Appreciative Coaching: A Positive Process for Change is a very readable and engaging contribution to the field of coaching.
The book begins with an overview of Appreciative Coaching and the positive psychological context from which it takes its inspiration. The first half focuses on five principles of Appreciative Inquiry (AI) which are "like the warp threads on the loom" (37) and form the foundation of Appreciative Coaching. Readers are taken through the process of Appreciative Coaching in the second half of the book.
To help readers to understand the underlying principles of AI, the authors consider postmodern thought and social constructionism in Chapter 1. This is followed by a discussion of the assumptions upon which the methodology is based. Chapter 2 also surveys a number of other positive approaches, including Positive Organisational Scholarship (POS) and Solution-Focused Brief Therapy (SFBT). Chapters 3 and 4 consider the five principles of AI: constructionist, positive, simultaneity, poetic and anticipatory.
The authors then focus clearly on the Appreciative Coaching process for the rest of the book. Chapter 5 presents a useful overview of the process while Chapters 6-9 cover each of the four stages: discovery, dream, design and destiny. The final chapter, entitled "Stepping into Appreciative Coaching", offers some tools and techniques to support coaches who want to incorporate the methodology into their own practice.
Who should read this book:
This book is valuable reading for anyone involved in coaching. It is essential for coaches who wish to use Appreciative Inquiry as a model for coaching conversations.
Summary:
This book is immensely readable and very accessible. The context of positive psychology is clearly outlined and the debt to this area of work is acknowledged. Overall, the case for Appreciative Coaching is well-researched and presented through a good balance of reference to existing scholarship, case studies and personal anecdote. The case studies are relevant and enlightening, serving to bring the process and principles to life.
In their final paragraph, the authors share their own aspirations: "flourishing is important to our clients, to the country, and to the world. If we as coaches find ways to help people flourish, we will have done our jobs well" (201). This book certainly supports their dream by advocating a powerful coaching process which can "create meaningful work lives that are both life affirming and inspirational" (25).
