We recently read Mastering Mentoring and Coaching with Emotional Intelligence by Patrick Merlevede and Denis Bridoux in the EMCC UK Book Club. Our Book Club reviewers have sent this review of the book.

Mastering Mentoring and Coaching with Emotional Intelligence will appeal to most coaches and mentors who have a direct interest in using emotional intelligence as part of their repertoire. Patrick Merlevede and Denis Bridoux provide easy access to a range of tools to help develop others. The book will help coaches and mentors to identify and develop the resources they already have, as well as discovering new resources. I especially enjoyed the way the book blends intellectual, emotional and spiritual work.

As with much coaching and mentoring literature, the authors provide just a touch of push and pull to get you thinking about the differentiation between coaching and mentoring, and whether this is relevant to the work you do. Their book is geared mostly towards mentoring, but the content can be shifted to encompass coaching if you have the time and thought to bring to this. It is suitable for coach mentors who are not easily confused, and who want to shift their work towards emotional intelligence, as well as access some useful tools.

Overall, Mastering Mentoring and Coaching with Emotional Intelligence is an interesting read. A lot of effort has gone into interweaving it with other elements of the business world. It brings together interesting concepts such as a handy tool for dealing with negative emotions and systemic thinking. The book is packed with useful tools and tips to support coaches and mentors as they consider how they might deal with some of the more difficult work they encounter.