Coachability: The Leadership Superpower

by Kevin D. Wilde, Michael Bungay Stanier (Foreword)

Avoid blind spots and expand your career potential and leadership effectiveness. Regain that early-career coachability ! The Leadership Superpower combines notable research, best-practice strategies, and stories of leaders on all parts of the coachability spectrum. Author Kevin Wilde has been developing leaders for major corporations, executive MBA leadership courses, and coaching hundreds of new and experienced leaders for over thirty years. Kevin shares his insights here with you.
From this insightful and practical guide, you’ll

Genres: Leadership

162 pages, Paperback

Published August 18, 2022

Reviews

[Joshua Carroll · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great, short book on quite possibly the single most important trait of a good leader - the ability to continuously learn and grow as an individual, to accept feedback and put it into action in a meaningful way, and to never be either too scared or too proud to be satisfied with where you stand as a leader. In a word, that trait is “Coachability”. It’s the growth mindset, it’s the aspirational “learning organization”, it’s continuous improvement, it’s … the star actor who’s able to be directed! I’ll never look at personal development the same way again!

[Literary Reviewer · Rating 5 out of 5]

In “Coachability: The Leadership Superpower,” esteemed author Kevin D. Wilde provides a captivating exploration of leadership, coachability, and the secrets to outpacing the competition. Utilizing realistic scenarios to illustrate the significance of exceptional leadership in any context, Wilde offers readers an intimate glimpse into his life and the essence of the book as he introduces each topic.

Wilde’s authenticity shines throughout his writing, as he candidly shares not only his accomplishments but also his own missteps and imperfections. The book is structured in two primary sections: the first establishes the concept of coachability and its vital importance, while the second delves into the art of becoming a highly coachable leader.

Readers will be enthralled by the invaluable strategies imparted by Wilde, the insights gleaned from thorough research, and the compelling stories of various leaders featured in the book. With seven distinct strategies presented across the chapters, Wilde demonstrates how highly coachable leaders can capitalize on these approaches, making them particularly useful for those aspiring to leadership roles.

“Coachability: The Leadership Superpower” comprises seven well-crafted chapters, each elucidating different facets of coachability with utmost clarity. Chapter two stands out as particularly impactful, as Wilde expounds upon the transformative powers of coachability. This essential chapter guides readers through the often unfamiliar territory of coachability, providing a unique perspective that every aspiring leader should experience.

Wilde’s open-mindedness and expertise are evident as he introduces new concepts to readers, taking care to explain any specialized vocabulary or technical jargon. Through “Coachability: The Leadership Superpower,” readers will gain an understanding of how to seamlessly ascend the career ladder and effectively engage with a diverse array of individuals and groups.

The exceptional clarity and distinctiveness of Wilde’s writing make “Coachability: The Leadership Superpower” an especially enjoyable read. By imparting insights on navigating one’s career trajectory and building fruitful relationships with diverse individuals and organizations, this book proves to be an invaluable resource. Highly recommended for those seeking guidance on coaching and leadership, “Coachability: The Leadership Superpower” offers a comprehensive, all-encompassing approach to these crucial topics, ensuring that readers can easily grasp and internalize the key messages presented.

[Lyss Greve · Rating 4 out of 5]

I always love a good professional development book and this book challenged not only the way to lead, but how to listen. It’s a thoughtful exploration of what it truly means to be open.

The book reminds me that development isn’t about having all the answers; it’s about asking better questions. Through stories and research, it highlights how the most effective leaders aren’t the ones who stand firm in their certainty, but those who stay curious, reflective, and adaptable. The lessons on being present during conversations hit especially hard in a world that rewards speed over stillness.

One of my strongest takeaways is the idea that reflection is not a pause to signal growth and progress. How it's important to absorb, evaluate, and then decide what aligns with your values and vision.

This is a great guide for anyone who wants to grow as a leader and as a human being. It’s a reminder that openness is not weakness. An important reminder to not mistake kindness for weakness in leadership as well. Great leaders are always learning, listening, and evolving.

[Carrie Guthrie · Rating 5 out of 5]

A short but insightful read. Wilde takes his expertise from years of internal and external leadership development to focus on a specific leadership opportunity to listen to, absorb, and act on feedback. The book contains both applied/observational experiences and research to highlight the importance of this trait. I enjoyed the conversational tone of the book, and I appreciated the learning/self-reflection pages that encouraged me to apply that to my personal leadership. A great tool for leaders or those working to coach leaders.

[Tomasz Staniak · Rating 4 out of 5]

"Coachability" by Kevin Wilde is a tough one to rate. It's more than a 3-star book because the topic – improving your coachability as a leader – is super important. But giving it 4 stars doesn't feel right either. The good part? Wilde lays out the info in a clear, easy-to-use way that you could apply to other books too. The downside? It's kinda long-winded. Felt like it could've been a solid blog post instead.

If you're looking to up your game in coaching and leadership, give it a read. Just don't expect to be blown away.

[Maggie · Rating 5 out of 5]

I purchased this as an audiobook but think it may have been better in print for note-taking.

[Tyler Cully · Rating 5 out of 5]

Short, simple and useful. 100% worth a quick read.

[Jada · Rating 2 out of 5]

Practical overall, but felt like overkill by the end. I did enjoy Kevin's concrete tips, like how to ask for useful feedback and how to shift your mindset from being defensive to being curious, as well as his actionable framework for being coachable (Seek feedback, Respond kindly, Reflect regularly, React intelligently).

My biggest takeaway: Coachability and emotional intelligence are the top indicators of success.

[zoagli · Rating 2 out of 5]

As a leader, you need to learn to be accept feedback more than you need to learn to coach. That’s the whole book in one sentence.

How? Find a person you trust and who trusts you. Tell them you want feedback in one specific area. Ask, what you should continue doing and what you should stop doing. Ask for details and examples.

Then reflect on your own: What did you hear? What does this tell you? What will you do? Not everything needs to be acted upon.

[rach · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great, actionable tactics to valuing feedback and appropriately acting on it.

I found the graph showing the decline in coachability as people get further up the career ladder to be intriguing!

This book has two main sections— what coachability is and then how to stay coachable! Definitely recommend checking out this short book!