Relational Coaching: Journeys towards mastering one-to-one learning from Erik de Haan of Ashridge business school

Published by Wiley, March 08

The importance of the relationship between coach and client for achieving success in executive coaching is explored in a new book by Dr Erik de Haan, Director of the Ashridge Centre for Coaching. Relational Coaching: Journeys towards mastering one-to-one learning, based on de Haan's own quantitative research and that of others, proposes ten ‘commandments’ for executive coaches to improve their practice and most importantly, improve the outcome for the coachee.

The commandments include ‘Consider the coaching from your coachee’s perspective’ and ‘Commit yourself heart and soul to your approach, even if it does not matter which professional approach you choose’. 

Author Erik de Haan explains: “As a relationship between coach and coachee changes from moment to moment, it has its own dynamic – which underpins the essence of the coaching process. This book explores how a coach can use this dynamic to the benefit of the coachee.”

Relational Coaching contains a wealth of international examples of critical moments in coaching and draws on lessons from different fields, including:
- Ancient philosophy
- Psychotherapy
- Organisational and professional development
as well as executive coaching.

It gives a complete overview of the coaching profession, presenting new research into the effects and experiences of coaching and one-to-one learning.

Early feedback from other coaching professionals has been positive. Commenting on the book, Manfred Kets de Vries, Professor of Leadership Development at INSEAD said: “Navigating through the coaching field is like finding one’s way out of a confusing labyrinth - too many books, too many quick–fix promises, too many snake oil salesmen and unfortunately, too little substance. For a change, here is a contribution that goes beyond the trite and obvious. Instead the author takes us on an exciting journey to explain what coaching is all about, providing us with a roadmap that is second to none.”

Download a sample chapter by clicking here

About the author
Erik de Haan is the director of the Ashridge Centre for Coaching and a senior organisation development consultant with Ashridge Consulting. He is also an executive coach, supervisor and accreditor of other coaches, as well as programme director of the Ashridge Masters in Executive Coaching. Other books he has published include The Consulting Process as Drama (1997), Learning with Colleagues (2001), Coaching with Colleagues (2004) and Fearless Consulting (2006).

Ashridge Centre for Coaching – www.ashridge.org.uk/coaching
Ashridge Masters in Executive Coaching – www.ashridge.org.uk/amec

Ashridge is one of the world’s leading business schools. In the latest Financial Times rankings for tailored executive education (May 2007), Ashridge is ranked 1st in the UK. Ashridge’s activities include open & tailored executive education programmes, MBA, MSc & Diploma qualifications, organisation consulting, executive coaching, research and online learning. Ashridge is one of a handful of schools in the world to be accredited by The Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB), The European Quality Improvement System (EQUIS) and the Association of MBAs (AMBA).

ISBN 978-0-470-72428-6;  Hardback;  £24.99/€35

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To buy the book click here

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