Books That Shape How I Coach
Coaching helps clients uncover their own wisdom, rather than simply handing them advice or quick fixes. Still, I’m a lifelong learner, and the insights and frameworks within the books I have read over the years quietly shape how I show up as a coach: how I listen, what I notice, and the questions I ask. Here are a few of the themes, and the books that inspired them, that continue to influence how I think about growth, change, and being human.
Awareness and Inner Voice
INSPIRED BY THE UNTETHERED SOUL — MICHAEL SINGER | UNTAMED — GLENNON DOYLE
Growth begins with awareness: the moment we step back and observe our own thoughts and stories. These books remind me that learning to witness the inner voice, rather than obey it, opens space for clarity and choice. In coaching, I help clients notice what’s driving or doubting them so they can respond with intention instead of habit.
Authenticity and
Worthiness
INSPIRED BY THE GIFTS OF IMPERFECTION — BRENÉ BROWN | GOOD INSIDE — DR. BECKY KENNEDY
Courage and compassion are the foundations of meaningful growth. These authors reinforced my belief that self-acceptance—not self-critique—is where change begins. In coaching, I hold space for clients to reconnect with their values, release perfectionism, and lead or live from a place of grounded confidence.
Growth and Sustainable Change
Inspired by Atomic Habits — James Clear | Immunity to Change — Robert Kegan & Lisa Lahey | What We Value — Emily Falk
Real change is rarely one dramatic leap. It’s a series of small, consistent shifts that align with your truest priorities. These books remind me that our unseen beliefs, personal narratives, and the brain’s subconscious value system often keep us stuck. Coaching helps you become more aware of your narratives and assumptions, recalibrate your focus, and make choices and build habits that better align with your goals. Sustainable growth often looks ordinary and takes place through small and consistent changes, but it transforms everything.
Navigating Transitions and Uncertainty
Inspired by Bittersweet — Susan Cain | Wild — Cheryl Strayed | The Alchemist — Paulo Coelho
Change carries both loss and possibility. These stories explore how we find meaning in the in-between spaces. They’ve shaped how I support clients through transitions—by honoring both the letting go and the becoming, and by walking with them rather than rushing them toward an answer.
Boundaries, Self-Trust, and Personal Agency
Inspired by Set Boundaries, Find Peace — Nedra Glover Tawwab | Codependent No More — Melody Beattie | No Bad Parts — Richard Schwartz
These books deepen my understanding of how we protect ourselves and how we can reconnect with our inner authority. They remind me that every “part” of us is trying to help—even when its strategy no longer works. In coaching, I help clients build boundaries as an act of respect, integrate the parts they’ve quieted, and make choices from alignment rather than fear.
Relationships, Communication, and Leading with Humanity
Inspired by Crucial Conversations — Joseph Grenny et al. | Thanks for the Feedback — Douglas Stone & Sheila Heen | Likeable Badass — Alison Fragale, PhD
We grow in connection with others. These books explore how confidence, warmth, clarity, and curiosity shape the way we relate, influence, and lead. Likeable Badass in particular reminds me that strength and approachability are not opposites—that we can be direct, grounded, and effective without sacrificing humanity. In coaching, I support clients in communicating with clarity and compassion, navigating conflict without losing connection, and developing a leadership presence that is both confident and authentic.
Presence and Partnership in Coaching
Inspired by Presence-Based Coaching — Doug Silsbee
This book captures the essence of how I coach. Coaching isn’t about fixing; it’s about being fully present and walking alongside someone as they uncover what they already know. Deep listening and genuine presence create the conditions for insight and change.
Mind–Body Awareness and Integration
Inspired by The Body Keeps the Score — Bessel van der Kolk | Come As You Are — Emily Nagoski
Growth isn’t purely intellectual—it’s physical and emotional, too. Our bodies hold stories and stress even when our minds move on. While coaching isn’t therapy, these insights remind me to help clients notice what’s happening beneath the surface and to approach themselves with curiosity and compassion.
These books don’t represent rules or assignments
I rarely even reference them in sessions.
But the ideas within them have shaped how I see people, how I hold space, and how I support change. They help me meet each client with curiosity, humanity, and the belief that growth is possible—no matter where you’re starting or where you’re headed next.