Essential Coaching Reading List
A curated collection of the most valuable books for coaching professionals, organized by category and skill level. Each book includes a brief overview to help you choose what's most relevant for your current needs.
📚 Foundational Coaching Books
The Life Coaching Handbook
Author: Curly Martin
Level: Beginner to Intermediate
A comprehensive introduction to life coaching fundamentals. Martin provides practical tools, techniques, and frameworks that form the backbone of effective coaching practice. Essential for understanding the coaching relationship and basic methodologies.
Coaching for Performance
Author: John Whitmore
Level: All Levels
Considered the definitive guide to coaching, this book introduces the GROW model and performance-focused coaching approaches. Whitmore's work is foundational for understanding how coaching differs from training or mentoring.
The Complete Guide to Coaching at Work
Author: Andrew Gilbert
Level: Intermediate to Advanced
Focuses specifically on workplace coaching scenarios. Covers organizational dynamics, executive coaching, and how to implement coaching cultures within businesses.
🧠 Psychology & Human Development
Emotional Intelligence
Author: Daniel Goleman
Level: All Levels
Groundbreaking work on emotional intelligence and its impact on personal and professional success. Essential for coaches working on leadership development, relationship building, and self-awareness with clients.
The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People
Author: Stephen Covey
Level: All Levels
Classic personal development book that provides a principle-centered approach to solving personal and professional problems. Many coaching frameworks build upon Covey's foundational concepts.
Psychological Safety and the Critical Thinking Process
Author: Various
Level: Intermediate
Explores how to create safe spaces for clients to explore difficult topics and think critically about their challenges. Crucial for coaches working with teams or organizational change.
🔧 NLP & Advanced Techniques
The Ultimate Introduction to NLP: How to Build a Successful Life
Authors: Richard Bandler, Alessio Roberti, Owen Fitzpatrick
Level: Beginner to Intermediate
Comprehensive introduction to Neuro-Linguistic Programming from its co-founder. Covers core NLP concepts, techniques, and applications in coaching and personal development.
The NLP Workbook
Author: Joseph O'Connor
Level: Intermediate
Practical exercises and applications of NLP techniques. Provides hands-on experience with anchoring, reframing, modeling, and other core NLP methods used in coaching.
Time Line Therapy and the Basis of Personality
Author: Tad James
Level: Advanced
Deep dive into timeline therapy techniques for helping clients resolve past issues and create compelling futures. Advanced NLP methodology for experienced practitioners.
💡 Specialized Coaching Areas
The Confidence Coach
Author: Various
Level: All Levels
Specialized techniques for coaching clients struggling with confidence and self-esteem issues. Includes specific interventions and frameworks for building client confidence.
Coaching Questions: A Coach's Guide to Powerful Asking Skills
Author: Tony Stoltzfus
Level: All Levels
Comprehensive guide to the art of asking powerful questions. Essential skill for all coaches, with hundreds of practical examples organized by coaching scenario.
The People Puzzle: Understanding Yourself and Others
Author: Various
Level: Intermediate
Explores personality types, communication styles, and individual differences. Valuable for coaches working with diverse clients or team coaching scenarios.
🎯 Skill Development
Developing Your Influencing Skills
Author: Neil Johnson
Level: Intermediate to Advanced
Focuses on ethical influence and persuasion skills. Important for coaches working in organizational settings or helping clients develop leadership capabilities.
A Gestalt Primer for Coaches
Author: Various
Level: Advanced
Introduction to Gestalt principles in coaching. Covers present-moment awareness, field theory, and contact-based interventions for experienced coaches seeking depth.
📖 How to Use This Reading List
For New Coaches
Start with:
- The Life Coaching Handbook - foundational skills
- Coaching for Performance - GROW model and basics
- Coaching Questions - questioning techniques
For Experienced Coaches
Focus on:
- Emotional Intelligence - deepen client understanding
- NLP Workbook - advanced techniques
- Psychological Safety - create better coaching environments
For Specialized Practice
Choose based on your niche:
- Business/Executive Coaching: Coaching at Work, Developing Influencing Skills
- Personal Development: 7 Habits, Confidence Coach
- Advanced NLP: Ultimate NLP Introduction, Timeline Therapy
💡 Reading Tips
- Read Actively: Take notes and practice techniques as you learn
- Apply Immediately: Try new concepts with clients (ethically and safely)
- Join Book Clubs: Discuss insights with other coaching professionals
- Revisit Regularly: Books reveal new insights as your experience grows
- Focus on Quality: Better to deeply understand fewer books than skim many
This reading list is regularly updated based on coaching community feedback and new publications. Suggestions for additions are always welcome.