Mindful Coach

Doug Silsbee is a thought leader in the field of presence-based leadership ­development, coaching, and resilience. He coaches, teaches, and writes in Asheville, North Carolina. A master teacher, Silsbee has worked with leaders on five continents, taught top ­executives from corporations, nonprofits, and government, and is a frequent speaker at major conferences. He is a Master Somatic Coach with Strozzi Institute and the author of ­Presence-Based Coaching from Jossey-Bass. Silsbee is an outdoor adventurer, grandfather, and owner of a carbon-neutral retreat center on 63 acres in the North Carolina mountains, where he offers courses in his groundbreaking approaches. He can be reached at http://dougsilsbee.com or ds@dougsilsbee.com.

• Exercises, Practices, Exhibits, and Figures ixForeword xiiiPreface to the New and Revised Edition xvIntroduction: What Is Coaching? 1A Working Definition of Coaching 4Distinguishing Coaching from Other Aspects of Professional Relationships 6Contexts for Coaching: Four Dynamics 9Introduction Summary 141 The Being of Coaching: Mindful Service 17Placing Oneself in Service 18Mindfulness and Self-Awareness 19Mindfulness and the Three Levels of Experience 23Attachments and Aversions 25Conditioning and Habits That Block Mindfulness 30Coaching Habits 33Chapter Summary 412 Cultivating Mindfulness 43Self-Observation 44Practices for Cultivating Mindfulness 48Coach as Learner 54Accountability in Service 55Chapter Summary 563 The Seven Voices of the Coach 57Learning the Voices 58The Individual Roles or Voices 60The Voices and Their Aspects 64Placing the Voices in Context 64Chapter Summary 724 The Master 73Maintaining Self-Awareness 76Listening with Focus and Presence 78Modeling Learning and Growth 79Embracing the Client with Compassion and Respect 82Choosing Which of the Operational Voices to Use at a Given Time 84The Mindful Master 86Chapter Summary 895 The Partner 91Establishing and Honoring an Explicit Structure for the Coaching Relationship 93Advocating Shared Commitment to Competency-Based Coaching Outcomes 98Offering Choice Points and Making Joint Decisions About the Coaching Process 103The Mindful Partner 107Chapter Summary 1106 The Investigator 113Asking Questions That Shift the Client’s Understanding of the Situation 116Helping the Client to Articulate Desired Outcomes 120Asking the Client to Generate Courses of Action 122The Mindful Investigator 126Chapter Summary 1307 The Reflector 131Providing Direct and Honest Feedback 133Directing the Client’s Attention Toward His or Her Capabilities and Potential 137Encouraging Self-Observation and Reflection 141The Mindful Reflector 143Chapter Summary 1478 The Teacher 149Providing New Distinctions, Information, and Knowledge 151Challenging and Stimulating the Client’s Thinking Process 154Explaining the Coaching Process, Theory, and Models Being Used 159The Mindful Teacher 162Chapter Summary 1659 The Guide 167Encouraging the Client to Take Some Action of the Client’s Choosing 170Offering Options for Action 172Recommending Specific Courses of Action 175The Mindful Guide 178Chapter Summary 18110 The Contractor 183Establishing Clear Agreements About Actions 186Exploring and Resolving Client Doubts and Hesitations 190Following Up with the Client About Agreed-On Actions 193The Mindful Contractor 196Chapter Summary 19911 Self-Development Strategies for the Coach 201Self-Assessment Tools 202Self-Observation as a Coach 205Navigating the Model 210Learning from Your Reflection 216Reviewing Audio Recordings 217Obtaining and Listening to Client Feedback 218Planning Your Own Development 221Chapter Summary 223Epilogue: Coaching as a Journey Toward Mastery 225About Fluidity and Intuition 227Practice as Path 229Selected Reading 235Notes 239Acknowledgments 245The Author 249Index 251