Traditional approaches to coaching fail to account for the way organizations really work. Attempts to enhance leadership capability one person at a time, through private one-to-one coaching sessions, are unlikely to succeed by themselves. Coaching in Three Dimensions: Meeting the Challenges of a Complex World offers a more connected, systemic approach, aligning coaching with the realities and challenges of organizations operating in an ever more complex world.

Coaching in Three Dimensions is structured around a central model: the three dimensions of coaching. Using stories and case studies, the book enables readers to:

  1. Consider their current and desired approach to coaching: is it traditional, dialogic, or systemic?
  2. Identify which areas of practice they work in and wish to work in: one-to-one coaching, group/team coaching, and/or organizational coaching?
  3. Think about stretching their development as a coach in terms of competence, capability, and perspective: how do you enhance your capacity to manage the challenges of increasing complexity?

The book explains complexity using simple language and easy-to-recognize examples, and suggests pragmatic approaches going forwards. Coaches will learn how to expand their scope and impact, and to navigate the new and difficult challenges posed by contemporary businesses. Clients wishing to use coaching in complex change work will learn what to look out for in prospective coaches and how to best deploy them in their organizations.

Coaching in Three Dimensions will appeal greatly to all coaches, including those working with organisations, students and those in training, as well as HR and OD professionals and senior leaders.


Coaching Systemically

by Paul Lawrence

Published 17 March 2021

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.