Top 8 Best Executive Coaching Books (Must Read Essentials)

Successful business leaders have one thing in common—continuous learning. A recent survey showed that 85% of business leaders read at least one book per month.

As a high-level executive, you might be looking for new executive coaching books to add to your collection, which is why we have carefully selected some life-transforming executive coaching books for CEOs, CXOs, and top executives.

These books contain practical strategies that can elevate your performance, helping you gain mastery in your field.

Read on to uncover some of our best executive coaching books and add them to your reading list.

TL;DR – Our Favorite Executive Coaching Books

There are many great books on executive coaching, but here is a list of our favorite eight:

1. Trillion Dollar Coach by Eric Schmidt, Jonathan Rosenberg, and Alan Eagle
2. The Coaching Habit by Michael Bungay Stanier
3. The Secrets of Facilitation by Michael Wilkinson
4. Dare to Lead by Brené Brown
5. Think Again by Adam Grant
6. Good to Great by Jim Collins
7. The Disciplined Listening Method: How to Achieve Remarkable Results by Mastering the Art of Effective Listening by Michael Reddington
8. 1% Leadership: Master the Small Daily Improvements that Set Great Leaders Apart by Andy Ellis

Over the next sections, we will briefly discuss each book, highlighting their unique perspectives on executive coaching.

Read on to discover how Tandem’s executive coaching services can help you elevate your leadership, build a winning team, and make a remarkable impact in your organization.

What Does an Executive Coach Do?

An executive coach works with top-level executives and leaders, helping them unlock their potential and develop the high-level skills required to lead effectively. Executive coaching aims to help you become a more effective leader and drive more organizational results.

Executive coaches wear many hats. Here are some of the primary responsibilities of an executive coach:

• Builds confidence
• Sets goals and develops strategies
• Provides support and accountability
• Improves decision-making and strategic thinking
• Encourages smooth transitions in different career phases

Benefits of Becoming an Executive Coach

The benefits of executive coaching apply to both the coach and the clients. Here are some benefits of becoming an executive coach:

Meaningful Impact

An executive coach plays a relevant role in organizations. By maximizing the potential of executives and top decision-makers like you, they can significantly impact your career, personal life, and the organization at large. The ability to impact lives gives coaches a sense of fulfillment and purpose in their path.

Continuous Development

As executive leaders, you constantly face different variations of challenges in your organizations. Therefore, an executive coach needs to constantly be a step ahead, learning new developments and approaches. This means that executive coaches stay abreast of recent developments, keeping them always informed.

Competitive Remuneration

Executive coaching is a lucrative field with a competitive pay rate. The financial rewards of executive coaching come from the high value placed on this job description.

Exposure and Relevant Connection

Executive coaches interface with a diverse clientele base daily. Their clients are top-level leaders in different sectors. With this kind of people in their space, they can build solid connections, which will always be handy. Executive coaching provides multiple opportunities for the coach.

Work-Life Balance

Executive coaching offers a flexible schedule. Coaches can set their timing according to convenience, allowing them to prioritize personal time and maintain an excellent work-life balance.

Best Executive Coaching Books

Here is a quick summary of our eight best books on executive coaching:

1. Trillion Dollar Coach

The Trillion Dollar Coach is a masterpiece that discusses Bill Campbell’s leadership tactics. This practical book contains numerous leadership methods that can be utilized in modern-day leadership.

Bill Campbell teaches readers to focus on an organization’s employees. He firmly believes that every successful company depends on its employees’ well-being. He also mentions the importance of collaboration, encouraging leaders to create a safe culture for collaboration among their teams.

2. The Coaching Habit

Michael Bungay released The Coaching Habit in 2016, and it has long remained a standard book for executive coaches worldwide.

This book is famous for its question approach. The author thinks asking questions is a better way to get results than providing answers. He challenges leaders to ask more questions, as this approach will encourage employees to find solutions, instilling the independent thinking mindset necessary for growth in every organization.

3. The Secrets of Facilitation 

Wilkinson first published this book in 2004 and revised it in 2012 to include more recent techniques. The author introduced the SMART (Structured Meeting And Relating Techniques) method of leadership as an effective one, stating that leaders can achieve consistent results among their team members using this technique.

