Your Executive Coaching Solution: Getting Maximum Benefit from the Coaching Experience (Hardcover)

by Joan Kofodimos (Author)

Editorial Reviews

Review
Concise and easily accessible guidebook provides specific information and concrete, actionable steps on how to get the most from the coaching experience. -- T+D, June 2007

Executives and HR managers must choose among many techniques delivered by coaches with widely varying experience and training. To help combat this growing problem, Kofodimos wrote this book. -- CRM Customer Relationship Management, July 2007

When coaching is provided to a group of staffing firm mangers, it can increase the firm's ability to deliver value to clients. ...this book may help. -- Staffing Success, April 1, 2008

Product Description
Coaching in business has come a long way! Once used primarily to deal with problem employees, this powerful tool for building strategic effectiveness and supporting executives through career transitions has become a badge of status for today's high-potential leaders. Although much has been written for practicing coaches, Joan Kofodimos delivers a first-of-its-kind user's guide for coaching consumers. Dozens of checklists, samples, and life-inspired case examples take readers through each and every step of a successful coaching process to benefit participants, coaching sponsors, and the organization's ROI.

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Product Details

• Hardcover: 120 pages
• Publisher: Intercultural Press (May 25, 2007)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0891062211
• ISBN-13: 978-0891062219
• Product Dimensions: 9.1 x 6.2 x 0.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 13.6 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #761,496 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Understanding Executive Coaching, December 25, 2007

By	Dennis DeWilde "The Performance Connection" (Cleveland area, Ohio USA) - See all my reviews

In this easy to read primer - intended for executives considering the application of one-on-one coaching for themselves or someone within their organization - by highly experienced executive coach Joan Kofodimos, the reader gets a complete description of how individual executive coaching works. Starting with a discussion of coaching's potential value; Kofodimos identifies when to use coaching and how to choose a coach; as well as walks the reader through the coaching processes from initial performance contracting to the completion and closure process.

In the opening sections we learn:
* All coaching is not the same - development needs determine the shape of the coaching assignment. The author considers the following three as typical: 1) to address performance issues; 2) to support position transition needs; and 3) to enhance strategic effectiveness.
* Coaching may not be the solution - whether coaching can help depends upon the readiness of both the individual and the organization.
* The coach should fit the need - the coach's competencies and defined role should be identified when choosing a coach.

From the coaching process discussion we learn:
* The distinction between the contracts with the sponsor and the person to be coached
* How the insight phase gathers data, presents feedback, and creates the development plan
* How the development cycle works and repeats itself as new behavioral skills are put into practice
* How closure of the coaching process is really a transition to self-development

In summary, the book is a complete guide to understanding the individual executive coaching process, with a particular focus on individual development. I liked the examples and output samples provided and appreciated the strong emphasis on doing sound background development work (building sponsor as well as coachee commitment, insight development, etc.) before beginning the actual coaching (development cycle) process. I also liked the fact that the author did not feel the need to use her book as a platform to promote herself or her firm, Teleos Consulting - her competency is evident in her understanding of how to do executive coaching. My only regret with the book is that the author might have included a chapter on how the process works when combining organizational coaching (the team element) with one-on-one executive coaching.

Dennis DeWilde, author of
"The Performance Connection"

5.0 out of 5 stars Good information, April 7, 2008

By	Jim Slakey (Olympia Wa) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

Used the steps defined in the book to help a co-worker improve his performance. Very specific and relevant information.

1 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Comprehensive guide to executive coaching , November 15, 2007

By	Rolf Dobelli "getAbstract.com" (Switzerland) - See all my reviews (TOP 50 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)

Life coach. Work coach. Fitness coach. Speech coach. Diet coach. How-to-stop-smoking coach. These days, it seems as if anyone with a Web site and slick advertising can promote his or her expertise in the burgeoning self-help industry. So how do consumers separate the charlatans from the legitimately qualified? Joan Kofodimos says that educating the public motivated her to produce "the first comprehensive guide to executive coaching." After all, executives spending an average of $50,000 for a program might as well get their money's worth. Kofodimos knows her stuff, having entered the field 25 years ago, "before the term executive coaching even existed." She explains how executives should select coaches and what they can expect from a reputable program. We strongly recommend that you read this book before embarking on your journey of self-improvement.