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Here’s something I absolutely know for sure.
A great life coach is a well read coach.
Amazing self-help and personal development books can truly make for a better life coach, particularly when they are not just read but implemented as well. Because let’s face it – all the reading in the world will not create a better life, coach or entrepreneur if it doesn’t instil action and change within you. That’s where the real magic lies. Reading the words, letting them sink into your soul and mindset and then you (yes you!) gently (or maybe joltingly!) create positive change in your life, coaching skills and business.
So….let me help you fill out your bookshelf and maybe even get your Christmas wish list together early with my…
Ten Best Personal Development Books for Life Coaches
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1. The Four Agreements by Don Miguel Ruiz
My favourite book of all time introduced to me by Ellen De Generes when she told Oprah Winfrey in an interview it had helped her become a better person. And it did the same for me. It’s small, simple, and profoundly powerful. That’s all I’ll say. Just get it. Read it. And live by the agreements. You will see your self-belief and sense of calm as a coach and a person blossom as a result.
2. The Desire Map by Danielle La Porte
The best book on setting goals, (that aren’t really goals anyway), with soul, ever written. If you truly want to help your clients move beyond simple (and long term ineffective) goals like losing 10 kgs/pounds, finding a hot husband and earning more money, you need to desire up for yourself and then turn all your coaching sessions to go deep and ‘within’ to where the feeling magic in your clients lies.
3. Pulling Your Own Strings by Dr Wayne Dyer
First published way back in 1978, it’s still a bonafide winner of a book all these years later. If you have ever wanted to know how to stop feeling hurt by others, obsessing what others think of you, how to confidently deal with difficult people and stop feeling lost and unseen, this book is a must read. When you master the good Doc’s techniques and then help your clients do the same – they will think you’re magic.
4. The Gifts of Imperfection by Dr Brene Brown
The best book to read to help your clients understand that it is within their flaws, failings and vulnerable life lessons that they can find their greatest teachers. No shame required. And yes – it’s a given that it will help you understand that your own authenticity and vulnerability is one of the best and most beautiful things you can own – truly own – as a life coach.
5. Refuse to Choose by Barbara Sher
This is my go to book to recommend to any client who is struggling to make any big life decision – especially those related to their work, career, business or creative pursuits. It’s the bible for people who are multi-passionate and overwhelmed by choosing which path is ‘right’ for them. (They might just ALL be!) Every client I have every suggested read Refuse to Choose has proclaimed it to be a ‘life changer and saver’ and that it helped them finally feel ‘normal.
6. Self-Compassion by Kristen Neff
No person – coach or client – can ever achieve anything truly great and lasting in their life if they are not kind to themselves and treat themselves as they would a cherished friend. Kristen Neff’s work is at once soft but strong and I have undoubtedly learnt that the more self-compassionate and kind I am to myself the more I can encourage my clients to be the same. A tip – her website is full to the brim of incredible resources that all coaches should get their hands on.
7. The Big Leap by Gay Hendricks
Self sabotaging? Perfectionist? Playing small? Fearful of success even more than failure? Then take a big leap into reading this wonderful book by Gay Hendricks. You will soon more than realise that there is nothing to fear, there is a place for us all to shine, and that the world needs you to step up. Do it for yourself as a coach and inspire your clients to do the same.
8. The Artists Way by Julia Cameron
Now more than a decade old, the creative, spiritual and artistic way of life that Julia Cameron believes we can all live (and is inherent in our soul), still rings soundly true today. You do not have to be an artiste to receive value from this book. As a coach you are already a creative and this 12 week immersive guide will have you realise that truth and break through limiting beliefs and fears regarding your creative gifts as you do.
9. Intuitive Eating by Evelyn Tribole and Elyse Resch
You might think it strange to include a book about eating in a list of the best personal development books for life coaches. However if you’re a life coach who works with people on all areas of their life and how they can be happy and whole, then often goals and issues related to health and wellbeing will come to the fore. And food and eating can be a big (and emotively charged) part of that for many, many people. This incredible book is a life changing read that will quickly help you realise that even hinting to your clients that they try another diet to help them get the body and relationship with food they want is futile. And that the way forward in this area of their life is all about love, mindfulness, connection and body acceptance.
