What’s on your Bookshelf?
I confess that when I visit people’s homes, I take a not so subtle peek at what’s on their bookshelves. This is a bit of an assumption I’m making here, but I assume that as committed coaches, we all try to keep up with what’s current in our field by reading, as well as going to conferences, getting on calls and- of course- checking The Foundation of Coaching websites!
My reading list/pile tends toward material that explores what the theory is behind the practice and how others study what they do and the impact of what they do. So if you were to visit my home, you’d see books piled up with titles like The Evidence-Based Coaching Handbook (Dianne Stober & Anthony Grant, eds.); Measuring Hidden Dimensions: The Art and Science of Fully Engaging Adults (Otto E. Laske) and I confess to eagerly anticipating the arrival of the newly published Handbook of Coaching Psychology. That doesn’t cover the journals - both the in-print kind (Consulting Psychology: Practice and Research, International Journal of Coaching in Organization) or the on-line kind (International Journal of Evidence-Based Coaching, International Coaching Psychology Review). Yet I have the feeling there’s so much more out there for an informed coach’s reading list!
What’s on your bookself or by the bed (both actual and virtual)? As replies come into the posts, I’ll pull off the information and compile an on-going coach’s bibliography which I’ll periodically update and post on this thread. So send in your favorite coaching-related reading titles and say a little bit about how they support you as a coach. Thanks!
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Comment by jsibley on 2 March 2008:
Great idea Francine.
I just started “Positive Psychological Assessment” by Shane J. Lopez and C.R. Snyder. It looks quite interesting.
A classic for me is “How the Way We Talk Can Change the Way We Work” by Kegan and Lahey.
I just finished Anatomy of Peace from the Arbinger Institute. It looks at self-deception at levels from the individual to community and is an interesting read.
Comment by Francine on 3 March 2008:
Thanks, Jonathan. Kegan and Lahey’s book is a cornerstone for me as well!
Comment by Jim Clarkson on 8 May 2008:
Hi Francine,
I’ve just finished reading Executive Coaching for Results: The Definitive Guide to Developing Organizational Leaders by Brian O. Underhill, Kimcee McAnally, and John J. Koriath; 2007: Berrett-Koehler Publishers.
This book reports the results of a research study sponsored by Executive Development Associates (EDA)- on High-Impact Executive Coaching. Once the data was collected, it was presented to 25 senior practitioners (”coaching owners from some of the world’s top companies”) to examine and interpret in a intensive workshop setting. This book shares the results of that conversation about best practices in executive coaching in organizations. Although it is a relatively short book (188 pages), it is packed with incredibly useful information for executive coaches and those who are establishing organizational coaching programs.
In addition to the book, a website designed to continue the conversation can be found at http://www.executivecoaching4results.com On the site is a 15-page summary of the findings, a coaching program design checklist and other useful information.
I highly recommend this book to anyone interested in coaching in organizations.
Jim
Comment by Francine on 9 May 2008:
Thanks, Jim! I appreciate the recommendation and the review and will definitely check out the website and book. I’m particularly intrigued by your description of the study and collective data interpretation.