Personal development is essential for effective coaching, and the right books can make a lasting impact. In addition to guiding and inspiring your own growth, many personal development books offer exercises, lessons, and tools you can incorporate into your coaching practice.
In this edition of Real Talk, experienced coaches share the top personal development books that have influenced their growth, shaped their perspectives, and enriched their work with clients. If you’re looking for your next read, check out this curated list of recommendations from our coaching community.
The Gap and The Gain
Author: Dan Sullivan with Dr. Benjamin Hardy
Why I love it: It reframes success in a way that protects both drive and wellbeing, measuring progress against where you started, not where you wish you were.
Key insight(s): High achievers often feel perpetually behind because they measure themselves against ideals (the Gap). Real growth happens when you measure backward from your past self (the Gain).
Favorite principle, tool, or exercise: The “Gain Reflection” – listing three wins from today and one lesson learned to train your brain to see progress, not lack.
Quote: “You can only measure yourself backward, from where you were to where you are now.”
Additional thoughts: This book is a game-changer for anyone who feels like progress never feels enough. It’s a mental reset for sustainable motivation and grounded confidence.
— Submitted by Yvette Janse van Rensburg
The Inner Game of Tennis
Author: W. Timothy Gallwey
Why I love it: It’s the foundation of modern coaching – simple, profound, and timeless. Gallwey turns performance into a mental discipline, not a mechanical one.
Key insight(s): The biggest obstacles to performance aren’t external; they’re internal – self-judgment, overthinking, and interference from the “critical self.” True mastery comes from quieting that voice.
Favorite principle, tool, or exercise: The Self 1 vs Self 2 model – learning to trust the intuitive, capable part of yourself instead of micromanaging every move.
Quote: “The opponent within one’s own head is more formidable than the one on the other side of the net.”
Additional thoughts: Every coach should study this. It’s a reminder that awareness, not control, unlocks performance whether on the court, in leadership, or in life.
— Submitted by Yvette Janse van Rensburg
Atomic Habits
This was a popular book! Three different coaches shared it as one of their favorites. We’ve added their initials at the end of their responses, so you can see who said what.
Author: James Clear
Why I love it: It turns behaviour change into a science you can actually apply. As coaches, we talk about goals, but in this book, James Clear shows how to build the systems that make them inevitable. -YJVR
It completely changed the way I think about habits and productivity. Honestly, I can’t even remember what I believed before this book, but I keep coming back to the principles in Atomic Habits in all areas of my life. -DB
[It provides] simple, small steps to improve our habits, based on robust neuroscience. -BB
Key insight(s): You don’t rise to the level of your goals; you fall to the level of your systems. Small, consistent actions compound into extraordinary results. -YJVR
“Changes that seem small and unimportant at first will compound into remarkable results if you’re willing to stick with them for years.” -DB
We can establish new, useful habits that eventually become automatic, so that we don’t waste mental energy on thinking about them every time. -BB
Favorite principle, tool, or exercise: The 1% rule – focus on marginal gains daily. Progress multiplies through consistency, not intensity. -YJVR
The dopamine disappointment drop. When we anticipate a reward but then don’t receive it, we experience a drop in dopamine (and a feeling of disappointment), which serves to extinguish our desire for that reward. -DB
‘Make it easy’ – for example, have your gym kit/swimsuit packed and ready to go. Then you won’t get frustrated looking for it at the last minute and then maybe not go at all. -BB
Quote: “Every action you take is a vote for the type of person you wish to become.” -YJVR
There are so many to choose from, but this one sticks out to me: “Success is not a goal to reach or a finish line to cross. It is a system to improve, an endless process to refine.” -DB
“Goals are good for setting a direction, but systems are best for making progress.” -BB
Additional thoughts: This is a masterclass in habit architecture with a shared language every coach and client can use to move from intention to identity. -YJVR
At the risk of mentioning a book that I’m sure many other people have spoken about, Atomic Habits is, perhaps, my favorite book of all time. Maybe that speaks to the kind of person I am, interested in habits and productivity and success, but I think it also speaks to the kind of book it is. -DB
Not only is this an excellent guide to embodying better habits personally, but it also reminds coaches that sometimes we need to look beyond goals. -BB
— Submitted by Yvette Janse van Rensburg (YJVR), Denita Bremer (DB), and Barbara Bates (BB)
Big Magic
Author: Elizabeth Gilbert
Why I love it: It is inspiring!
Key insight(s): Creativity in a variety of forms is a fickle thing that will find the next person if you don’t decide to listen to your muse.
Favorite principle, tool, or exercise: Do what you do because you love it.
