Cambridge Business Association
Co-Active Coaching
Book

Co-Active Coaching

New Skills for Coaching People Toward Success in Work and Life

Laura Whitworth, Karen Kimsey-House, Henry Kimsey-House and Phil Sandahl
Davies-Black Publishing, 2007
First Edition: 1998
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8

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Recommendation

Ten years ago, coaches were essentially consultants who prescribed specific behaviors for clients struggling in the workplace. These days, coaches have much more experience and expertise; the best of them relate to their clients “co-actively,” as partners rather than as authority figures. In fact, Laura Whitworth, Karen Kimsey-House, Henry Kimsey-House and Phillip Sandahl contend that such coaching can facilitate fundamental changes in many aspects of a client’s life, not just at work, and they outline the skills coaches need to accomplish this. The book includes a CD that explains the basic principles of their philosophy, and an appendix with forms and exercises for coaches and clients. getAbstract recommends it to managers and human resource professionals who want to brush up the softer side of their coaching skills.

Summary

Coaching as Partnership

Ten years ago, a coach working with a corporate executive would recommend solutions for specific problems. But, as coaching has become more popular, techniques have evolved and the field has changed focus. Problem solving is now a by-product of the process, which focuses more generally on the client’s overall development. In co-active coaching, coaches help clients realize their potential by increasing their self-knowledge, perception and understanding. Clients learn to seek answers and make good choices.

Co-active coaches do not consider their clients unmotivated, incompetent, untalented or unenthusiastic. Rather, they recognize the client’s strengths and capabilities. They build a collaborative relationship based on mutual respect, honesty, kindness and caring. Improving work performance is just one aspect of the process. The goal of co-active coaching is to help clients become better, happier human beings.

These four fundamental concepts are basic to the co-active coaching model:

  1. “The client is naturally creative, resourceful and whole” – Many clients expect the coach to do the hard work and fix every dilemma...

About the Authors

Laura Whitworth, Karen Kimsey-House and Henry Kimsey-House are co-founders of an institute that trains coaches, while Phillip Sandahl co-founded an organization that evaluates workplace teams and provides coaching.

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    M. A. 1 year ago
    I enjoyed the summary.
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    S. P. 6 years ago
    Probably one of the best coaching journeys for anyone interested in uncovering the power of co-active coaching...
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    I. T. 9 years ago
    I enjoyed the summary. I listened to this on audio book, and it is one I will revisit. The subject matter is crucial to my job as a manager.