The #1 book for coaches, leaders, talent managers and professionals around the world. This is the definitive and fully updated new edition.
'Coaching for Performance provides a foundation for those who want to understand the potential and power of coaching. The Sixth Edition is a must-read and a want-to-read; with updates, powerful case studies, and empirical evidence of coaching making a difference, having lasting impacts, and transforming societies.' Magdalena N. Mook, CEO, International Coach Federation
An international bestseller, featuring the influential GROW model, this book is the founding text of the coaching profession. It explains why enabling people to bring the best out of themselves is the key to driving productivity, growth, and engagement. A meaningful coaching culture has the potential to transform the relationship between organizations and employees and to put both on the path to long-term success.
Written by Sir John Whitmore, the pioneer of coaching, this new edition has been fully revised by Tiffany Gaskell, Director at Performance Consultants, the global market leaders in performance coaching. This 6th edition has been updated throughout to reflect today's new world of work, and will revolutionize the traditional approach to organizational culture. Insightful real-world examples serve to champion inclusivity, alongside practical exercises which place an increased value on trust and responsibility. Critical new material has further been added to strengthen the process of measuring the benefits of coaching as a return on investment; all ensuring this contemporary new edition will remain at the forefront of professional coaching and leadership development.
'Timeless. The perfect handbook for you whether you're a new and aspiring manager or a seasoned leader, seeking to improve your team's performance levels. It is packed full of guidance on how to apply the GROW model to coaching high-performing teams within different scenarios, and comes with a helpful bank of coaching questions, dialogues, and a glossary.' Forbes
“This beautiful book is at once timely and timeless. Timely because it incorporates and responds to the very latest developments in what we know about work and workplace cultures. Timeless because it draws on and conveys the accumulated wisdom of centuries. Full of compelling case studies and actionable advice, Coaching for Performance is also refreshingly practical.” Amy C. Edmondson, Harvard Business School ’ s Novartis Professor of Leadership, and author of Right Kind of Wrong
“The number one skill for people-leader capability at Johnson & Johnson is coaching. What is the best coaching model in the world? We picked Sir John Whitmore ’ s GROW model. Every single person in our organization now has access to Coaching for Performance.” Sandra Humbles, Chief Learning Officer, Johnson & Johnson
Coaching cultures are better performing, fairer, and more sustainable than those arising out of traditional management systems. Coaching for Performance is for any leader aiming for excellence. ― Ludo Van der Heyden, Professor of Corporate Governance, INSEAD
Coaching for Performance raises the bar. ― Jorge Paulo Lemann, Co-Founder, 3G Capital, and Director, The Kraft Heinz Company
The best first book to read for leaders as well as new or experienced coaches. It goes beyond the skills that it so aptly spells out, to explain the essence of coaching. ― Carol Kauffman PhD, Assistant Professor, Harvard Medical School
Coaching for Performance directly impacts the way of working in our companies. It provides coaches and leaders with a fantastic tool for people development that is so powerful. ― Jean-Louis Araignous, Coaching Program Manager, Volvo Group University
This book is a must-read for leaders and organizational development practitioners who recognize that coaching is a performance activity which impacts leaders, teams, and culture holistically. ― Thorsten Klein, Director, Global Talent & Organization Development, eBay
Performance Consultants International are without doubt the market leaders in coaching globally. This new edition brilliantly shows how success comes from holistically maximizing the potential of people, and strong ethical principles, rather than a narrow focus on profit. ― David Sanders, Founder, CleanTech Advisory, former Director, Carbon Trust
Coaching for Performance was our reference manual when we introduced coaching as part of our leadership development activities in the European Commission. Some years on, the Commission benefits from a strong coaching culture, with Sir John's work as the main reference point. This book is a must-read for managers and OD practitioners alike. ― Norman Jardine, ...
As a coach, I’ve often heard Coaching for Performance described as the gold standard for understanding the art of coaching. Despite owning the 5th edition for several years, it had been sitting on my bookshelf, unread—until now. The opportunity to review the 6th edition provided the perfect motivation to dive in. What I discovered is that this book is much more than a guide for becoming a great coach; it's also a valuable resource for anyone aspiring to be an effective leader or manager. The author builds on Sir John Whitmore’s original work, applying its principles not only to coaches but also to leaders, using clear examples and real-life coaching scenarios. Having the 5th edition at hand, I took the time to compare it with the 6th edition. While much of the core content remains consistent, Tiffany Gaskell has enhanced the material to reflect the vast changes that have occurred in the workplace since the pandemic. These updates provide essential insights for leaders and coaches navigating the post-2020 world. One of the book’s strengths is how it follows a few leader-coaches and their employees as they work through the GROW model, making the material practical and relatable. I also appreciated the appendices, which include a glossary of terms and a “Coach’s Toolkit” filled with helpful resources like question prompts. If you've already read the 5th edition and feel confident in your post-pandemic leadership or coaching skills, you might not find it necessary to purchase the 6th edition. However, if you’ve never read Coaching for Performance and are looking to grow as a coach or leader, this edition is an excellent tool to enhance your abilities—creating a win-win for everyone involved. Disclaimer: I received the 6th edition of this book from the publisher. However, I was under no obligation to provide a review and all opinions expressed here are my own
I have used previous editions of this book in my work as a management skills trainer and coach.(I worked in the same organisation as the publisher over twenty five years ago).It is the ‘go-to’ book on coaching. While it could be read cover to cover, I found that after the initial read through it was a very useful book to dip into when a coaching session was scheduled. This edition has subtle updates due to the after effects of the pandemic. The world of work has changed and coaching methods need to evolve to stay pertinent. This ARC did not have any illustrations, models or tables ( referred to in the text) but I am sure they are in the finished edition. Whether you are a new coach or a more experienced one, I would thoroughly recommend that this book is on your bookshelf!
I was given an ARC of Coaching for Performance, 6th edition. This is a reworked version of the global success book originally written back in 1992. It has been carefully extended and improved by Tiffany Gaskell following John Whitmore's passing. It is still the go to source for all things coaching - be it for leaders wanting to apply a coaching leadership style, or for coaches helping leaders to successfully motivate and elevate their businesses.
As Whitmore put it: "Coaching unlocks a person’s potential to maximize their performance, helping them to learn rather than teaching them."
Coaching focuses on future possibilities, not past mistakes.
Clear, accessible, practical, and insightful. This is a great resource for coaches, aspiring coaches, and anyone interested in learning more about (leadership/executive/workplace) coaching.
Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for the opportunity to read a copy.