Coaching for Performance, 6th edition: The Principles and Practice of Coaching and Leadership: Fully Revised Edition

by Sir John Whitmore, Tiffany Gaskell (Primary Contributor)

The #1 book for coaches, leaders, talent managers and professionals around the world. This is the definitive and fully updated new edition."Coaching for Performance is the proven resource for all  coaches and pioneers of the future of coaching." Magdalena N. Mook, CEO,  International Coach Federation (ICF) An  international bestseller, featuring the influential GROW model, this  book is the founding text of the coaching profession. It explains why  enabling people to bring the best out of themselves is the key to  driving productivity, growth, and engagement. A meaningful coaching  culture has the potential to transform the relationship between organizations and employees and to put both on the path to long-term  success. Written by Sir John Whitmore, the pioneer of coaching, this new edition has been fully revised by Tiffany Gaskell, Director at Performance Consultants, the global market leaders in performance coaching. This 6th edition has been updated throughout to reflect today's new world of work, and will revolutionize the traditional approach to organizational culture. Insightful real-world examples serve to champion inclusivity, alongside practical exercises which place an increased value on trust and responsibility. Critical new material has further been added to strengthen the process of measuring the benefits of coaching as a return on investment; all ensuring this contemporary new edition will remain at the forefront of professional coaching and leadership development. "Shines a light on what it takes to create high performance." John McFarlane, Chairman, Barclays, Chairman, TheCityUK

Genres: Nonfiction

228 pages, Paperback

Published September 10, 2024

Reviews

[Holly · Rating 5 out of 5]

As a coach, I’ve often heard Coaching for Performance described as the gold standard for understanding the art of coaching. Despite owning the 5th edition for several years, it had been sitting on my bookshelf, unread—until now.
The opportunity to review the 6th edition provided the perfect motivation to dive in.
What I discovered is that this book is much more than a guide for becoming a great coach; it's also a valuable resource for anyone aspiring to be an effective leader or manager. The author builds on Sir John Whitmore’s original work, applying its principles not only to coaches but also to leaders, using clear examples and real-life coaching scenarios.
Having the 5th edition at hand, I took the time to compare it with the 6th edition. While much of the core content remains consistent, Tiffany Gaskell has enhanced the material to reflect the vast changes that have occurred in the workplace since the pandemic. These updates provide essential insights for leaders and coaches navigating the post-2020 world.
One of the book’s strengths is how it follows a few leader-coaches and their employees as they work through the GROW model, making the material practical and relatable.
I also appreciated the appendices, which include a glossary of terms and a “Coach’s Toolkit” filled with helpful resources like question prompts.
If you've already read the 5th edition and feel confident in your post-pandemic leadership or coaching skills, you might not find it necessary to purchase the 6th edition. However, if you’ve never read Coaching for Performance and are looking to grow as a coach or leader, this edition is an excellent tool to enhance your abilities—creating a win-win for everyone involved.
Disclaimer: I received the 6th edition of this book from the publisher. However, I was under no obligation to provide a review and all opinions expressed here are my own

[Anne Fox · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have used previous editions of this book in my work as a management skills trainer and coach.(I worked in the same organisation as the publisher over twenty five years ago).It is the ‘go-to’ book on coaching. While it could be read cover to cover, I found that after the initial read through it was a very useful book to dip into when a coaching session was scheduled. This edition has subtle updates due to the after effects of the pandemic. The world of work has changed and coaching methods need to evolve to stay pertinent. This ARC did not have any illustrations, models or tables ( referred to in the text) but I am sure they are in the finished edition. Whether you are a new coach or a more experienced one, I would thoroughly recommend that this book is on your bookshelf!

[Nix · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was given an ARC of Coaching for Performance, 6th edition. This is a reworked version of the global success book originally written back in 1992. It has been carefully extended and improved by Tiffany Gaskell following John Whitmore's passing.
It is still the go to source for all things coaching - be it for leaders wanting to apply a coaching leadership style, or for coaches helping leaders to successfully motivate and elevate their businesses.

As Whitmore put it: "Coaching unlocks a person’s potential to maximize their performance, helping them to learn rather than teaching them."

Coaching focuses on future possibilities, not past mistakes.

Highly recommended.

[Stroop · Rating 5 out of 5]

Clear, accessible, practical, and insightful. This is a great resource for coaches, aspiring coaches, and anyone interested in learning more about (leadership/executive/workplace) coaching.

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for the opportunity to read a copy.