10. Business Secrets of the Trappist Monks by August Turak
The ‘greed is good’ Gordon Gekko of the 80’s is, (thank God), dead. Squeezing people for money, underhanded sales tactics, veiled marketing truths – so yesterday. So never required. If you’re looking to build your coaching business (or indeed any business) in a way that has service and soul at its heart – then August’s gem of a book is a must read. Drink between the lines of the many business industries he talks about and your business will never be the same – for the better.
And yours beautiful you? What book is missing from list that would make it on yours? Have you read some of these and they are your favourites too? Or love to challenge me on some (or all!) for making my top ten?
We’d love for you to comment and share your own inspirational books with us!
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ohhhh i LOVE this!!!
i am a bit of a book “collector” and as part of all my studies i tend to buy books whenever i hear more than a few people say they are amazing. the end result is a pile bigger than i have time to read my way through. but it is nice that i have them sitting here – ready for when the time is perfect to read each one of them.
funnily enough I have a book depository cart sitting here open, so will be adding a few of these that i haven’t already got to the order 🙂
as for my vote – The Desire Map – without a doubt! i brought one of the very first copies, back when it was first released, and (my claim to fame) my review was even featured on her website!! yay 😉 i have a free weekend this one coming, and i think it might be time to re-do my core desired feelings!
The Desire Map = amazing Renee. A true life changer. Thank you for stopping by!
I love The Divine Compensation by Marianne Williamson. As a coach and woman I have a really hard time accepting money for pretty much anything, especially coaching. Reading her book put a WHOLE new outlook on the exchange of money for me and it truly changed how I feel about my work.
Thanks Stephanie! I love Marianne Williamson but I have never read that book. It just rocketed to the top of my ‘must read’ list.
Thanks Julie – lovely suggestions to add to my library and knowledge bank! Brene Brown is my absolute favourite – no word of a lie, her TED talk on ‘The Power of Vulnerability’ changed my life. Gifts of Imperfection and Daring Greatly are brilliant reads.
I often come back to positive psychology – especially Martin Seligman’s Authentic Happiness and Flourish, and Chris Peterson’s Pursuing the Good Life.
Next up for me is Quiet: The Power of Introverts by Susan Cain. Again, her TED talk was inspiring for me. Also Sonia Lyubomirsky’s The How of Happiness.
Thank you SO much Diana for stopping by and adding in these suggestions. They all sound amazing!
Julie this is a great list and added to my must reads. Thankyou :). One of my top recommendations for people I work with and colleagues is Wherever You Go There You Are by Jon Kabat-Zinn. Total life changer, very accessible and easy to go back to over and over and mine it for more wisdom.
Thank you Ellie! I’m so inspired by all this reading I will soon be diving into.
Thanks so much for the thought and effort you’ve put into this Julie. Greatly appreciated 🙂
Pleasure Christie!
Great post Julie – an awesome mix, I’ve got to get on to Brene Brown, can’t believe it’s taken me this long!
I would add ‘Radical Forgiveness’ by Colin Tipping – it really helps you to see any challenging situation as a perfect opportunity to step up and heal old wounds. It was a life-changer for me 🙂 X
Oh Fran – once you’ve connected with Brene there’s no turning back. She’s amazing.
This is such a fantastic list- thanks Julie. Will definitely be looking up some of the ones I’ve never heard of, especially Kristen Neff’s work. Sounds like just what I need!
Thank you again,
Katie xx
Kristen is incredible Katie – you will love her work.
Thank you for this awesome list of books, Julie! I’ve not read quite a few of them, will definitely note these down and add them to my reading list. Some of the books that have made a big impact on my life are ‘Do the Work’ by Steven Pressfield, and ’18 Minutes’ by Peter Bregman. These are two of my favourites when it comes to getting the work done and having better time management 🙂
They sound fantastic Ruth – next on my list!
