1st Edition
Coaching Systemically Five Ways of Thinking About Systems
This book provides an accessible and clear description of key theories of systemic coaching and how they can be applied to coaching practice.
Structured around five different ways of thinking about systems, the book provides coaches with a high-level overview of different systems theories and how those theories may be applied in practice. Readers are invited to consider each of the five different ways of thinking through the lens of philosophy, purpose and practice: Which theories most resonate for you? How do these systemic perspectives shape your purpose for coaching, and how do they show up in the way that you coach? With examples and case material throughout, Coaching Systemically aligns coaching with the realities and challenges of organisations operating in an ever more complex world.
Readers will walk away from the book with a clearer understanding of what it means to coach ‘systemically’ and new ideas as to how they can translate insights into practice. Coaching Systemically will be key reading for coaches in practice and in training, consultants and anyone interesting in systemic approaches.
Introduction
1. You as Coach
2. First Order Linear Thinking
3. First Order Non-linear Thinking
4. Second Order Thinking
5. Complexity
6. Meta Systemic
7. Becoming More Systemic
Parting Comments
Appendix - 3Ps Worksheet
Biography
Paul Lawrence, PhD, is a director of the Centre for Coaching in Organisations (CCO). He conducts ongoing research into coaching, leadership and change. Before becoming a coach, Paul had a long corporate career, heading up businesses in Spain, Portugal, Japan and Australia.
'Paul Lawrence has done it again! In this jewel of a book, he holds our hands as we get deeper and deeper into the systemic world, offering us new ideas, challenging the mindsets we didn’t know we had, and pushing us to be more reflective and more expansive about our practice. Equally useful for beginning coaches and for those who have been coaching for decades, there are already a dozen people I’m going to gift a copy of this stimulating and compassionate book.'
Jennifer Garvey Berger, Chief Executive Officer, Cultivating Leadership
