Challenging Coaching: Going Beyond Traditional Coaching to Face the FACTS
Challenging Coaching is a real-world, timely and provocative book which provides a wake-up call to move beyond the limitations of traditional coaching. Based on the authors' extensive experience working at board and management levels, they suggest that for far too long coaching approaches have shied away from adopting a more challenging stance - a stance that can provoke greater performance and unlock deeper potential in business leaders and their teams.
This is an original and thought-provoking book that dares the reader to go beyond traditional coaching and face the FACTS.
Awards
Facing the FACTS Coaching Model
The FACTS coaching model offers leaders a clear and actionable framework for driving meaningful growth and performance. Built around five core elements—Feedback, Accountability, Courageous goals, Tension, and Systems thinking—it equips coaches and leaders with a structured way to challenge others constructively while maintaining respect and clarity. By applying these principles, the model helps create conversations that balance support with challenge, fostering stronger development, higher standards, and lasting change.
Tony
This is a real-world, practical, easy to understand approach to a more challenging style of coaching. A style that is needed to help leaders sit back and think of different solutions and new mind sets in a more uncertain business world. For leaders who are driving for higher performance the FACTS model will allow them to adopt a challenging style but one which, crucially, is respectful rather than threatening in its impact.
Tony McCarthy
Former HR Director, British Airways
John
We believe in 'challenging you to be the best you can be' and this is the first book to endorse that perspective and brilliantly demonstrates how to do it responsibly. Definitely a core text on our coach training programmes.
John Leary-Joyce
Former CEO, Academy of Executive Coaching
Andrew
Right on target. This book is so practical it reads like a Haynes manual for a style of coaching and leadership based on real human values rather than abstract processes. Notions such as courageous goal setting, feedback as the 'loving boot', the 'player coach' and the 'R' word (responsibility!) particularly rang true for me. These are powerful ideas consistent with my own belief that leadership takes place on the pitch not on the side-lines. I loved it.
Andrew Gould
Former CEO UK, Jones Lang LaSalle
Challenging Coaching Resources