If you’ve been following me for a while, you’ll know I love a bit of provocation (in the nicest interpretation of that word)! I love to be challenged to think differently and deeper about things, and I love to positively provoke others to do the same. This is exactly my kind of book!
The book includes 25 question to elevate your coaching. They are, essentially, questions for reflective practice. However, they are specifically questions designed to challenge some of the basic tenets that many coaches are taught and believe. This doesn’t mean that the author necessarily thinks that they are incorrect and should be changed!
The author provides a helpful summary of current thinking in relation to the various topics, and often arguments in support of both sides of the provocation, and then gives the reader a series of questions to examine in order to clarify your own thinking about the topic.
Some of the provocative topics include whether coaching is nondirective; whether coaches are solving problems or helping clients to improve; whether we should be curious and empathetic; whether assumptions are useful; whether coaches should address clients’ emotions; and whether clients should have homework.
This is a terrific tool for self-reflection, and would also be a useful starting point for group reflective practice.
