The Heart of LASER – FOCUSED COACHING a book by Marion Franklin, MS, MCC

A Revolutionary approach to Masterful coaching – Book review by Srinath Ramakrishnan

An avid book reader, it is not often that I am swayed by recommendations on a particular book. But the “HeART of Laser Focused Coaching – A Revolutionary Approach to Masterful Coaching” by Marion Franklin had quite a few renowned coaches recommending it as one of the few MUST READ books for coaches, so I thought I should give it a try. And I wasn’t disappointed. 

Laser-focused coaching is about illuminating what clients cannot see for themselves. Rather than focusing on the situation or the problem, it focuses on the client—who they are, what they believe is true, how they behave, and what they value. The aim is to explore what troubles clients about their situations and help them discover how they would prefer to feel instead.

Here are some valuable insights from the book:

• True coaching presence extends beyond just being present—it includes starting from a blank slate, embracing a “not knowing” state, and “being present” using all the five senses.
• It’s crucial to distinguish between nosey curiosity and coaching curiosity while asking questions —nosey curiosity serves the coach’s interests, while true coaching curiosity addresses clients’ thoughts and feelings that move the conversation forward.
• Two essential questions to keep in mind while listening to your client: 
  • Why are they telling me about this?
  • What makes it a problem for this person?
• Every question should make clients think about aspects they haven’t considered before.
• Be a reflector, not a parrot—reflection captures the essence and emotion of what clients share.
• Questioning the situation drives clients deeper into their story; questioning the person invites thinking.
• Adopt a “traffic helicopter approach”—stay above the client’s story to see the biggest picture possible, zooming in and out as needed to understand details and context.
• Laser-focused coaching isn’t about asking different questions but listening for discrepancies, underlying needs, or misconceptions the client holds as true.
• Listen for the 1%—while coaches typically focus on what works well, focusing on what’s missing can be valuable. Ask questions like “What would make this a 10 out of 10?”
• When stuck without knowing what to ask, simply ask, “What would be most helpful at this point?”

I purchased this book during my PCC certification journey, and it has been invaluable in preparing my coaching recordings for my final evaluation. I continue to reference it frequently, discovering new insights with each reading. 

The book also addresses common coaching challenges and advanced techniques that can elevate your coaching practice. The book includes a transcript of a coaching conversation demonstrating laser-focused techniques that provide a practical application of the concepts.

I highly recommend this book to aspiring coaches on their credentialing journey and experienced coaches looking to sharpen their skills and achieve mastery in their practice