Coaching and Mentoring for Work-Life Balance

'This book addresses the number one development priority for so many coaches and mentors, the work-life balance of their clients and themselves. As the world of work changes, enabling organisations and individuals to become more agile, achieving work-life balance is the new ideal for so many of our clients. Extensive research shows that a balanced lifestyle will result in maintaining and sustaining good physical and mental health, and effective relationships; boosting productivity and ultimately performance. Julie and Eliot have produced an excellent resource for coaches and mentors. Taking an evidence-based approach, they present some of the latest thinking on this topic, underpinned by their unique perspective and model with supporting tools and techniques. I am delighted to recommend this book as an invaluable resource for those engaged in leadership, coaching, mentoring, and supervision.' - Denise Whitworth, EMCC International Vice President Accreditation

'This book is timely and highly relevant for those who lead, manage and support others to improve their health and well-being. For all organisations be they, private, public, professional bodies, educational institutions, such as Middlesex University, health and well-being is a key challenge and we all need to focus our efforts on building healthier workplaces. This resource provides a thorough and comprehensive exposition of the key dimensions and issues within work-life balance and well-being. Full of theoretical insights, tools, techniques and case studies, it should be a key resource on any human resource management, learning and development, coaching and mentoring programme but also a valuable resource for practitioners too.' - Anna Kyprianou, Pro Vice–Chancellor and Executive Dean of the Faculty of Professional and Social Sciences, Middlesex University

'In today’s constantly changing world, with 24/7 global access, we are seeing an increasing need for coaches and mentors to be alert to the demands of their clients, who may be facing mental, physical, emotional turmoil and stress. With the advancement in technology and social media, there is inordinate pressure for people to "keep up", "keep ahead", achieve, be liked. So what part can the growing number of coaches and mentors play in attending to this with their clients? In this book, Julie and Eliot have identified the pivotal role that professional practitioners can play to support their clients to find work-life balance. Here they have explored how practitioners can contribute to clients’ awareness of the huge demands each of us may be facing and then help them to manage and influence the factors that may be causing harm and thus work towards finding some balance. I am delighted to recommend this book as it provides an invaluable contribution to the coaching and mentoring literature that provides practical resources, coupled with the theoretical underpinning, to coaches and mentors in diverse contexts that will enable them to work effectively to support their clients' well-being. At the same time, the coaches and mentors themselves may be facing some or all of these work-life pressures, both personally or through the impact that the lives of their clients have on them. Here too in an excellent resource for the practitioner to explore and identify the most appropriate strategies and methods for their own self-care, without which they cannot be of best service to their clients.' - Dr Alison Hodge, Coaching Supervisor

'Re-examining what is meant by work-life balance is critically important in today’s society, given the new and different pressures we find ourselves facing. As coaches & mentors, it is vital that we engage with these issues, not only to support our clients, but also to engage in effective self-care, as helpers. In this text, the authors make a useful contribution to this endeavour by critically engaging with this dual focus and offer a useful framework through which we are able reflect on our own frameworks for examining these issues. They helpfully get the balance right in terms of blending research evidence, theory and practice which makes their contribution accessible but rigorous in its approach. An important text at this moment in time.' - Dr Paul Stokes, Coaching & Mentoring Research Unit, Sheffield Business School, Sheffield Hallam University

'This is a well researched and easily digestible guide to support coaches with one of the biggest challenges their clients face, work-life balance. Theory, examples and exercises are brought together in a simple model which provides coaches and mentors the benchmark reference for supporting their clients, bravo.' - Dr Nicolas Anderson, Managing Director, QinetiQ