Institute of Education London

Transformative Coaching

A learning theory for practice
Susan Askew and Eileen Carnell

"...a remarkable piece of work for any "learner", or practising coach, at any stage of their ongoing professional development."
Katherine Tulpa, Global CEO, Association for Coaching and Co-Founder, Wisdom8

Why publish another book on coaching? While there are numerous books covering coaching tools and techniques, most share a common focus on goal-setting and goal achievement. This book offers a rare alternative perspective that focuses on reflective learning as the starting point for professional growth, and illustrates how coaches can apply this approach in coaching meetings.

Drawing on their research and experiences of developing professional learning programmes for coaches, the authors identify three kinds of learning in coaching:

• the learning of new skills and competences
• learning to see something differently
• learning more about the self in practice (reflective learning).

The authors contend that while learning of the first and second kinds are well supported in coaching practice, more attention to learning of the third kind is needed. An emphasis on self-reflection, for both coaches and coachees, can lead to more effective, transformative and sustained change to practice.

Using case studies and examples of successful coaching meetings, this thought-provoking book explores this reflective model of coaching. It also examines current debates in coaching; issues to do with self-identity and power relationships; why peer coaching and supervision are important; and how coaching can play a significant role in an organisation's learning.

Transformative Coaching will be especially useful for coaches and students of coaching working in education organisations, including those who offer accredited coaching courses. It is also relevant to all learning professionals, particularly from the education, medical, legal and social services sectors and to any organisations that place importance on supporting learning.   

"...integrates a powerful mix of critical theory and practical suggestions, which is something missing from other coaching texts."
Dr Elaine Cox, Oxford Brookes University

"'This is a thoughtful, scholarly, and at the same time eminently practical book for coaches."
Dr Leni Wildflower, Fielding University, USA

Susan Askew is a lecturer and course leader at the Institute of Education, University of London (IOE).  Eileen Carnell is a freelance writer and educational consultant. Both the authors have designed professional learning courses, taught, researched, facilitated and set up coaching groups and advised other organisations in setting up a coaching service.

May 2011 • 978-0-85473-907-3 • 149pp • £22.99