The Coaching Leader

“Leadership has reached a choice point: to continue to promote a vision of the hero setting goals and standards or to pivot to a relational stance based on inquiry, facilitation and adaptation to context. Ian Day brilliantly sets out these views and their implications for leaders, organisations and the planet. If you are currently a leader, or supporting leadership, this book is an urgent must-read.”

Sally Denham-Vaughan, PhD, Chartered Coaching Psychologist, Gestalt Psychotherapist, executive coach with CEOs, board members and executive teams

“The Coaching Leader provides the insights, evidence and skills, the where, why and how leaders can understand, adopt and deploy coaching as a leadership style. An essential read for any leader.”

Jonathan Passmore, Professor of Coaching and Behavioural Change, Henley Business School, UK

“One of the reasons change in the context of wicked problems fails is because insufficient attention and resource have been allocated to the necessary leadership processes, and one of these is coaching. Given the global uncertainty today, this timely book provides a good introduction to this crucial arena.”

Keith Grint, Emeritus Professor, Warwick Business School, UK

“This is a timely and beautiful call to action from an important voice in the coaching community. We need coaching leaders now more than ever! Highly recommended for leaders everywhere.”

Christian van Nieuwerburgh, Professor and Director, Centre for Positive Health Sciences, RCSI University of Medicine and Health Sciences, Ireland

“The Coaching Leader is the approach we need right now. It is humble, authentic, versatile, and— most importantly— prioritizes asking over telling. There is a humility on the pages of the Coaching Leader. It does not claim to be the final word on the topic. Instead, it traces the history of leadership theories and the shifting of the leadership role and offers timely advice for what is currently needed.”

Robert Biswas-Diener, PhD, author of Radical Listening

“The Coaching Leader is an essential guide for leaders who aspire to harness the power of coaching for transformative leadership. Insightful and practical, it empowers leaders to navigate the complexities of today’s VUCA world with clarity, resilience, and purpose.”

Badri Bajaj, PhD, Co-editor, The Health and Wellbeing Coaches’ Handbook; Associate Professor, Jaypee Institute of Information Technology, India, Past President, ICF Delhi NCR Charter Chapter

“Ian Day’s new book is a provocative and inspiring call to action for all leaders. It expertly and perceptively captures the environment we now work in, argues the case for adopting a coaching approach, and provides practical support for all those who wish to upgrade their leadership. Highly recommended.”

Paul Williamson, Group Head of Talent Development, ATG Entertainment and Regional Chair (Great Britain) Association for Coaching, UK

“Ian makes the strong case for leaders to adopt a coaching mindset and integrate coaching skills into their approach to succeed in a VUCA world. Read this book to up your game, motivate your teams and have meaningful conversations that have real results.”

Rachel Donath, Director of Learning & Development, Mills & Reeve

“The Coaching Leader weaves leadership theories using a compelling metaphor, guiding readers toward a deeper understanding of coaching leadership and its significance in a world of rapid and unrelenting change. By illustrating the critical need for relationships and connections in an increasingly fragmented and polarized world, it underscores the essential importance of coaching leaders within complex organizational systems.”

Charline S. Russo, EdD, Senior Lecturer in Organizational Dynamics, University of Pennsylvania USA; Board Chair-President, Graduate School Alliance for Education in Coaching (GSAEC)

Ian Day is an international leadership coach with over 20-years coaching experience, a Chartered Coaching Psychologist and a Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development. Ian had a lengthy career in human resources, and on being promoted to Group Head of Talent within a UK FTSE 100 company, was coached. This powerful experience was a turning point, as Ian studied to become a qualified coach and following a reorganisation, became a partner in a leadership and coaching firm. Ian co-authored the acclaimed book Challenging Coaching: Going Beyond Traditional Coaching to face the FACTS, which has sold over 20,000 copies, and he has contributed articles and chapters for other coaching books. Ian is now Associate Professor at the University of Warwick, one of the United Kingdom’s top 10 universities, and Course Director for Warwick’s part-time postgraduate coaching courses, including Masters in Coaching. Ian is passionate about coaching and its power and his work at the University of Warwick aims to develop highly skilled and knowledgeable coaches who can benefit individuals, organisations and society. Ian continues to coach c-suite individuals and teams within international organisations, is a pro bono coach for charities, and conference speaker.