Being Coached: Group and Team Coaching from the Inside

Deaton and William's book removes the mystery of coaching, through fascinating storytelling, as seen from the multiple perspectives of an individual coaching client, group, team and sponsoring organization. The book is deceptively simple because it's such an interesting read. It is resource-rich with leadership development examples that will resonate and be eye opening to both clients and coaches. My guess is that most readers will find themselves in at least one of the stories. I particularly appreciate the theme that coaching with a "light touch" is powerful, both when clients are coaching each other, and when the external executive coach is involved. Through the application of coaching, clients help each other and add a generative "coaching approach" to their leadership toolkit. As an executive coach I found myself scribbling in the margins of the book, thinking oh, this is a good idea, and musing about how I can offer this book when appropriate to individual, group and team clients as a helpful introduction to the coaching process.

This is a solid, basic book on Group and Team Coaching from two very competent coaches who dothis kind of coaching. I'm definitely going to be recommending this book to colleagues and supervisees who are interested in expanding their practices. I thought the section of the book on Group Coaching was clear and compelling.The end interview in which the authors are interviewed seemed a bit self-serving. If you're writing a book, why doyou need a section in which you're interviewed at the end? Perhaps I'm being picky. It's a good resourcebook on Group and Team Coaching.

As colleagues of Holly's we have seen the birth and evolution of this book. Being Coached is a culmination of years of first hand experience of both of the authors. They bring their insights and knowledge of how to support teams and leaders in transformational change for themselves as well as those they lead. The authors have peppered their best practices tools and models throughout so it is transparent for the reader to see how the transformation unfolds. We recently provided their book to a team we are supporting and asked them to read it in preparation for a team leadership session. The authors have written the book in such a way that each person could see themselves in one or several of the characters. The discussion allowed for the team to talk about issues they had never been able to before in a safe, supportive way.Being Coached is useful for talent managers or human resource professionals to gain insights into what the team coaching experience is as well as a concrete resource for those who are involved in a group coaching experience. We found the book useful for this team and will continue to use it in our coaching practices with others.We express our thanks to Holly and Ann for capturing their insights and experiences and sharing it with the coaching community and those they support. Jan Day Gravel and Lori Ermi

This book is perhaps the easiest-to-read book about coaching that I have ever encountered. If you’re curious about how group (as well as team – and there IS a difference) coaching works – either from the perspective of someone considering participating in such an experience, or from the perspective of a coach considering expanding his/her coaching repertoire – this fun read provides the insight that you’re seeking. It’s an up-close and personal view into the experience of an extremely cost-effective and scalable approach to leadership development, and leaves you eager to try it out for yourself. I highly recommend this marvelous and enlightening book.Steve HellerProgram Director, Leadership Coaching Certificate ProgramInstitute for Transformational LeadershipGeorgetown University | School of Continuing Studies | Center for Continuing and Professional Education

I work with family businesses and enterprises where teams and leaders are grouped by generation or sphere of family influence. I picked up the book at the suggestion of a colleague when looking to develop a program for a group of cousins. I'm glad I did.Through two story lines, the book does a great job of breaking down the modality of group coaching and how it can develop numerous skillsets within a cohesive framework. Using this book as a starting point, I've created several group coaching programs.The book also has some good resources for content that can be applied to any group coaching program.