So glad to see that you included Intuitive Eating in this list, Julie.
That book was pivotal to my personal recovery with eating disorders and I often recommend it to my own clients.
It’s amazing isn’t it Kirri? I think a must read for everyone.
Thanks for sharing this list Julie. The Big Leap has been sitting in my kindle unread for a few months now (clearly I’m self-sabataging here!) so I must get reading it 🙂
You’ve shared such a great list and I look forward to diving into them, especially The Four Agreements – it sounds like a life-changer!
You’re so welcome Naomi – and I am sure you will love The Four Agreements. It’s truly wonderful.
Wonderful list Julie – definitely a few favourites of mine and also a few I’ll be snapping up quick smart! I’d love to add ‘The Power of Now’ by Eckhart Tolle, ‘Money: A Love Story’ by Kate Northrup, ‘Creating a Charmed Life’ by Victoria Moran and ‘You Can Heal Your Life’ by Louise Hay. I recommend (and refer back to) these four books constantly!
Amazing suggestions Claire – thank you! My Christmas wish list is growing by the minute here…
I’m just catching up on your blog posts Julie, and I absolutely love this one and all of the comments on it too. Some of these books were already on my reading list, and others are beautiful discoveries for the day. The thing that jumped out at me the most though – is that I must figure out a way to make reading time a priority in my life again. It seems to have dropped off the day with all the other things to do lately – it is so rewarding and beneficial and I really miss it. It’s time for me to head off and think up some strategies for ensuring our loving relationship continues… 😉
I adore Seth Godin’s “The Icarus Deception”. It is wildly profound and talks about how we’re only ever really told not to fly too close to the sun. But that’s only half the myth. Icarus would also die if he flew too low, and most of us are flying too low in our lives. It’s a challenge for all people who want to create a new way of life, of authenticity, to stop flying too low and to offer your gifts to the world.
Oh yes Dawn – that’s a beauty. I love everything Seth writes and recently had the pleasure of hearing him speak. He was amazing.
wow! I’m putting these on my christmas list 🙂
thanks Julie
LOVE these. I am also a huge fan of “The Work” By Byron Katie. It’s so powerful in helping clients breakthrough + overcome limiting beliefs once and for all.
Thank you for sharing that Alex. Many people love Byron Katie’s work so I really must get into it more myself!
Thanks so much for this wonderful list! I would also add the following:
Loving What Is by Byron Katie
Finding Your Own North Star by Martha Beck
Inspired and Unstoppable by Tama Kieves
Taking the Leap by Pema Chodron
I’ll just be starting my coach training in January, but these are books that have made an incredible difference in my own life and I know I’ll use them in my coaching practice.
Namaste,
Kristin
Thank you so much Kristin. Our list is growing all the time which I love.
Great suggestions. A few of my all time favourites are also “A return to love” by Marianne Williamson, “Loving What Is” and “I need your love: is that true?” by Byron Katie, “Love for no reason” by Marci Shimoff and ‘Anatomy of the Spirit” by Caroline Myss – all great classics that are great to go back to. Also anything by Paulo Coehlo xx
Great suggestions thanks Michelle – some powerhouse women there in particular.
The 12 Pillars by Jim Rohn and Chris Widened. Excellent book and a must read!
Thank you Michelle – that sounds like a great read.
i absolutely love the list and all the additions I’ve found in the comments.. i certainly have some future reading I’m excited about!!
I would like to add to the list “The Happiness Advantage” by Shawn Achor about how we have the choice to be happy NOW, not when we get a better job, buy a bigger house, or loose those pesky 10 lbs. It completely changed my perspective of thinking and I’m all the more happy for it!
Also, i love “the Slight Edge” by Jeff Olson, which teaches you that all the small simple daily life choices we make add up to either a negative or positive outcome. We are in constant motion, either going up or down.
Must haves for any avid reader.. check them out and let me know what you think 🙂
Stay happy my friend,
Tami
Master Of Disguises by James Benjamin
What great reads! Thank you for sharing this!
Our pleasure Sarah! Glad to hear you found it helpful.