Brief reviews of books that are enriching my coaching
Ecological and Climate-Conscious Coaching A Companion Guide to Evolving Coaching Practice. Edited by Alison Whybrow, Eve Turner and Josie McLean, with Peter Hawkins. Routledge, 2023.
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This is a book that I waited too long to read! It was brought to my attention on two occasions by one of the editors. The most recent time when I was inquiring about research related to social systems / justice and coaching.
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As soon as I began reading, I found myself engaged in the story of a conversation that explores how coaching can become an agent of change. This conversation holds both the core principles of coaching: inquiry, partnership, invitation, listening, expansive exploration and action and the challenge of coaching in a world impacted and threatened by the climate crisis. It creates a space that challenges the status-quo by inviting coaches to become agents for social change. The fact that coaching is dominated by a white western world view is acknowledged and some voices of coaches and thought leaders with diverse experience are included. The key question of ‘neutrality’ in coaching takes on a new light (p. 39) when clients are invited to look beyond the individual perspective to diverse, systemic, ‘desire for the future’ and sustainability lenses. (the above is an oversimplification of a few points).
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I believe that this book will stand as a significant influence in shifting coaching practice to include global concerns and the environment that we inhabit and impact. It is a call to responsibility that stretches a coaching mindset to become more inclusive, curious and engaging. It creates possibilities for coaches to support leaders to see the impact that is possible when we explore leading with the other than human world in mind.
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As I reflect on this book, I am left wondering what possibilities will arise that will provoke the ‘global north’ (me) to listen to the voices of coaches and thought leaders from the ‘global south’ where the impact of climate change is most evident.
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I encourage you to get engaged in this conversation.
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September 25, 2024
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​​​​​​​Ubuntu Coaching and Connection Practices for Leader-Managers Selected practices to grow your team in a fast-changing world. Dumisani Magadleda PhD edited by Sunny Stout-Rostron. KR Publishing, 2023.
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I came across this book while looking for information about coaching in parts of the world other than North America and the United Kingdom. The term ‘ubuntu’ was somewhat familiar to me so my interest was piqued to understand more.
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The gift of this book is that it invites readers into a culture that is steeped in connectedness. Ubuntu ‘I am because we are’ places relationship at the foundation of living together. It builds shared vision and recognizes that excluding others limits the possibilities of any vision because it limits the fullness of the community. Coaching with a ubuntu perspective ‘… is about seeing and feeling the humanity and greatness of others as part of the coach’s interconnected social system and human ecosystem’ (xii). This is about coaching the whole person in the community and realizing possibilities that generate change for all.
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Magadleda has taken the time to demonstrate how ubuntu can live in organizations and in the actions of leaders which reminded me that it is not what we know but how we live in relationships with others that makes lasting change in the world. This approach implies a need to shift our view of power in leadership.
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After experiencing this book, I am left with a challenge to see the whole, the unified view, by how I recognize the humanness of myself and others. From my perspective this living world view shift could lead to a more inclusive, communal and person-centered world.
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And of course, I recommend this book.
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September 12, 2024