Appreciative Coaching describes an approach to coaching that is rooted in Appreciative Inquiry. At its core the Appreciative Coaching method shows individuals how to tap into (or rediscover) their own sense of wonder and excitement about their present life and future possibilities. Rather than focusing on individuals in limited or problem-oriented ways, Appreciate Coaching guides clients through four stages―Discovery, Dream, Design, and Destiny―that inspire them to an appreciative and empowering view of themselves and their future.
I loved this book. About gaps. I was looking for a new way to work with my clients, where I felt that the focus of the coaching conversation is on what they do NOT do well. I could sense low energy and was not sure how to shift the energy. This book gave me great tools and ideas and deeper learning on how I can work differently with strengths, with progress, with what's working and see a real change in perspective and the way my clients show up with their thoughts and how easy the shift happens and the energy in workshops and group coaching shifted too. I find that even guiding some leader clients to use this perspective is something they find helpful and enjoy sharing with me how much the conversation shifted for their team. It took me time to get to this book, but I found it at the right moment for me as a coach. If you are a coach looking for a different way that is not around "toxic positivity" that I was upset with for so long, but positivity that can serve how YOU as the coach show up for the relationship, you should get this book. It is more of an expensive book but totally worth the investment. Also, there are tons of questions, forms you can use, and examples to build on the structure if you need that.
This book was assigned reading for a Financial Coaching class and I loved every page. I will be going back to review it at times to help me in my practice.
Great guide for anyone wanting a good foundational grasp of how to use the appreciative inquiry model in a coaching context. The bibliography is comprehensive for an academic's liking while the reading is easily followed and understood. This book is a must-have for any professional coach even if they don't operate from the appreciative model.