whitworth offers a comprehensive approach to coaching in a business context. The authors introduce the Co-Active Coaching model, which emphasizes the importance of building strong relationships, exploring values and beliefs, and developing strategies for creating change.
The book is organised into three main sections. The first section provides an overview of the Co-Active Coaching model, including the four cornerstones of the model: Fulfilment, Balance, Process, and Purpose. The authors emphasize the importance of building strong relationships and provide practical guidance on how to establish trust, empathy, and rapport.
The second section of the book focuses on coaching skills and competencies. The authors provide a variety of tools and techniques for effective coaching, including active listening, powerful questioning, and exploring values and beliefs. The authors also emphasize the importance of self-awareness and reflection in the coaching process and provide guidance on how to develop these skills.
The third section of the book focuses on creating change through coaching. The authors emphasize the importance of exploring values and beliefs and provide strategies for helping individuals identify and pursue their goals. The authors also provide guidance on how to work with resistance and obstacles, and how to create a culture of coaching within an organisation.
One of the key strengths of "Co-Active Coaching" is its emphasis on building strong relationships. The authors argue that effective coaching requires a deep understanding of the individual being coached, and that building trust and rapport is essential for success. The authors provide practical guidance on how to establish these relationships, including active listening, empathetic questioning, and creating a safe and supportive environment.
Another strength of the book is its comprehensive approach to coaching in a business context. The authors provide practical guidance on a wide range of topics, including coaching skills and competencies, developing a coaching practice, and creating change within an organisation. The authors also provide a variety of resources, including worksheets and templates, that can be used to support coaching conversations and activities.
Overall, "Co-Active Coaching" is an excellent resource for anyone who is interested in coaching in a business context. The book is practical, accessible, and provides a clear and comprehensive introduction to the Co-Active Coaching model. The authors emphasize the importance of building strong relationships, exploring values and beliefs, and creating change through coaching. The book provides a variety of tools and techniques for effective coaching and offers practical guidance on how to develop a coaching practice and create a coaching culture within an organisation.
The Key takeaways from this book
Coach the whole person: Co-active coaching emphasizes coaching the whole person, not just their work performance. By exploring all aspects of a coachee's life, including their values, beliefs, and emotions, coaches can help them achieve greater clarity and alignment, both personally and professionally.
Collaboration is key: Co-active coaching is based on the idea that coaching is a collaborative process between the coach and the coachee. The coach acts as a facilitator, asking powerful questions, listening actively, and providing support, while the coachee drives the process by setting goals, generating insights, and taking action.
Focus on what's important: Co-active coaching encourages coaches to focus on what's most important to the coachee, rather than following a pre-determined coaching agenda. By staying present, curious, and flexible, coaches can help their coachees find the insights and solutions that are most relevant and valuable to them.
Embrace the coachee's agenda: Co-active coaching is based on the principle of "dance in the moment." Coaches should be present, engaged, and fully committed to the coachee's agenda, rather than imposing their own ideas or goals on the coaching relationship.
Coach for transformation: Co-active coaching is not just about achieving specific goals or solving immediate problems. It's about creating lasting transformation and growth, both for the coachee and the coach. By focusing on deepening self-awareness, building resilience, and developing new skills and behaviours, co-active coaching can help individuals and organisations reach their full potential.
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