Favorite Books About Coaching
August 14th, 2009 | 
Author: People who are interested in becoming a coach (either managers who want to adopt a more coach-like or individuals who want to become an external or internal coach) often ask me “what are your favorite books about coaching”?
I`m an avid reader, often reading five or more books at a time (my Kindle seems to lend itself well to reading several books at a time. Means I don`t have to lug them all around when I`m on the road). Almost every book I read has something to do with executive coaching, even if only remotely. So some of these might seem remotely related, but trust me, they provide a lot of thought for the person who wants to become a better coach.
They are in no particular order:
Co-Active Coaching by Laura Whitworth, Henry Kimsey-House, Phil Sandahl. Great all around text for getting started in coaching.
Coaching: Evoking Excellence in Others by James Flaherty. Also basic and classic.
Executive Coaching with Backbone and Heart by Mary Beth O`Neill. More specific to executive coaching with a systems and organizational approach. Most likely, not a first book for most coaches.
The Answer to How is Yes by Peter Block. In his edgy and compelling style, Block makes the case for substituting “What” questions for “How” and “Why” questions.
How The Way We Talk Can Change The Way We Work by Robert Kegan and Lisa Laskow Lahey. Provides great fodder for resistance to change from a deep behavioral standpoint. Provides a way of dealing with this.
The Highest Goal by Michael Ray. Provides a powerful step by step methodology for finding what drives you. This book was personally and professionally transformational for me, too.
Leading with Questions by Michael Marquardt. Provides the “case” for adopting inquiry as a leadership tool, and goes on to provide techniques for crafting questions.
Leading Through Conflict by Mark Gerzon. Great, simple tools for leaders to use when dealing with conflict. I find the skills outlined useful in non-conflict situations as well.
Social Intelligence by Daniel Goleman. Goes the next step beyond “Emotional Intelligence” to frame and describe the importance of relationships. Has some scientific background, but in Goleman`s style, easy to understand.
Resonant Leadership. By Richard Boyatzis and Annie McKee. A case for the importance of maintaining mindfulness, hope, and compassion in connection with others.
As I look over this list, I am surprised at how I`ve embraced pieces of each book into my own process, style and writing over the years.
I`m ready for some new reading. What are your favorite coaching books?
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18 Responses to “Favorite Books About Coaching”
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Mary Jo, excellent list. Looking forward to reading The Hightest Goal by Michael Ray. I would also add Coaching That Counts by Dianna Anderson and Merrill Anderson. Dianna has developed a 4 Quadrant model that supports clients in their development and guides the coaching focus. I have found this very helpful.
Peg, I think you'll enjoy The Highest Goal. I also have Coaching That Counts on my own bookshelf – great book and model. Thanks for adding it to the list!
This is VERY helpful, Mary Jo! I know it is not a coaching book, but Senge's The Fifth Discipline is one of the best. Everyone needs to understand dynamic complexity and metanoia.
Thanks!
Bret
Mary Jo,
What a fantastic list. I love Co-Active Coaching too.
Bret– an added comment re: Senge– The Fifth Discipline is tough going for the lay person. I'd suggest the Fifth Discipline Fieldbook instead.
Hi Bret,
Thanks for the addition, its a good one. In a way, Mary Beth O'Neill takes Senge's work and uses it as the context in which she writes about coaching in a very easily accessible way. If you are looking for coaching books, this one may resonate with you.
Jennifer great addition. I consider myself pretty smart and I found Fifth Discipline tough going. I finally purchased the audio version! Fieldbooks are often a great choice that can make complex reading more accessible.
Mary Jo,
I like The Transparency Edge, How Credibility Can Make or Break You in Business (Pagano). It's full of concrete examples of how individuals unknowingly destroy their integrity, and what to do about it. Not a coaching book, per se, but full of ideas that a coach can bring to the conversation.
Heather
Hi Heather,
Thanks for stopping over and adding your wisdom. I also appreciate books that aren't necessarily coaching-specific, but provide tools coaches (and leaders) can use.
Hi Mary Jo,
Fantastic list and I always love to recommend "Leadership and Self Deception" and "Anatomy of Peace" both by the Arginger Institute, obviously leadership books but don't coaching and leadership go hand in hand?
Lauren
I recently read "Change Your Questions, Change Your Life" by Marilee Adams of the Inquiry Institute. Similar to Appreciative Inquiry, and relevant for work and life.
Hi Lauren,
Thanks for the additional ideas. I love "Leadership and Self Deception" but had somehow neglected to put it on the list. I didn't know about "Anatomy of Peace", and will check into it!
This is a great list, Mary Jo. Here's a question: Is there a book or two or three that you would recommend for a line manager that wants to improve his or her coaching skills?
Angie, I was so pleased to see you stop over and add your thoughts. Great addition (I have this one, too) thanks.
Wally, if the line manager needs to learn the skills from the beginning – I'd suggest the Co-Active Coaching book. In my opinion, it seems a little more focused on life coaching but it is a classic for learning the skills. Coaching – Evoking Excellence in Others would be a very close second choice. Both were written by people who started very successful coaching school certification programs.
And, since coaching is grounded in inquiry, I've recommended Leading with Questions to clients. If only managers could learn to ask great questions and listen more thoroughly, they'd automatically become better coaches – in my opinion, these are the two most important skills in coaching. When I teach managers to coach, we spend most of our time on these two skills for this reason.
Once the skill set of coaching is learned, any of the other books will provide some great further reading!
Thanks Mary Jo for compiling this list. One of my favorite Coaching books is: "Brief Coaching for Lasting Solutions" by Insoo Kim Berg and Peter Szab?³. It has some practical examples spread throughout the book.
Super list Mary Jo and I'll add another 'vote' for Co-Active Coaching. I also have 2 more to put on the list: #1 The Coaching Revolution – How Visionary Managers Are Using Coaching to Empower People and Unlock Their Full Potential (by David Logan & John King); #2 The New Yorker Book of Kids Cartoons…I can take any one of these cartoons and turn it into a creative conversation or coaching moment for a client or team. Try it – it's fun!
Dave and Deb,
Thanks for your additions. Like the cartoon idea – very creative!
Mary Jo: Thanks for getting this list started! It's always helpful to see what's working for others.
One of my "goto" books is Fierce Conversations by Susan Scott. It has specific outlines that help people lean into important conversations.
I love lists like this!
I'm an avid reader as well. Here are some for your list:
*Finding Your True North: A Personal Guide – Bill George. This one accompanies True North and is basically a guide for self-coaching to become authentic in your leadership.
*The Power of Full Engagement-Jim Loehr. Managing energy, not time is the key to productivity.
*Becoming a Coaching Leader-Daniel Harkavy. This one provides somewhat of a process for coaching leaders to become "coaching leaders".
*Coaching Leaders-Daniel White. Includes common issues and tools used in and for executive coaching.
I hope people can benefit from these!