Rating: 
Summary: An Outstanding Book for New and Experienced Coaches
Review: I predict that "Executive Coaching With Backbone and Heart" will become a classic textbook within the field of organizational development! As a new coach, I found Mary Beth O'Neill's writing to be clear, informative, honest and thought provoking. She balances theory with practical examples to illustrate her points and provides highlights at the end of each chapter for easy reference and review. Her willingness to share her mistakes and how she's learned from them added to her credibility and models her own integration of backbone with heart.
Rating:
Summary: Unique perspective makes this book very powerful
Review: In a field crowded with many new titles this book is unique and very empowering. While most coaching books focus on "technique," Mary Beth O'Neill shines the light on how we use OURSELVES to catalyze change. The author helped me better understand emotional systems thinking and how I can use these principles in my coaching practice. Another unusual perspective I found in this book is the author's focus on coaching in the context of bottom line results. Highly recommended!
Rating:
Summary: A comprehensive book that should not be under estimated.
Review: It seems quite awhile since I have found a book in my own field that I can completely recommend to almost anyone. This is a terrific book for coaches, consultants and leaders at all levels. Finally here is a book that explains the role of coaching as an Organization Development intervention. As well it clearly alginates the differences between calling yourself an executive coach and the competencies required to actually be one. In fact I would have to say that this is a must read for any executive or corporate coach.One reviewer said this book was easy to read. While it is well written and gives the illusion of simplicity, the concepts and specifics inside are subtler than that. I am a quick reader and it took me some time to properly digest what O'Neill was really saying. And this is not a big book. When I first picked it up, I remember thinking: "Oh brother another expensive book without much meat." I was completely wrong. There doesn't appear to be a lot of theory, but it is clear that theory is the underpinning of the author's work and it is there front and centre. However, you do not notice it because of how it is presented. This one of the few books that I have read where the short case studies really added value to the book. In the cases typical situations and examples of how she expertly handled them were reviewed, as well as some warnings about how the coach can also get triggered by what is happening. Another great part is that this book as a "go back to" reference. The three Appendix contain a personal assessment, questions to ask clients and issues on how to combine consulting with coaching or vice versa.
Rating:
Summary: A comprehensive book that should not be under estimated.
Review: It seems quite awhile since I have found a book in my own field that I can completely recommend to almost anyone. This is a terrific book for coaches, consultants and leaders at all levels. Finally here is a book that explains the role of coaching as an Organization Development intervention. As well it clearly alginates the differences between calling yourself an executive coach and the competencies required to actually be one. In fact I would have to say that this is a must read for any executive or corporate coach. One reviewer said this book was easy to read. While it is well written and gives the illusion of simplicity, the concepts and specifics inside are subtler than that. I am a quick reader and it took me some time to properly digest what O'Neill was really saying. And this is not a big book. When I first picked it up, I remember thinking: "Oh brother another expensive book without much meat." I was completely wrong. There doesn't appear to be a lot of theory, but it is clear that theory is the underpinning of the author's work and it is there front and centre. However, you do not notice it because of how it is presented. This one of the few books that I have read where the short case studies really added value to the book. In the cases typical situations and examples of how she expertly handled them were reviewed, as well as some warnings about how the coach can also get triggered by what is happening. Another great part is that this book as a "go back to" reference. The three Appendix contain a personal assessment, questions to ask clients and issues on how to combine consulting with coaching or vice versa.
Rating: 
Summary: Insightful!
Review: Mary Beth O'Neill describes how executive coaches need to work with executives as partners to help them become better leaders. Coaches need the strength to share the truth with clients in times of crisis, she explains. She discusses the core principles that underlie coaching and the four essential phases of the coaching process: contracting, planning, live-action intervening and debriefing. The book is primarily directed to coaches, including consultants and internal or external trainers, who facilitate processes and projects in organizations. While it has its share of fuzzy and jargon-laden patches, the book is generally clear and to the point. It includes a mix of examples, charts, and step-by-step techniques, plus useful chapter highlights. We [...] recommend this book to coaches, to executives who are coaching employees and to executives who are being coached.
