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Narrative Coaching: The Definitive Guide to Bringing New Stories to Life
This is a rare book; it is grounded in both a deep academic rigor and a deep personal understanding of how people change. It is a treasure chest of information and insights based in over twenty years of experience. It will enable you to get to the crux of people’s issues in less time and help them make significant shifts in the moment. This book is an indispensable resource for anyone who works with people’s stories and wants to develop themselves so they have more impact.
The tools and models are presented in simple and clear language. However, there is a depth here that offers a limitless guide for your learning. Narrative Coaching is timely because it works at the level of identities, addresses the collective narratives that shape our stories, and expands the roles and modalities we can use to bring about transformational change with individuals and teams.
What is new in this
The tools and models are presented in simple and clear language. However, there is a depth here that offers a limitless guide for your learning. Narrative Coaching is timely because it works at the level of identities, addresses the collective narratives that shape our stories, and expands the roles and modalities we can use to bring about transformational change with individuals and teams.
What is new in this
- GenresLeadership
428 pages, Kindle Edition
Published December 5, 2017
152 people are currently reading
206 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews
November 12, 2020
Wow, what a book. It is abundantly clear Dr. Drake is well-read across many domains of knowledge. The synthesis of all the ideas is astounding. What any reader will find challenging is digesting it all. This is a slow read; plan to enjoy many cups of coffee or tea while exploring all the expertise contained within this work. The challenge, I think, is that if a person is not a researcher, much of this will go over their head. I hope to see a simplified version in the future, perhaps one that simply elaborates on the Coda at the end.
5-Star: Everyone should read this.
4-Star: Everyone in this specific field should read this.
3-Star: This was a decent read for the specific field, but there are better options.
2-Star: It got me to the end of the book, so there is that.
1-Star: It was bad enough that I didn't finish it.
5-Star: Everyone should read this.
4-Star: Everyone in this specific field should read this.
3-Star: This was a decent read for the specific field, but there are better options.
2-Star: It got me to the end of the book, so there is that.
1-Star: It was bad enough that I didn't finish it.
January 28, 2025
In "Narrative Coaching," David Drake presents a transformative approach to change that leverages the power of stories we tell ourselves. As someone who practices coaching, I found this book to be a revelation in how we can work with clients' narratives to address deeper challenges that often resist direct intervention.
Drake's four-phase model—Situate, Search, Shift, and Sustain—provides a elegant framework for moving through change. What makes this approach particularly compelling is how it spirals through different perspectives: from "What Is" to "What If" to "What Matters" and finally to "What Works." This progression feels natural and respects the complexity of human change.
The book's strongest contribution might be its emphasis on the coach's way of being. Drake explores concepts like radical presence, holding space, and the power of silence with depth and nuance. I particularly appreciated his framing of coaching as "serious play," which opens up new possibilities in the coaching relationship.
Where the book could have dug deeper is in distinguishing Narrative Coaching from Narrative Therapy. While Drake provides some differentiation, the boundaries between these approaches could have been more clearly defined for practitioners working in the field.
Despite this minor limitation, I've already incorporated these methods into my coaching practice, finding them especially valuable when working with challenges that lie beneath the surface. The approach provides a natural way to work with the stories clients already bring to their sessions.
Five stars for a book that introduces an effective approach and challenges coaches to evolve their presence and practice.
Drake's four-phase model—Situate, Search, Shift, and Sustain—provides a elegant framework for moving through change. What makes this approach particularly compelling is how it spirals through different perspectives: from "What Is" to "What If" to "What Matters" and finally to "What Works." This progression feels natural and respects the complexity of human change.
The book's strongest contribution might be its emphasis on the coach's way of being. Drake explores concepts like radical presence, holding space, and the power of silence with depth and nuance. I particularly appreciated his framing of coaching as "serious play," which opens up new possibilities in the coaching relationship.
Where the book could have dug deeper is in distinguishing Narrative Coaching from Narrative Therapy. While Drake provides some differentiation, the boundaries between these approaches could have been more clearly defined for practitioners working in the field.
Despite this minor limitation, I've already incorporated these methods into my coaching practice, finding them especially valuable when working with challenges that lie beneath the surface. The approach provides a natural way to work with the stories clients already bring to their sessions.
Five stars for a book that introduces an effective approach and challenges coaches to evolve their presence and practice.
Read
June 13, 2021There are a lot of ideas packed into this book so suggest you cherry pick the things that speak to you. For me, the top three were about (1) speaking only when you can improve on silence, (2) understanding attachment styles explained in the most accessible way I have seen and (3) a template for maturing strengths.
I would definitely recommend though it will be tough going if you are not someone who can skim read at times.
I would definitely recommend though it will be tough going if you are not someone who can skim read at times.
July 3, 2020
It's an interesting approach to coaching for sure, but for me, who is just starting learning and understanding the basics of coaching, this book is not the right one to start with. I found it insightful, although sometimes I couldn't really understand how the model really applies in real life. I will probably get back to this book at some point.
February 26, 2019
Excellent!
December 5, 2019
Lots of good info and models but way too heady and too much thrown at one time.
February 22, 2022
Just wow. Lots to chew on. Some amazing takeaways and nuggets. However, much of it was beyond my ability to appreciate or understand. Guess I've got a lot of growing yet to do as a coach...
Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews