The Coaching Habit, by Michael Bungay-Stanier

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Michael has an innate ability to be provocative yet thoughtful in The Coaching Habit, his own offering on coaching. He brings forward 7 questions that should be in the toolbox of any coach. This book is practical, useful and engaging.

Legacy, by James Kerr

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James Kerr goes deep into the heart of the world’s most successful sporting team, the legendary All Blacks of New Zealand. Legacy is a unique and inspiring handbook for leaders in all fields.

Coaching Presence, by Maria Iliffe-Wood

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Maria’s book examines how self-awareness can be built across many key areas of coaching practice whilst introducing a model that will help you make a conscious and deliberate choice for every approach or intervention with your clients.

The Culture Code, by Daniel Coyle

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The Culture Code reveals the secrets of some of the best teams in the world - from Pixar to Google to US Navy SEALs - and explains the three skills such groups have mastered in order to generate trust and a willingness to collaborate. Combining cutting-edge science, on-the-ground insight and practical ideas for action, it offers a roadmap for creating an environment where innovation flourishes, problems get solved, and expectations are exceeded.

Peak, by Anders Ericsson and Robert Pool

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Anders Ericsson has made a career studying chess champions, violin virtuosos, star athletes, and memory mavens. Peak distils three decades of myth-shattering research into a powerful learning strategy that is fundamentally different from the way people traditionally think about acquiring new abilities. Ericsson's revolutionary methods will show you how to improve at almost any skill that matters to you, and prove that you don't have to be a genius to achieve extraordinary things.

The Five Dysfunctions of a Team, by Patrick Lencioni

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In The Five Dysfunctions of a Team, Patrick Lencioni once again offers a leadership fable that is as enthralling and instructive as his first two best-selling books, The Five Temptations of a CEO and The Four Obsessions of an Extraordinary Executive. Lencioni's utterly gripping tale serves as a timeless reminder that leadership requires as much courage as it does insight. Throughout the story, Lencioni reveals the five dysfunctions that explain why teams - even the best ones - often struggle.

The Road Less Stupid, by Keith J. Cunningham

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This is a business book for business readers who want to learn the principles and strategies of making great decisions and minimizing risk. The structure of Thinking Time will enable you to minimize reacting emotionally and defaulting to the most obvious "best idea" available in the moment. The series of short chapters and subsequent Thinking Time questions are designed to maximize clarity and create better choices... either of which will result in fewer stupid mistakes. This is the real "secret": the chance of success goes up when you think, plan, consistently execute the right things, and worry about the possibility of loss. Here it is on a bumper sticker: Operators react and sweat. Owners think and plan.

The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People, by Stephen E Covey

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No bookshelf is complete without Stephen Covey’s masterpiece, the & Habits of Highly Effective People. The guidance offered is applicable to all of us which makes it a compelling read. There is simply something for everyone. My biggest takeaway is "seek first to understand, then to be understood."

Drive: The Surprising Truth About What Motivates Us, by Daniel H Pink

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Dan Pink explores in depth a subject which is relevant to all. Motivation. His science-based approach makes a strong case for rethinking much of what is commonly held wisdom about the 'carrot and stick' method of motivation. He helps you answer the question’ what gets out of bed in the morning to do what you do?’ A great read.

Leadership: Plain and Simple, by Steve Radcliffe

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This is a really easy read. The clue, in part is in the title……’Plain and Simple’…Steve codifies Leadership into three distinct elements which are all interdependent on each other.

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Future – Engage – Deliver. He makes a strong case that all Leadership starts in the future and that Leaders are at their best when they are connected to the future they are seeking t create. I’ll let you explore the rest.

Leadership Team Coaching, by Peter Hawkins

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No bookshelf is complete without a reference to Peter Hawkins. One of the many aspects of Peter’s work is that he is always challenging his own thinking. He is constantly pushing the boundaries of group coaching, researching and testing new ideas and seeking, always, to articulate and demonstrate the value of team coaching. Anything with Peters's name attached to it is a must-read.

Playing to Win, by AG Lafley and Roger Martin

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If there was only one book you ever read on Strategy. This is it.

 

Lafley and Martin codified what they refer to as the Strategy Cascade. They simplify the complex in a
way that even I understood it. Many clients I work with use it as a ‘go to’ reference. In the words of a
review by Forbes.com ‘Read their book. They in turn are sure to inspire you’

Reinventing Organisations, by Frederic Laloux

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This book was suggested to me by Ash Wood, a dear
friend and Coach. If you really are interested in getting under the skin of organisations and truly
being curious as to what is possible. Read this.

 

I feel compelled to share a few words from Laloux himself:
‘A book that shares how some companies have found ways to be truly powerful, soulful and purposeful… and that invites you to imagine a new future for your own organisation’.

The One Minute Manager, by Ken Blanchard and Spencer Johnson

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Last but certainly not least…Everyone who embarks on a pathway of building their Management and
Leadership capability will come across this book.

It's easy to read. Very powerful and relevant messages were shared. The skill of the reader is to make these ideas work for you. And yes…it is a quick read. You can’t afford to miss out.