A Critical Introduction to Coaching & Mentoring
by David E Grey, Bob Garvey and David A Lane
SAGE Publications
ISBN: 978 14462 7228 2
4 out of 5 stars
I was pleased to have the opportunity to review this critical exposition of the basic elements of coaching and mentoring theory and practice.
The authors demonstrate a critical approach to the different chapters, and the book’s structure is designed to support students and practitioners who want to develop a critical awareness of their coaching and mentoring practice.
Critical introductions in each chapter to practice-related issues, are followed by useful case studies.
The book begins by asking ‘why coaching and mentoring?’ and ‘why now?’, subjecting coaching and mentoring concepts and beliefs to critical scrutiny.
It was refreshing, for example, to see the original mentor story from Homer’s Odyssey presented as a case study with critical questions for coaching-mentoring students to answer.
The book contains many such case studies, activities, questions and summaries to help build readers’ own critical faculties.
I particularly liked the inclusion of a section at the end of each chapter focusing on ‘questions that remain’.
- Dr Elaine Cox is director of postgraduate coaching and mentoring programmes, Business School, Oxford Brookes University
- http://ijebcm.brookes.ac.uk