Helping People Change

No matter who you are, helping others is a good thing. But even the most well-intentioned attempts to help others can be undermined by a simple truth: We almost always focus on trying to "fix" people, correcting problems or filling the gaps between where they are and where we think they should be. Unfortunately, this doesn't work well, if at all, to inspire sustained learning or positive change. Even when a person does respond, they often do so out of a sense of obligation rather than inner motivation.

There's a better way. In this powerful, practical book, there is a clear and hopeful message. The way to help someone learn and change cannot be focused primarily on problems that need to be addressed, but instead must connect to that person's positive vision of himself or herself, to an inspiring dream or goal they've long held. This is what great coaches do—they know that people draw energy from their visions and dreams for themselves, and that same energy sustains their efforts to change, even through difficult times.

Using rich and moving real-life stories, as well as decades of original published research on coaching and helping relationships, Helping People Change shows how coaching others around their dreams and visions opens people up to thinking creatively, helps them learn and grow in meaningful ways, and motivates them to sustain that growth far into the future. In contrast, problem-centric approaches trigger physiological responses that make a person defensive and more closed to new ideas.