Product Description

The book provides a tool kit for managers tasked with raising performance and sustaining motivation. Organisations are being judged by the way in which they accommodate the needs of the individual in work and life-style terms. In this context, the 'smart' employer will not only be looking to develop policies that retain talent through recognising their work-life issues, they will be equipping their managers to manage that talent in ways which maximise the contribution that individual can make.

The text introduces managers to techniques largely drawn from Brief Therapy (De Shazer & Berg). Brief Therapy is used in the UK, but primarily by social workers, psychologists and counsellors. It's application to work settings is now growing. The attraction of a Solution Focussed approach to coaching is that it offers pragmatic tools that help managers structure helping conversations.
The book presents the principles of solution focussed thinking in a language that is readily understandable by managers, and shows how those principles can be applied to a range of issues which managers may find themselves facing as willing or enforced coaches. The book places coaching as an activity which can be done as part of the daily process of management.

*Introduces managers to techniques drawn from Brief Therapy, based on the work of Steve de Shazer and Insoo Berg
*Applies techniques to particular issues that may be brought to a manager as a coaching issue
*Addresses how coaching can be encompassed within the daily demands of a manager once the principles and tools are understood

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #257987 in Books
• Published on: 2006-02-10
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Paperback
• 256 pages

John Lees, career strategist and author of Take Control of Your Career
'Packed with strategies and insights that would make even a professional coach shine...'

Review
"A book which takes the reader to the essence of coaching - why it's important, and how to make it work. Packed with strategies and insights that would make even a professional coach shine, it offers a practical, focused toolkit capable of giving every manager effective coaching skills." John Lees, career strategist and author of Take Control of Your Career

From the Inside Flap
The book provides a tool kit for managers tasked with raising performance and sustaining motivation. Organisations are being judged by the way in which they accommodate the needs of the individual in work and life-style terms. In this context, the ‘smart’ employer will not only be looking to develop policies that retain talent through recognising their work-life issues, they will be equipping their managers to manage that talent in ways which maximise the contribution that individual can make.

It places coaching as a performance raising tool and a means of building motivation. Taking a coaching approach prevents the manager wasting energy through going round in circles on the same issues with no outcome. It allows the manager to get closer to understanding what motivates the individual, so that they can better access those motivations.

The purpose of this book would be to introduce managers to techniques largely drawn from Brief Therapy (De Shazer & Berg) which can be applied in organisational settings without requiring the manager to act as therapist.

Brief Therapy is used in the UK, but primarily by social workers, psychologists and counsellors. It's application to work settings is now growing. The attraction of a Solution Focussed approach to coaching is that it offers pragmatic tools that help managers structure helping conversations. Tools such as:
•Scaling.
•Establishing exceptions to internal rules the individual has constructed about the situation.
•Identifying assumptions
•Unearthing how they 'do' the problem they keep repeating.
•Breaking big issues into bite size chunks
•Giving recognition for what they are succeeding at
•Focussing on doing one thing differently
•Recognising the deals the individual has set up for themselves

The book presents the principles of solution focussed thinking in a language that is readily understandable by managers, and shows how those principles can be applied to a range of issues which managers may find themselves facing as willing or enforced coaches. The focus is on showing that applying these principles will enable managers to help employees understand their own models for resolving difficulties, so that they can transfer the learning to future situations. The book places coaching as an activity which can be done as part of the daily process of exchange, rather than asking for a long term commitment between one individual and another.

Customer Reviews

Coaching from the Manager's Perspective
We are all aware of that coaching is an integral activity in motivating staff to perform to their best potential. There are numerous books on this topic but I found Carole's approach fresh and different because it is written from the manager's perspective. She examines the practical implications for the manager who wants to develop his/her skill set and in particular how to dovetail it into the day to day conversations that take place with their staff.
There are a number of excellent frameworks that are introduced to us with an emphasis on how to structure conversations and the principles of solution focused thinking. I thought these were simple and pragmatic.
This book is clearly set out in chapters that take the reader through the frameworks step by step. Each chapter is full of techniques, case studies and examples that provide insights into the `how'. The summary bullet points serve as a useful reminder on the key aspects covered.
Certainly coaching as a key skill in any manager's toolbox and one that continually needs refreshing.

An invaluable addition to any Manager's toolkit
Carole's book is a guided walk through the topic of coaching - from explaining why coaching is such a popular approach now, through understanding and evaluation your own coaching approach and skills, to carrying out coaching and seeing the process through to successful conclusion.
Carole approaches the whole topic of using coaching to raise both performance and motivation with a light but sure touch. The book is well written and easy to read, without it being in any way simplistic. The lay-out is very digestible - lots of white space, tables and bullet points - and each of the twelve chapters contain well-chosen case studies (which are highlighted in grey-scale for ease of reference), which illustrate her points. There is a wealth of exercises, suggestions and ideas. Each chapter ends with a useful summary and a list of references. You certainly get the impression that this book is meticulously researched.
What I like most about this book is the understanding and positioning of coaching as a skill that any manager would want, and be able to, develop. Carole skillfully blends theory with practice so that no manager would be daunted by the process and would immediately understand, grasp and be able to apply all the concepts.
I have immediately put this at the top of the "recommended book list" I use when I train others how to train. It is an invaluable addition to any managers' toolkit and I am extremely happy to recommend this book wholeheartedly