The Transformational Coach: Free Your Thinking and Break Through to Coaching Mastery

As a relatively new coach, I’ve found Clare Norman’s book genuinely transformational. It’s helped me to focus and refine my coaching style, and it’s challenged some unhelpful beliefs I hadn’t even realised I was holding. I bought it at a time when my confidence had dipped a few months after training, and it was exactly what I needed. There’s plenty of practical guidance, but it also reminded me why I chose coaching in the first place and the potential it offers people. Reading it helped me climb out of a bit of a hole and develop a healthier mindset about what I believe and how I trust in the process. I’d recommend this book to any new or developing coach, especially if you’re working towards accreditation like the ICF. It’s clear, supportive, and encourages you to be the coach you want to be while honing those competencies. It’s definitely left me feeling more grounded and confident in my work.

This is a compelling and inspirational read that challenges traditional coaching paradigms. It has allowed me to explore 83 mindsets that need to be unlearned, and to support my coaching skills moving forwards. The book is aimed at coaches but is relevant for leaders, teachers and individuals aiming for sustainable transformation in others. I have enjoyed the clarity and accessibility of the book which makes it easy to pick up and put down. My Key Takeaways: 1. Embrace process questions over content questions to guide thinkers in generating their insights. 2. Strip away unnecessary complexity to focus on supporting new thinking. 3. Foster a true partnership with thinkers, going beyond formal coaching models to create a more dynamic and collaborative coaching relationship. For me, the power of a book is how much it makes you think and what impact it has on you. After a year of ownership, I can truthfully say this is a book I will continue to go back to as a long-term reflection tool, challenging and reframing my coaching habits for ongoing development. It is not just a recommended read; it's a must-have handbook for coaches at all levels, offering practical insights and transformative approaches to elevate coaching practices and foster personal and professional growth. Thank you Clare Norman for sharing your wisdom and insights.

One of the few coaching books I have read all the way through, properly, taking notes, and have referred to since. Really illuminating and useful.

As a seasoned Leadership Coach, I've read my fair share of coaching books, but Clare Norman's "The Transformational Coach" stands out as a true gem in the field. What I appreciate most about this book is its ability to bust the myths that often cloud the coaching world. Norman's writing is not just accessible; it's refreshingly straightforward. She cuts through the jargon and gets straight to the heart of what really matters in coaching. The focus on process questions over content questions is a game-changer. Norman's approach simplifies the coaching journey, reminding us that it's not about imparting wisdom but about guiding the thinker to generate their own insights. "The Transformational Coach" encourages you to embrace simplicity in your coaching practice, stripping away unnecessary complexity. It's all about generating new thinking within the thinker, and Norman's guidance is invaluable in achieving this. In summary, if you're a coach looking to enhance your skills and truly transform the lives of your clients, this book is a must-read. Clare Norman has delivered a masterpiece that challenges conventional coaching wisdom and offers a fresh perspective that can elevate your coaching game to new heights. Highly recommended!

Having received my signed copy of Clare's book at her book launch, it has taken me a while to finish. The only reason was to try the Habit Change Commitments. The book is full of fantastic "aha" moments for me and I hope my coaching has improved as a result. It certainly feels easier. All of the shifts are truly transformational and I would encourage every coach to read the book and see where they can transform their coaching. Clare's book should be included on every coach training reading list, even though one of the chapters is about discarding what we learned in our coach training. I hope coach trainers will read this and discard those unhelpful practices (the worst being "Tell me more" - the coach does not need to know more !!!). This book has become such a bible for me that is always with me, even when I don't have coaching. It will be one of those books I will read repeatedly, and I am sure there will always be something new. I know which book I would choose if I were on Desert Island Disks. Truly an inspirational and recommended book for all coaches.

This is a must have book for all coaches. Clare simultaneously challenges, inspires and reassures you with her short and to the point chapters on the mindsets we need to shift to be even better at coaching. The challenges can be tough, like one on interrupting that might have you shouting NO! and then slyly coming back and having another look. Her CONTRACT model has inspired me to bring more structure into the beginning of sessions with thinkers and I'm finding it really helps to get to the heart of the dilemma quickly. And I was very reassured to read that we don’t need to be scared of talking about mental health with our thinkers, we can trust and them to know when it's time to look for additional help. I'm writing my own book at the moment, Coaching for Busy Managers, and I find myself coming back to Clare's book over and over to draw on her wisdom and as I do, I learn something more to bring into my own practice. Buy it, you won’t regret it.

I chose this book for the first reading challenge for coaches - approved for continuing education credit - through the Center for Health and Wellness Coaches. In this book, Clare captures mindsets and shifts in mindsets that can’t come from a research paper or a textbook – they can only come from human experience. Readers reap the benefits of all Norman’s years of coaching and incorporate the concepts of these mindsets into their own coaching and learning. This book made me aware of mindsets I needed to unlearn - especially from coach training - that I wasn't otherwise aware of. The coaches in the reading challenge also found this book highly informative & enjoyed reading! Highly recommend this book to anyone who's looking to refine and grow their coaching skills.

A book based on sheer practical experiences. Author Clare Norman has been very candid in her sharing and through 83 shifts mentioned in the book she has presented a very comprehensive scenarios in Coaching.

Excellent book. GOES right to the heart of the issues, with plenty of examples, questions and advise.

"The Transformational Coach" was by my side throughout my two-year journey to MCC...and it still is. It helped tremendously in shifting my thinking to learn how to "be" with my thinkers. I highly recommend it to any ICF coach and especially those in pursuit of their Master Certified Coaching (MCC) credential. I love the way the book is broken into 83 easily-digestible segments called :shifts."

“The Transformational Coach” by Clare Norman is must-read for every coach. It brings forth new awareness and the transformation to your coaching. It is easy to read, very practical and at the same time cuts deep into adoptive mindsets that prevent coaches to move from good to great coaching. It’s liberating and refreshing as it constantly brings forth wisdom, resourcefulness and knowledge of your partners/clients.