"Importantly, this book challenges coaches too by giving them permission to break some of the golden rules of coaching. John and Ian show how the FACTS model can help leaders deploy tough coaching skills with the humility that will be necessary to engage and motivate the modern workforce. This is an excellent contribution to the advancement of executive coaching. I hope that others will wake up to this important challenge through reading and re-reading this timely book." Sir John Whitmore PhD, author of Coaching for Performance (from the foreword)

"This is a terrific book that should provoke and challenge coaches to 'up their game' and thus provide more value to individuals and also, vitally, to their organisations. The philosophy, observations, process and tools that John and Ian describe are very consistent with my and my colleagues' approach . Read it and I believe you will improve your coaching" - Graham Alexander, Founder of The Alexander Corporation, originator of the GROW Model, and author of SuperCoaching and Tales from the Top

"This is a real-world, practical, easy to understand approach to a more challenging style of coaching. A style that is needed to help leaders sit back and think of different solutions and new mind sets in a more uncertain business world. For leaders who are driving for higher performance the FACTS model will allow them to adopt a challenging style but one which, crucially, is respectful rather than threatening in its impact" - Tony McCarthy, Group HR Director, ENRC plc

"Not just for the coaches. This book is critical reading for any business leader seeking to take an honest and challenging approach to developing their people, as well as anyone seeking to add robustness and realism to their business relationships." - Scott Sundermann, Managing Director, Healix Group

"This is a book that is at the same time inspiring and transformational. Inspiring because it reinforces the motivational aspects of coaching and transformational because it progresses the discipline in light of today's business environment. I recommend this book to all coaches who wish to challenge conventional coaching techniques." - Julian Wais, Director of Inverstor Relations, Cobham plc

"This new book makes an important contribution to the coaching literature. Blakey and Day challenge all coaches to look at ourselves and how we work to help our clients - both individuals and their organizations. Whilst this might be an uncomfortable experience for us as a profession it is as important that we do it for ourselves as we do with our clients." - Ian Saunders, Associate Fellow, Said Business School, Oxford University

"I have experience of working with both John and Ian and have found their FACTS method of coaching both energises individuals and ensures alignment with company goals. Any coach who truly wants to add value to the bottom line of their clients should take note of the key messages in this book and not be afraid to challenge the established comfortable norms , particularly in these uncertain and increasingly competitive economic times" -Yvonne Spalding Director, Group Professional Services, SSP Ltd.

"This book makes an important contribution to the evolution of coaching as a profession. The authors pose a provocative challenge to the coaching profession to raise their game to better support and challenge individuals and organisations, in service of the wider environment. The book offers new insight for business leaders and coach practitioners alike and is aligned to the most contemporary leadership literature." - Sue Mortlock, Head of Board Development, NHS Institute for Innovation and Improvement

"We believe in challenging you to be the best you can be and this is the first book to endorse that perspective and brilliantly demonstrates how to do it responsibly. Definitely a core text on our coach training programmes." - John Leary-Joyce, CEO Academy of Executive Coaching

"Right on target. This book is so practical it reads like a Haynes manual for a style of coaching and leadership based on real human values rather than abstract processes. Notions such as courageous goal setting, feedback as the 'loving boot', the 'player coach' and the 'R' word (responsibility!) particularly rang true for me. These are powerful ideas consistent with my own belief that leadership takes place on the pitch not on the side-lines. I loved it." - Andrew Gould, CEO UK, Jones Lang LaSalle

"At last a book that challenges much of the often too simplistic, idealistic and over theoretical approach to executive and management coaching. It is written by people who have obviously been there and done it and more importantly thought deeply about it. Their FACTS framework should certainly be tried and tested, not dogmatically, but flexibly and sensitively to the many different situations the organisational executive coach will face in the day-to-day reality of corporate life. I strongly recommend this book as essential reading for every aspiring professional practitioner." -Eric Parsloe, Chairman, OCM & Co-Founder European Coaching & Mentoring Council

"Challenging Coaching is practical, honest, and relevant especially for those coaching within more Performance driven cultures. The authors write in a refreshingly clear and straightforward style. The insightful exercises, in particular, can be used as a self-development tool to help coaches to raise their game further, or alternatively, within coach supervision." - Katherine Tulpa, CEO, Association for Coaching

"A gem of a book achieving the rare mix of challenging conventional concepts whilst offering very practical advice. This is for business leaders, scholars and students who believe in mindfulness, impact and performance. If you want to change the conversations in your business then face the FACTS as the authors suggest." - Brigitte Nicoulaud, Director of MBA Programmes, Aston Business School

"This book is a challenging and worthwhile read. Challenging in that it may upset some of our assumptions about coaching and worthwhile in that it may develop and enlarge our perception and skills. For anyone engaged in the coaching process it also offers a range of contextual knowledge important to the process." - Bill Shedden, Director, Centre for Customised Executive Development, Cranfield School of Management

"A pleasure to read and a book that focuses on how coaches can raise their game in a solid and ethical manner. It adds value to coaches and to organizations and ensures that coaching clients gain the best from their coaching programmes. I can imagine this book being used on many a coaching course."- Gladeana McMahon, Co-Director Centre for Coaching and Chair of Association for Coaching UK.

"In today's challenging economy, organisations have to find an edge that can cut through and delivers results here and now. Having personally experienced the FACTS approach, I know it delivers these outcomes whereas, for me, other 'classic' coaching approaches left a gap. I am now re-reading the book so I can use its philosophy in my own leadership and through my senior team. In challenging the traditional models, I am convinced this book will take coaching to a new place in its evolution." - Chris Gaines, Head of Sales, Yell Goup plc