Coaching People: Expert Solutions to Everyday Challenges (Pocket Mentor) (Paperback)

~ Harvard Business School Press (Compiler)

Editorial Reviews

Product Description

Most managers coach employees by giving them feedback and evaluating their performance, right? Wrong. Coaching differs markedly from other managerial functions. With its wealth of tips, worksheets, and self-assessments, this handy guide shows managers how to use coaching—not only to strengthen direct reports’ skills but also to rev up their performance to unprecedented levels.

About the Author

Since 1984, Harvard Business School Press has been dedicated to publishing the most contemporary management thinking, written by authors and practitioners who are leading the way. Whether readers are seeking big-picture strategic thinking or tactical problem solving, advice in managing global corporations or for developing personal careers, HBS Press helps fuel the fire of innovative thought. HBS Press has earned a reputation as the springboard of thought for both established and emerging business leaders.

Product Details

• Paperback: 69 pages
• Publisher: Harvard Business Press; First Trade Paper Edition edition (December 26, 2006)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1422103471
• ISBN-13: 978-1422103470
• Product Dimensions: 6.8 x 4.9 x 0.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 2.4 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #94,940 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

18 of 18 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent value, and extremely practical..., December 15, 2006

By	Thomas Duff "Duffbert" (Portland, OR United States) - See all my reviews (TOP 50 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)

Coaching employees is one of those things that is more easily said than done. And it's far too easy to mistake managing with coaching. I found Harvard Business School Press' Pocket Mentor series book Coaching People: Expert Solutions to Everyday Challenges an excellent concise guide for successfully coaching people with optimal results.

Contents: What Is Coaching? How to Know When to Coach; How to Develop Coaching Skills; How to Manage a Coaching Session; How to Customize Your Coaching; Tools for Coaching People; Test Yourself; To Learn More; Sources for Coaching People; Notes

In a mere 69 pages, the writers pack in more useful information than books three and four times the size. Everything is geared towards practicality and immediate application, so the book delivers value from the very first pages. The distinction between what is, and what isn't, coaching is a perfect beginning, and sets the stage for what follows. Coaching is not behavior correction or task assignment. It's a mutual sharing to help someone reach their goals and improve their effectiveness. The coach doesn't have to know all the answers, but they do need to be willing to listen, share, and work with the coachee to make changes and monitor the results. The book also contains a number of practical worksheets and checklists to gauge the effectiveness of both parties. This may take the form of a checklist to assess your listening skills, or an action plan to outline a plan and follow up on the outcomes.

For the price and size, there's no reason this shouldn't be included as part of someone's package of materials when they are promoted to a position of management. And even if you're not officially management, you may still be an informal leader in your sphere of influence. Working on your personal coaching skills will only help to solidify that role and enhance your effectiveness with others. If you've never given any thought to how you can help others achieve their goals, start here...