Becoming an Exceptional Executive Coach: Use Your Knowledge, Experience, and Intuition to Help Leaders Excel Paperback – July 5, 2011

One of the most comprehensive and practical books about coaching that I have ever read. Most coaching books do not go into the level of detail and practical guidance that this book provides. And the authors have managed to do this while keeping it light and readable, and punctuated with actual case studies. I thoroughly enjoyed it and recommend this book highly to practising and aspiring coaches.

There are many books on coaching. Yet, to me the most immediately valuable aspect of this book was the concept of creating your 'Personal Coaching Model' - the thing which differentiates you from millions of other practitioners out there. Also, in accepting that there are several different types of executive coach and discussing a rationale for segmentation of the market, where you may fit and why.Contrast this with many books which provide only the author's solutions and are really designed to sell methodologies in a licensed business model.Further, the book talks about practical, typical dilemmas faced by coaches every day - such as the consulting/coaching relationship, dynamics of client interaction and managing the whole engagement.It seems to me that many executive coaching practitioners send confused messages to the market. They don't know whether they are HR, OD, Consultants, business coaches, career or personal coaches and they seem to switch hats depending upon business opportunities at the time. This book can really help with your focus and the fabric behind it based upon your preferences, personal experience, interests, competencies and skills. If nothing else, it may help you gain clarity on what to tell your clients to avoid confusion, or if an internal coach, how to explain your approach to others.For me, compared with many other books on this subject, this one stands out as highly practical and actionable, making the link between the big picture of what you think you are, to the delivery which tells a client you are what you say you are - invaluable.

good book to enhance you skills as leader......

This book is one of the most helpful, hands-on guides for executive coaches. Not only does it build on the shared wisdom of 5 extraordinary coaches and teachers, it is also organized in a very easy-to-follow order, allowing it to be used for targeted advice as needed. The day I received the book I was preparing for the closing meeting with a year-long coaching client. I checked the table of contents, found Chapter 17 - "Closure" - and quickly read the entire chapter. It provided helpful tips and timely reminders. I also found the key takeaways in the end of each chapter to be on-point and useful for readers short on time. Balancing thought-provoking questions with practical advice, tips and check-lists, this book is one of the best resources available for new and experienced coaches alike.

I have mentored and coached employees in my organization for over 10 years. I recently began coaching a couple of new informal clients and I am making plans to start my own business post retirement. This is a great read for anyone at any stage of being or becoming a coach. It also provides advice on how to build your own coaching firm. If I had this book 10 years ago I would have likely started a practice by now.

As an external coach who is paid directly by my clients this book didn’t seem written for me. I do not engage with organizations for coaching arrangements. I don’t meet with my clients managers or HR. It would have been nice to see more material written for a TRULY external coach.

Really appreciate the new insights I learned in this book. It is for any coach who is looking to expand their niche and or client base. If you are seriously considering making a change in your coaching career, this book outlines the ins and the outs of what is entailed in becoming an executive coach.Executive coaches have far different needs than many other coaching clients. To better serve the executives you are wishing to coach, I discovered this book contained information I would not have otherwise understood. I definitely feel more confident after reading this book. It has helped me shape my current perceptions of my coaching practice as well as my future business decisions.

I've read and reviewed other coaching books I'd recommend before this one, but still a worthwhile read.