Secrets of an Executive Coach: Proven Methods for Helping Leaders Excel Under Pressure

by Alan Downs

It's not just faulty products and poor fiscal results that can throw an executive into crisis. The more prevalent and pernicious problems are personal in nature. A manipulative or hierarchical boss may be suffering a crisis of confidence; a stressed-out or uninterested colleague may struggle with a crisis of passion. According to experienced psychologist and executive coach Alan Downs, these often dormant interior conflicts flare up when the crushing demands of the business world collide with the inner needs of the individual. His new book offers a fresh, eye-opening perspective on how to steer executives back to a successful career path. Secrets of an Executive Coach uncovers six crises that cause people to fail. And unlike the prevailing corporate model, which advocates suppressing crises, Downs explains how to confront and resolve them using 11 essential coaching techniques, including role playing, self-imitation, metaphor map, and devil's advocate. These classic methods gain new relevance in this breakthrough approach that puts crisis management at the heart of effective

Genres: Business

244 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 2002

About the author

Alan Downs, Ph.D. is a clinical psychologist and the CEO of Michael's House.

His fifteen years of treating clients throughout America's culture have already been reflected in his numerous books in both leadership and self-help. His two most recent books include The Velvet Rage: Overcoming the Pain of Growing Up Gay in a Straight Man's World and The Half Empty Heart.

Reviews

[Ashutosh Kaushik · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book is largely based on Thomas Harris's I'm OK You are OK. Which was published in the late 60s and become very popular at that time. I'm OK ...... presented a very simplified version on of human psyche and has since been criticized for a) making a complex issue rather trivial and b) for heavily relying on Dr Penfield's findings which were not proven or replicated by later researchers. However, I'm OK ..... remains a very popular book. It is lucid and makes a positive impression on a lay reader.

As for Allan's book - it is a good book for someone wanting understand the business of executive coaching. But is not one of the top books on the subject - read it if you have nothing else to do on a lazy Sunday afternoon provided you have already read I'm OK .....