Here at Rook Tree we don’t believe in shying away from talking about the things that really need to be said or going into areas that really need to be explored. On such occasions that means challenging or uncomfortable conversations and moving away from long-held coaching principles such as being non-directive, building rapport, and holding to the individual’s agenda. Of course, we support a non-directive approach: but it’s not the only approach. When the needs of a business organization must take precedence over the particular wants of any specific executive, this challenging coaching approach becomes relevant. This approach has its place within the gamut available to well qualified, experienced coaches.
In “Challenging Coaching. Going Beyond Traditional Coaching to Face the Facts.” Blakey and Day challenge coaches and their clients to achieve courageous goals that sustainably transform bottom line performance.
Challenging Coaching is a provocative book, which calls to move beyond traditional coaching approaches. Based on the author’s extensive experience working at board and management levels, they suggest that some coaching approaches have shied away from adopting a more challenging stance, a stance that can provoke greater performance and unlock deeper potential in business leaders and their teams.
The authors detail their unique FACTS coaching model, which provides a practical and pragmatic approach focusing on Feedback, Accountability, Courageous goals, Tension, and Systems thinking. Using this model enables the reader to enter the zone of uncomfortable debate that sustainably transforms individual and bottom line performance. The authors explore FACTS coaching in theory and in practice using case studies, example dialogues, and practical exercises so that the reader will be able to successfully challenge others using respectful yet direct techniques.
This is an original and thought-provoking book that dares the reader to go beyond traditional coaching and face the FACTS.
Challenging Coaching. Going Beyond Traditional Coaching to Face the Facts.
J. Blakey & I. Day
Publication Date: 5 April 2012
Foreword by Sir John Whitmore PhD, author of Coaching for Performance