Recommended Reading
Please enjoy our suggestions for useful publications. We will regularly be adding to it – and the views are purely our own! If you would like us to review your own publication, please contact us.
Influencing with Integrity
by Genie Z. Laborde ISBN 1-89983-601-2
A great book for those who want to broaden their reading beyond the classic NLP books, developed by Dr Laborde to support her seminars. The focus is on patterns of communication that arise from the NLP process itself. An easy to read and dip into paperback using powerful metaphors. Of particular interest is the focus around the world of business which makes the transference it to use far easier. A number of my coachees have read the book and found the chapters on building rapport and negotiating with others particularly useful.
Go Wild! 101 Things to do Outdoors Before You Grow Up
by Jo Schofield & Fiona Danks
Although this is aimed at parents, for me it is also about getting in touch with your own 'inner child' and rekindling that passion for life that often gets lost along the way. It covers basic survival skills for outdoor adventurers and is packed with inspiring photos. For me I particularly valued the simple bite sized instructions.
Nice Girls Don't Get the Corner Officer
by Lois P. Frankel
The key message of this book is that being professional doesn't mean you need to convert into a stomping intimidator, but it does mean being firm, not wincing when rejection is forthcoming, and thinking about more than immediate relationships. It is about getting the job done well, in concert with others, but never becoming weak while doing it all. You have expertise. You have training. You have what it takes. I also recommend this book for men who wish to make the breakthrough to senior management, becouse many of the messages are the same.
Men are From Mars Women Are From Venus
by John Gray ISBN 0-00-715259-0
This book was published and marketed for couples to transfer their relationships, and the first time I read, it must confess I did so on a superficial level and hooted with laughter at the reality of it. This was when it was at the height of its fame in the mid 1990s. However, within my coach practice, this book has weathered the test of time. It is useful when you have teams who are predominately of one sex, for the minority to start thinking of positive ways to build effective work relationships. I wouldn't recommend it as a list of ‘this is what you must do', but as ‘home reading' and then a basis of discussion it is spot on.
The 4-Hour Work Week
by Timothy Ferriss
This book looks at what you want out of life and gives simple guidance on how to achieve your goals rather than just chasing money as an end in itself. Great for those going into any sort of business for themselves becouse it looks at costing your time, outsourcing your life on the cheap and how to eliminate the time wasters.
Business Coaching
by Peter Shaw and Robin Linnecar ISBN 978-1-84112-7415
Thinking about introducing and managing coaching in your organisation? This book offers clear and pracical advice on choosing providers, coaching qualifications and coaching supervision. It is also a clear picture on what happens when coaching is done well so you know you are gettting value for money.
Missing Pieces: 7 Ways to Imrpve Employee Well-geing and Organisational Effectiveness
by Jean-Pierre Brun and Cary Cooper ISBN 978 0 230 57658 2
Despite the lengthy title this captures good practice found elsewhere in one easy to access guide. The key focus is around employee recognition, developing a culture of resect and encouraging participation and clarification of roles. I like the diagnostic tools included and the simple lists on how to improve your scores. It also gives easy to relate to case studies.
Cultivating Self Development
by David Megginson & Vivien Whitaker IPD publications
Are you a Manager who wants to develop a culture where your team members take responsibility for their development? Are you an HR specialist who has an interest in developing a culture of lifelong learning? This book does not introduce anything new, but is stuffed with diagrams, flow charts, quick analysis lists, and reminders of classic models on learning along with examples. It is ‘slim', easy to dip into and a great start point.
Successful Team Building
by Thomas L. Quick ISBN 0-8144-7794-1
This book is targeted at team leaders who want to motivate team members. It is basic, but introduces theories in an accessible way for those who are new to managing others. I have used it as a ‘gift' to coachees in this situation prior to them considering a formal off job development route and it has given them that initial boost. I hope it has saved a few from making early mistakes. I particularly like the focus on team goals, and collaboration, which leads to great discussion to the role of the team leader in meeting organisational targets.