Rating:
Summary: Useful Guide with a Few Key Elements Missing
Review: Mary Beth O'Neill is an experienced executive coach who provides a useful perspective and helpful guidelines and examples of what coaches can do to help executives. Her systems perspective and four-step approach is helpful with case examples and additional insights into how leaders can be coached to coach and how coaching can be combined with consulting to have a greater impact on the organization. There are several key elements of professional coaching that are missing in the book: First- The four-step approach does not include a thorough assessment of the executive and his/her organization using reliable historical, normative, and 360-degree data. Instead, the major focus is on asking the executive what they think they need or want to work on. Second- There is a lack of focus on involving and partnering with the executive's boss, board, key constituents, HR professionals and others to truly understand the executive and the organization from multiple perspectives and to have the potential impact on the whole system. And third- there could be greater emphasis on what happens after the coaching is completed; how to transition for continued learning, application, and improvement.
For more information about the principles and practice of executive coaching that incorporates Ms. O'Neill's useful approaches along with the additional components described above, you may want to go to the following website for the free Handbook of Executive Coaching along with other free information and tools for executives, coaches, and HR professionals: www.executivecoachingforum.com
Rating:
Summary: Best Resource on Coaching I Have Seen
Review: Mary Beth O'niell writes with great clarity and her book is very engaging--almost like watching her in action. O'Neill's four-phased, systems-based methology provides a structure for coaching that encourages individuality. In fact, O'Neill stresses the importance of a coach's self-awareness and developemnt of ones signature presence. She uses many relevant examples to illustrate her approach. I especially value suggestions made throughout the book for how to effectively engage clients. O'Neill has the ability to explain complex sustems theory and interpersonal dynamics in a way that aides understanding. In a recent conversation with a potential coaching client I found myself using, in the moment, the useful information O'Neill offers. If you coach executives, or leaders at any level in organizations, this is a must resource.
Rating:
Summary: A Great Book WIth A Minor Missing Component
Review: The author has written a valuable book that promises to help us be effective in coaching executive clients.Her emphasis on having coaches be aware of their own "stuff" is very helpful. I also liked her attention to the fact that our clients are a part of larger systems at work. However, although this wasn't her emphasis in writing the book, it would have been helpful for her to acknowledge that executives are also a part of other systems outside of work that may have a major influence on their success at work. Our not checking in with our clients about major influences that are external to their work can leave us with valuable missing information.
Rating:
Summary: A Great Book WIth A Minor Missing Component
Review: The author has written a valuable book that promises to help us be effective in coaching executive clients. Her emphasis on having coaches be aware of their own "stuff" is very helpful. I also liked her attention to the fact that our clients are a part of larger systems at work. However, although this wasn't her emphasis in writing the book, it would have been helpful for her to acknowledge that executives are also a part of other systems outside of work that may have a major influence on their success at work. Our not checking in with our clients about major influences that are external to their work can leave us with valuable missing information.
Rating:
Summary: A Great Book With A Minor Missing Component
Review: The author has written a very valuable book that gets to the heart of what good executive coaching is all about. I particularly liked her emphasis on how we coaches must be mindful of our own "stuff", and how if we don't pay attention to this we aren't doing the best for our clients or ourselves. I also liked her attention to the importance of the client's awareness that they are a part of an organizational system, and that effective coaching should take that dynamic into account. However, it is also important to recognize that executives are a part of larger systems and influences outside of their work that may seriously affect their ability to be productive and happy on their jobs. Although this is clearly not the focus of her book, it would have been helpful for the author to at least acknowledge this fact. Occasionally checking in with our clients about what else is going on in their lives that may affect their work performance, can help us and them to be aware of valuable missing information.
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