Table of Contents

Foreword by Rob and Kathy Bocchino
Preface
Acknowledgments
About the Author
Part I. Promise
Chapter 1. The Meaning of Transformational Leadership Coaching
A Story of Transformational Leadership
Transformational Leadership Coaching
The Transformational Leader
From Transformational Leadership to Transformed Organizations
What if Your Leadership Coaching Initiative Played a Bigger Game?
Chapter 2. Coach More, Lead More
Coaching Is Leadership
Opportunities for Leaders to Coach
To Coach or Not to Coach
Portals to Coaching
Answering the Call
On to Part II!
Part II. Projects
Chapter 3. The Greater Good: What Leaders Want You to Coach Them On
Projects
The Greater Good
Helping Leaders Select Coaching Projects
What Could You Be Coached On?
Additional Tools Related to This Chapter
Chapter 4. The First 100 Days
What′s So Big About the First 100 Days?
The First 100-Day Plan Defined
Descriptions of the Actions in Each Phase
Final Guidelines
Part III. Practice
Chapter 5. The Flywheel System
Flywheel Leadership Coaching Components
Additional Tools Related to This Chapter
Chapter 6. The Powerful Coaching Conversation: An Overview
A Process Engineered for Inspiration
How the Powerful Coaching Conversation Process Works
Step 1. Greetings and Accountability
Step 2. Connect to the Work and Focus This Coaching Session
Step 3. Coachee Tells the Story
Step 4. Question Assumptions and Deepen Understanding
Step 5. Interact Through Thought Leadership Questions (TLQs)
Step 6 and Step 7. Generative Reflection and Brainstorming
Step 8. Wisdom and Commitment to Action
Drawing the Conversation to Closure
"You′re Going to Be Great"
A Series of Powerful Conversations Leading to Wisdom and Transformational Change
It Ain′t Always Pretty, But You′re Going to Be Great
Additional Tools Related to This Chapter
Chapter 7. Listen, Just Listen
What Listening Means to Coaching
What Stops Coaches From Listening?
What Coaches "Do" When They Listen
Listening and Leaders Who Coach
Return to Listening
Listening Is the Gatekeeper to Great Coaching
Chapter 8. Question Assumptions and Deepen Understanding
Transition From Step 3 to Step 4
Communication Skills Used by Coaches in Step 4
The Ladder of Inference
The Coaching Conversation in Step 4
Step 4 Pitfalls
Readiness for Step 5
Chapter 9. Thought Leadership Questions
Inspired Thought
A Coaching Scenario: Meet "Caroline"
Adding Step 5 to the Powerful Coaching Conversation
The Magic of Thought Leadership Questions: How the Mind Works
Using Thought Leadership Questions for Good
Deep Wells of Knowledge
Chapter 10. The Jaunty Walk
The Jaunty Walk
A Coaching Scenario: Meet "Adam"
Part IV. Progress
Chapter 11. Monitoring the Results of Leadership Coaching
Is Leadership Coaching Operating as Expected?
Do Leaders With Coaches Create Results for the Organization?
Here Comes the Tricky Part
Chapter 12. Start a Coaching Movement
Remember When We "Did" Coaching?
Organizational Considerations That Support Leadership Coaching
Final Words
Appendix: Thought Leadership Questions
References
Index

About the Author

Elle Allison, Founder of Wisdom Out specializes in leadership development and organizational learning. Dr. Allison works with leaders, aspiring leaders, senior leadership teams, school teams and leadership coaches, to teach them the strategies, practices and tools they need to increase their organization’s capacity for sustainable change.

Elle has been a teacher, principal, supervisor of school improvement, assistant superintendent, educational consultant and leadership coach. She earned her PhD. in Organizational Learning, from the University of New Mexico. She is a graduate of the National Staff Development’s Council’s Academy and is a member of the National Speaker’s Association. She is author of several books and articles on leadership renewal and resilience and on leadership coaching, including Flywheel, published by Corwin in 2013.

Elle lives in the San Francisco Bay area with her husband Len and her 16 year old Vizsla dog named “Ole.’” For customized workshops, leadership academies and boot camps, and keynotes contact Elle at elle@wisdomout.com. To register for the Wisdom Out newsletter and monthly complimentary webinars, please visit www.WisdomOut.com.

Reviews

"Dr. Elle Allison has once again brought her knowledge, passion, and energy to the coaching world to give us another layer that builds on her previous highly successful works. In a world of ever mounting educational challenges, Dr. Allison’s  work brings refreshing clarity in understanding transformational leadership coaching. Our school district continues to be totally committed to a coaching model and Dr. Allison provided the direction that started our journey.  Her guidance showed us the possibilities of what coaching could do to create systemic, long-term, and sustainable change. And there was no looking back!  Leadership coaching fully supports  our district’s vision, structures meaningful work, brings energy to the work, and builds capacity in our administrative teams, lead teachers, and classroom teachers.  Transformational  coaching is the most compelling model in the coaching literature and will sustain the meaningful change needed to improve instruction and provide world-class educational opportunities for students. Thank you, Dr. Allison."
*Debbie Lee, , Executive Director of K-12 Curriculum and Instruction*

"Flywheel is powerful, practical and empowering!  Elle Allison-Napolitano effectively provides the reader with a deep understanding of the tools and strategies of Leadership Coaching that support meaningful and productive conversations in educational environments.  Leaders will be inspired to apply the ′Powerful Coaching Conversation′ process to promote growth, enhance performance and to transform the culture of their schools by investment in collaborative, sustainable change."
*Doreen M. Corrente, Executive Director*

"Flywheel is a must read for any professional hoping to make organizational change through leadership coaching. Elle Allison-Napolitano’s writing is engaging with rich stories, strong research and easy to follow instructions that will build leadership capacity in any organization."
*Dr. Ann W. Davis, Clinical Assistant Professor*

"I know there are a lot of "brands" of coaching out there, but Flywheel puts together the skills of great coaching that makes it appealing and manageable for people who may never have thought of themselves as a leader who could coach. Flywheel has synthesized the craft of coaching to a form that is both understandable and accessible to anyone wanting to support others in their important work."
*Tracee Grigsby-Turner, Supervisor of Professional Development*