Customer Reviews

Leverage Your Best, Ditch the Rest : The Coaching Secrets Top Executives Depend On

5 star:		(9)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

As an executive coach, I'm hyper-critical of coaching books. This one was different. I LOVED it. I read the whole book up to the Scrubdown, took the test and plotted my score on the grid. ELIMINATE YOUR TOLERATIONS stood out as THE KEY PLACE for my attention, so I went directly to chapter 10. Now, I'm not a novice to assessments, or even to the coaching principles discussed in the book. What's different and exceptional is the USABILITY of the book. The design lets you zero in on what's most important. I got what I needed FIRST, and went to work on that. The other reason I recommend this book is that the writing makes it so much fun. It's sassy, irreverent, perceptive, and so clear about what is true about the human condition. Acceptance, endorsement and okayness are conveyed in every sentence. The "Snapshots" (stories about people) are fresh and have an unmistakeable ring of truth. You'll want to get copies for friends and loved ones, including colleagues and your staff, who may have wondered what executive coaching is about..

Blanchard and Homan have set out to demonstrate the benefits of coaching to readers who may not have experienced the process first-hand. Some readers will be looking for ways to change their lives; others want a preview of what's in store if they hire a coach.

It is important to understand that Blanchard and Homan are explaining a very specific type of coaching, what could be called "mainstream" coaching, identified in many minds with the original CoachU under the leadership of Thomas Leonard. If you hire a graduate of another coach school, or an independent coach, you may get a whole different experience.

Even more important, Blanchard and Homan seem to be exceptional as people and as coaches. They share a a fairly sophisticated understanding of business. Many -- some would say most -- coaches do not resemble them. Going to coach school doesn't automatically create a business, career or relationship expert.

For example, I really liked the section on managing one's strengths, a topic that is rarely discussed. The authors describe what happens when young lawyers begin to do well, intimidating the partners. As coaches, they helped their clients overcome these obstacles to success. But not every coach has the political savvy to address those challenges. Blanchard and Homan didn't learn these skills in coach school.

Readers who identify with the chapter topics will find helpful guidance. But as a certified grinch, I believe the authors left out a key question: "What are the challenges that this type of coaching is uniquely suited to addressing? And what assumptions do mainstream coaches make about human behavior?"

The authors write that coaching is "an art of the soul and coaches are artists of the soul." And the "goal of coaching is to help clients objectively see where they are .. and where they need to be ... and then develop a plan to get them there with as little effort and as much fun as the law will allow."

These definitions are appealing but vague. I've seen many concepts of "soul." There are hundreds of ways to help people get from here to there. In reality, I've found that mainstream coaches often assume their clients have the answers. They need help with confidence, accountability and "backward plans."

Blanchard and Homan are probably wise enough to avoid applying these techniques universally to any client who shows up on their doorstep. But they need to articulate their understanding to help readers choose their own coaches. Not everyone wants a cheerleader and some people actually function most effectively with what psychologists call "defensive pessimism."

So I think this book would be even more helpful with a section discussing not just what a coach might do, but when and why this type of coaching works. Every theory has limits of applicability; even gravity works only under certain atmospheric conditions. There's no universal solution for "everyone."

By making explicit the assumptions and limits of coaching, the authors would avoid some sources of confusion. For instance, they describe a client who felt she had to "come clean" with her coach about smoking. The coach responded, "I don't care if you smoke." Although coaching is supposed to be a partnership, this example suggests some kind of power imbalance. And indeed some coaches say openly, "I give my clients permission to..." Permission implies power.

As a minor glitch, the book jacket makes mention of a 25-item self-survey, but I found a 46-item "scrubdown." Perhaps they can make a correction in the next edition.

Bottom Line: If you're lucky to work with someone of the caliber of these authors, you'll probably benefit. But it's up to you to decide if you're benefiting from their intelligence and business expertise or from application the coaching tools they present in their chapters.

I am thrilled with the "call to action" this book created for me. When I began, I underestimated the impact a coaching "book" could have on me as I have utilized a personal coach before and that was an incredibly powerful experience that helped me to make a (wonderful) major change in my life. However, because of this book, I am now making some critical changes to improve the quality of my life. As a wife, mother, family member and employee, it's the first time that I can remember really focusing on myself! And feeling like that's OK. The scrubdown forced me to be brutally honest about what was causing me fatigue and pain, and the book is providing me with clear direction on where and how to change that. Plus, I can focus on my immediate needs first, which has truly enrolled me. The author's bring out so many truths which are helpful and inspiring for me.

This is absolutely to guide to finding what your strengths are and the things that are standing in the way, or distracting you, from developing and focusing on those strength areas.

What are you tolerating? What served you before and no longer serves you?

Go through the guide and take action to leverage your personal best!

Well written, practical exercises.

This book is like having a personal coach right at my desk. I really enjoyed it! The questions make me ask myself things that I had never thought about, that are affecting my life quite a bit. This book is something I will alawys keep on my desk. I like to thank the authors for taking time to write a book that is teaching me how to Leverage My Best and Ditch the Rest.

Scott Blanchard and Madeleine Homan have created an outstanding book not just for business but for any person working in any organization. Their examples, models and insights come from practical, "hands on" experience in working with and developing thousands of coaches. The best feature of the book is its practicality and the value it will create back on the job. All in all, an outstranding piece of work.

Finally a self helpbook that actually works. I have read many in this genre and never felt that i could incorporate the changes into my lifestyle. Not so with this book. Clearly Scott and Madeleine live in the real world. The book is amazingly, refreshingly straight forward without being simple minded. The scrubdown alone is worth the price. I have already seen a change in my life. Thanks

Madeleine Homan & Scott Blanchard have done a wonderful job of blending the needed characteristics of being a better leader through the 7 leverage points. This book combines both the character issues from the inside-out as well as the tactical strategies of what to do to lead ourselves better. Managing your gifts is a wonderful example of representing your authentic self.
It's an easy read with clear outcomes from each chapter.

I loved the title since I am a big believer in working on your strengths and spending a much time using them as you possibly can. That tends to be the way people add the most value.

I think the key to weaknesses is to do just enough to minimize them. But spending a lot of time trying to be good at something you are weak at only gives you some stronger weaknesses.

The book is written as a workbook. Lots of exercises. The exercises reinforce everything I know like have goals (written and specific of course), have good success habits etc.

I loved the chapter on Name and Claim Your Standards. Standards can be great. But they can also be a limit. More people fail from perfection than fail from speed. I know in my own life, my standards have often caused me undue stress.

I loved the chapter on Eliminate Your Tolerations. Basically - what are those things you "put up with". One way I know a book is good is if it actually causes me to take action. One thing I have tolerated is messy bookshelves. I am inspired to tidy them today. So the book must be a success.

Now off to organize my bookshelves.

Blanchard & Holman have done an excellent piece of work. Incorporated are clear & specific guidelines to use in a personal exploration. Examples provided are relative with enough humor to keep the reader interested. As an Executive Coach I appreciated inclusion of critical models & worksheets that guide the reader with rigor & intention. As a Doctoral student I found the integration of techology availabe to any reader generous, setting this work apart from the many books on coaching. A website is made avaialbe to utilize in privacy offering access to worksheets, journaling & links to other readers accessing the website as well as the authors. I have & will contine to recommend this work to colleagues & clients.