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An Introduction to Coaching Skills: A Practical Guide
An Introduction to Coaching Skills is an invaluable resource for novice and trainee coaches. Its accessible, step-by-step style acquaints you with the key skills needed to become a successful coach and, with its focus on the applied side of coaching, the book is an essential text for anyone starting out on their coaching voyage. From the ′how to′, through to practicalities and challenges and honing existing skills, this book - Definitions of coaching - How to become a coach - Key coaching skills - Current coaching models - Practical tools and techniques - Reflective practise and how best to help others With evidence-based research, activities and suggestions for further reading, this is a clear and practical, all-you-need guide to becoming a coach.
- GenresNonfiction
208 pages, Hardcover
First published December 10, 2013
47 people are currently reading
125 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews
September 24, 2021
Very interesting and practical
November 7, 2021
Caveat: I haven’t accessed the video content that comes with the book. Despite providing online learning myself, including video content as appropriate, I don’t enjoy watching educational videos for pleasure, and always, always prefer reading.
I did learn new techniques from the book, and I suspect would / will learn more via the videos. However, a lot of it replicated learning during my Postgraduate Certificate in Learning and Teaching in Higher Education, focusing on listening skills, asking open questions, and keeping the “coachee” (hideous term - “person being coached” is longer to say but sounds better) thinking, talking and taking action.
My reading was also marred by my context - this isn’t, in my opinion, a book club read, but rather a mini-course. I’ll be interested to see how our discussion goes tomorrow - perhaps if lots of APDO colleagues turn up who are qualified coaches there will be debate, but for me, it was a case of “Yeah, useful technique ... yep, another useful technique ... yep, I can see how this might help in some circumstances.” 🤷🏻♀️
In short, I’ve given this ⭐️⭐️⭐️ but suspect it would rate higher if you read it for what it is intended to be - a textbook for trainee coaches. For me, it fell short as a book club read, but competently did what it claimed to do on its blurb and website.
I did learn new techniques from the book, and I suspect would / will learn more via the videos. However, a lot of it replicated learning during my Postgraduate Certificate in Learning and Teaching in Higher Education, focusing on listening skills, asking open questions, and keeping the “coachee” (hideous term - “person being coached” is longer to say but sounds better) thinking, talking and taking action.
My reading was also marred by my context - this isn’t, in my opinion, a book club read, but rather a mini-course. I’ll be interested to see how our discussion goes tomorrow - perhaps if lots of APDO colleagues turn up who are qualified coaches there will be debate, but for me, it was a case of “Yeah, useful technique ... yep, another useful technique ... yep, I can see how this might help in some circumstances.” 🤷🏻♀️
In short, I’ve given this ⭐️⭐️⭐️ but suspect it would rate higher if you read it for what it is intended to be - a textbook for trainee coaches. For me, it fell short as a book club read, but competently did what it claimed to do on its blurb and website.
August 24, 2022
Caveat: I haven’t accessed the video content that comes with the book. Despite providing online learning myself, including video content as appropriate, I don’t enjoy watching educational videos for pleasure, and always, always prefer reading.
I did learn new techniques from the book, and I suspect would / will learn more via the videos. However, a lot of it replicated learning during my Postgraduate Certificate in Learning and Teaching in Higher Education, focusing on listening skills, asking open questions, and keeping the “coachee” (hideous term - “person being coached” is longer to say but sounds better) thinking, talking and taking action.
My reading was also marred by my context - this isn’t, in my opinion, a book club read, but rather a mini-course. I’ll be interested to see how our discussion goes tomorrow - perhaps if lots of APDO colleagues turn up who are qualified coaches there will be debate, but for me, it was a case of “Yeah, useful technique ... yep, another useful technique ... yep, I can see how this might help in some circumstances.” 🤷🏻♀️
In short, I’ve given this ⭐️⭐️⭐️ but suspect it would rate higher if you read it for what it is intended to be - a textbook for trainee coaches. For me, it fell short as a book club read, but competently did what it claimed to do on its blurb and website.
I did learn new techniques from the book, and I suspect would / will learn more via the videos. However, a lot of it replicated learning during my Postgraduate Certificate in Learning and Teaching in Higher Education, focusing on listening skills, asking open questions, and keeping the “coachee” (hideous term - “person being coached” is longer to say but sounds better) thinking, talking and taking action.
My reading was also marred by my context - this isn’t, in my opinion, a book club read, but rather a mini-course. I’ll be interested to see how our discussion goes tomorrow - perhaps if lots of APDO colleagues turn up who are qualified coaches there will be debate, but for me, it was a case of “Yeah, useful technique ... yep, another useful technique ... yep, I can see how this might help in some circumstances.” 🤷🏻♀️
In short, I’ve given this ⭐️⭐️⭐️ but suspect it would rate higher if you read it for what it is intended to be - a textbook for trainee coaches. For me, it fell short as a book club read, but competently did what it claimed to do on its blurb and website.
reviewed
January 3, 2022The videos accompanying the book were not accessible. That prompted me to write to the email address located in the accompanying Sage Publication website for further advice. At the time of writing this review, I have not received their responses yet.
The book itself without the videos covers the salient points of coaching. However, without the videos, it is difficult to assess what breadth and depth the book-video combo covers.
The book without the videos is itself a sufficiently informative read. If you can get the book sans the price of the videos, it is still worth reading. Therefore, my humble suggestion is to borrow the book from a library while the publishers find a smoother way to access the videos for a much better learning experience, or if they release an edition of the book as a standalone.
The book itself without the videos covers the salient points of coaching. However, without the videos, it is difficult to assess what breadth and depth the book-video combo covers.
The book without the videos is itself a sufficiently informative read. If you can get the book sans the price of the videos, it is still worth reading. Therefore, my humble suggestion is to borrow the book from a library while the publishers find a smoother way to access the videos for a much better learning experience, or if they release an edition of the book as a standalone.
July 30, 2024
An excellent introduction to coaching that enhanced my ability of coaching alongside the AreteWay Diploma in Positive Psychology and coaching course by Andy Ramage that I am currently studying for.
I have used lots of the skills talked about in this book multiple times with clients and found them really useful with positive outcomes and seen A-ha moments often.
I would highly recommend this book and with the accompanying videos and reflection prompts to be incredibly helpful.
Thank you Christian.
I have used lots of the skills talked about in this book multiple times with clients and found them really useful with positive outcomes and seen A-ha moments often.
I would highly recommend this book and with the accompanying videos and reflection prompts to be incredibly helpful.
Thank you Christian.
September 17, 2020
A great outline of or revision of the fundamentals of coaching, going deeper than models into the practical techniques one can use in conversations to bring a coaching process to life for real outcomes.
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December 29, 2019This is an excellent introductory guide. However I will not be able to use it as reference material within my organisation because of accessibility issues due to gender bias.
December 24, 2021
An interesting book with useful advice for every day difficult situations, not just a manual for coaching classes.
January 1, 2023
Great book for an entry level coach .
October 13, 2025
Helpful introduction to coaching philosophy and practice! Practical and accessibly written. Does just what it says on the cover.
July 22, 2015
An excellent resource for my line of work.
Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews