This is the third book from an author who knows his stuff. Garratt has a wealth of experience in business and sport and this makes the current book a real 'how to' read for people who work as coaches in either field.
Coaching for the Zone is about how to help business people or athletes get into a state of optimal performance, often known as the Zone, a state of excellence where a person can execute a skill without seemingly having think about what they are doing. The book is split into two main sections. The first follows 'Alan' through a series of coaching sessions. Each session has some sample dialogue, a commentary by the author and short case studies of real life situations. The second section is a kit bag of skills, techniques and underpinning principles. Particularly useful are the sections on limiting beliefs and decision-making.
This book is about doing. Although it is obvious that the author has a depth of knowledge and experience in the topic, he keep theory to a minimum. Even the description of the central concept, The Zone, is kept deliberately short. For anyone who wants more on the theory, there are several texts already out there (and there is a good reference section at the back of the book).
It is obvious that he wants you to get doing, to put some momentum into the conversation. And in this respect, it makes the book an absorbing yet easy read - one could even say that it models what it is talking about, as you soon find yourself being carried further into the book and losing sense of time. In fact, this is one of the points of emphasis that the author makes. To coach someone in The Zone, you have to know how to get there yourself. Preparation is a key element of this. Another key theme that emerges is that we all already have in our experiences times when we have been in the Zone. Through his transcripts and case studies Ted Garratt shows how to skillfully elicit those successful strategies that are unconsciously embedded within the minds of his charges. Each one is unique, but what is common is how the coach can get the person to work on what is already there, applying it to new situations, rather than acquire new skills.
If you are already a coach you might think that the early stages are superficial, (eg setting up the right environment etc) but my opinion is that he has taken the view that the aim of this book is about application. He knows the gap in the coaching arena that his book is trying to fill, and is aware that other texts cover the bits he misses out.
If you are new to coaching, this is a good starting place because it maps out how to do it (or at least enough to get started). True expertise comes through interaction with coachees and self-reflection. If you are an experienced coach, don't dismiss the book straight away, simply because he seems to skate over the theory. You will find a few surprises in the book and it's interesting to see how a coach at the top of his game gets the best from his coachees.
Don't read it once, keep it as a reference source.
'Coaching for the Zone' by Ted Garratt, Pub. Bennion Kearny