This book continues to gain endorsement from leaders around the world who highlight its practicality and result-driven approach.

4. Dare to Lead

In 2018, Brene Brown released Dare to Lead, a book that views executive coaching from the aspect of vulnerability. Brene talks about vulnerability as the core of all human experiences and emotions, making it a necessary coaching trait.

She also shares some myths about vulnerability, debunks them, and encourages leaders to embrace vulnerability as an essential ingredient for effective leadership.

5. Think Again by Adam Grant

This masterpiece, written by Adam Grant in 2021, has become a go-to book for top leaders worldwide. In it, Adam questions the reader’s acceptance of normal values and beliefs. He challenges leaders to rethink and relearn,  staying open to new strategies.

The author emphasizes the importance of building a rethinking culture in an organization, showing leaders how to foster an environment of curiosity and open-mindedness among their team members, eventually driving growth.

Adam Grant did a great job of reminding leaders to stay curious and open to accepting new ideas, which could be the key to their organization’s success.

6. Good to Great by Jim Collins

Good to Great is an exceptional book loved by executive leaders. In it, Jim Collins mentions good leadership as a key factor in moving a company from average to outstanding. According to the author, having the right people in key positions is more important than having the right strategy. 

One interesting concept introduced in this book is the concept of ‘level 5 leadership.’ This talks about leaders who can blend humility and will and are driven to always do what is best for the organization, not for themselves. 

If you are an executive looking to move away from the average and into the top-tier level, then this book is a must-read. 

7. The Disciplined Listening Method

In this book, Michael Reddington discusses listening as a skill. He emphasizes its power, stating that good listeners often become great leaders. According to Michael, when a leader actively listens to the conversation among team members, they can understand it completely and create effective solutions.

This book offers practical steps to improve your listening skills as a leader and enhance your communication with your team.

This book, published in 2022, has been very well received by leaders and professionals. Numerous reports have been received from readers about improved communication and faster goal accomplishment.

8. 1% Leadership

Andy Ellis released this powerful leadership book in 2022. The main idea is that leaders should focus on making small, consistent improvements daily—1% better each day. These changes, when accumulated over time, can lead to significant positive organizational changes.

Our favorite part of this book is the practical lessons. There are about 54 distinct lessons in this book, covering different aspects of leadership, making it a valuable resource for executive leaders.

How to Choose the Most Suitable Executive Coaching Book

Not every executive coaching book in the market is for you. There are certain criteria to look out for while choosing a book:

• Relevance to Your Goals: You need to decide what you want from the book. Are you looking to learn a specific technique, achieve a specific leadership feat, or simply become a better leader? The book you choose should provide insights relevant to your current needs.
• Look Out for Credibility: Credible authors find it easy to climb to the top of recommendation lists. The best executive coaching books are written by people who have amassed a wealth of experience. A credible author will have a good blend of experience, educational qualifications, and credentials to back it up.
• Choose Practical Books: Leadership is more practical than theoretical, so look for books with many practical applications. These should include relevant tools and techniques, exercises, and actionable strategies that you can try out.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Here are some frequently asked questions about executive coaching books and their answers:

How Do Executive Coaching Books Differ From Leadership Books?

Leadership books target a broader audience, including leaders and emerging leaders at all levels, while executive coaching books target a specific audience of CEOs and high-level executives.

Can Executive Coaching Books Help Improve Leadership Skills?

Yes. Executive coaching books provide some insights and strategies that can aid leadership development. Executive coaching books teach readers about skill development and self-reflection. You will also find some success stories and case studies that can motivate both inspiring and established leaders. By implementing the strategies from these books, you can greatly improve your leadership skills.

Conclusion

As an executive leader, you need as much knowledge as you can acquire. Reading these executive coaching books will improve your leadership skills and give you longevity in your career.

If you desire to become a better executive leader, CEO, or CXO, making brilliant decisions that can move your firm to greatness, then we would love to assist you. Contact us today, and let us help you climb the ladder of executive leadership and get you hitting all your goals and making a valuable impact in your organization.