Executive Coaching with Backbone and Heart: Mary Beth O’Neill
Written by an executive coach for coaches working with leaders of organisations, the book focuses on how a coach should be with the leader that he/she is coaching.
O’Neill does not offer specific skills and techniques for the coach to transfer to clients, but focuses instead on the impact of the coach him/herself on the client and the coaching relationship.
Key themes and ideas
Developing a strong signature presence as a coach that reflects who you are as a person. This means coaching in a way unique to you as a result of your strengths, experiences, interests and quirks; retaining the ability to stand apart from the client while working closely with him/her; not colluding with the client nor being drawn into his/her world picture
- Coaching with backbone (being able to disagree with the client and to offer clear and honest feedback) and heart (understanding the client’s situation and empathising about the challenges and difficulties he/she faces)
- Using systems thinking to take a systems perspective as a coach and thus help the client to understand the wider system in which he/she works
- The four stages of coaching – contracting; action planning; live-action coaching; debriefing.
Useful gems
- A good list of competencies needed by the senior leader
- A thought provoking questionnaire to help the coach to assess his/her own performance
- A nice list of useful questions to ask clients.
Why I rate this book
- It describes my world – executive coaching at a senior level
- It’s written in a very accessible style
- It’s practical - it includes mini case studies and coaching conversations to demonstrate the points O’Neill is making
- It really made me think about my signature presence – who I am; how I want to be with clients; and how I can strengthen my coaching presence.
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Hardcover: 224 pages
Publisher: Jossey Bass (27 Jan 2000)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 0787950165
ISBN-13: 978-0787950163
Dimensions: 22.6 x 16 x 2.6 cm
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