Quote: “Whenever anybody tells me they want to write a book in order to help other people, I always think, Oh, please don’t. Please don’t try to help me. I mean, it is very kind of you to want to help people, but please don’t make it your sole creative motive, because we will feel the weight of your heavy intention, and it will put a strain upon our souls.”
Additional thoughts: This is one of the few books I have read more than one time. It is timeless, inspiring, easy to read, and informative. No matter what you endeavor, Big Magic will help you.
— Submitted by Denita Bremer
High Performance Habits: How Extraordinary People Become That Way
Author: Brendon Burchard
Why I love it: Authentic research-based advice from a very respected coach. He distils the principles of excellence into six categories: Seek Clarity, Generate Energy, Raise Necessity, Increase Productivity, Develop Influence, and Demonstrate Courage. I find his words rooted in personal integrity and service.
Key insight(s): Consistent small improvement adds up; he has researched what high performers actually do, and explains it all.
Favorite principle, tool, or exercise: In the section Generate Energy he advises to be mindful of transitions, e.g., between work and home, between meetings, whenever there is tension. Stop, notice, breathe, and set the next intention.
Quote: “We can all achieve and enjoy long-term success. It just takes the right habits.”
Additional thoughts: One of his related products is the High Performance Planner, an A4-bound book with spaces to reflect and prioritise actions each day, through the lens of the above six areas, then a section to check back at the end of the day. I now use this and find it vastly superior to my old habit of simply making a list. You have to do the things that will make a difference,
— Submitted by Barbara Bates
You Are a Badass: How to Stop Doubting Your Greatness and Start Living an Awesome Life
Author: Jen Sincero
Why I Love It: This book is equal parts inspiration and ignition. It blends humor, truth, and bold self-responsibility in a way that makes personal growth both accessible and empowering. What I love most is how Jen Sincero normalizes the idea that confidence, clarity, and courage are learned skills, not innate gifts. That message perfectly aligns with the work I do, helping high-achieving women elevate their personal lives to match their professional success.
Key Insight(s):
- You are the source of your own transformation. Once you stop waiting for permission, your power becomes limitless.
- Self-belief isn’t arrogance; it’s alignment. When you decide to believe in your potential, your actions start to mirror that belief.
- The gap between where you are and where you want to be is filled with choices, not luck.
Favorite Principle, Tool, or Exercise: Jen’s invitation to “act as if” and to start embodying the energy, habits, and mindset of your next-level self right now. It’s not about pretending, it’s about aligning your present identity with your future vision. I use a similar approach in my Reinvention Incubator to help women step into their next chapter with clarity and confidence, rather than waiting for everything to be perfect first.
Quote: “You are responsible for what you say and do. You are not responsible for whether or not people freak out about it.” This quote captures the essence of empowerment and the freedom that comes when you release external validation and choose alignment over approval.
Additional Thoughts: You Are a Badass is a modern classic for a reason. It reminds us that transformation doesn’t have to feel heavy; it can be funny, fierce, and deeply freeing. For women who are ready to reinvent what “success” means and experience more joy, fulfillment, and confidence, this book is both a permission slip and a call to rise.
— Submitted by Wendy Burbridge
Spirit Junkie
Author: Gabrielle Bernstein
Why I love it: I love this book because it speaks directly to the inner work that so many coaches (including me) have had to do—especially around fear, visibility, and trusting our own voice. It’s honest and vulnerable, and it gives language to that shift from “Who am I to do this?” to “I’m willing to show up, imperfectly, in service.”
Key insight(s):
- Fear and anxiety are often old stories and patterns, not current truth.
- Choosing a loving perspective is a practice, not a one-time decision.
- Your spiritual growth and your work are deeply connected; the more you heal, the more grounded your coaching becomes.
Favorite principle, tool, or exercise: The practice of “choosing again”—noticing a fear-based thought, forgiving it, and consciously choosing a more loving thought. It’s simple, but it’s powerful for anyone who struggles with self-doubt, comparison, or imposter syndrome.
Quote: “I choose to see this differently.” (paraphrased affirmation from the book’s teachings)
Additional thoughts: I see this book as a permission slip for coaches to do their own healing work while they’re building a business. It’s especially supportive for those of us who blend strategy with intuition, or business with spirituality, and want to feel anchored in something deeper than just “hustle harder.”
— Submitted by Reneé Clair
The Alchemist
Author: Paulo Coelho
Why I love it: This book found me during a season where everything felt uncertain, and it reminded me that every hardship, delay, and detour in life can still guide us toward our purpose. It’s simple but incredibly profound.
Key insight(s): Your “Personal Legend” — your true path — never disappears. Life gives you signs, but you have to trust your intuition enough to follow them.
Favorite principle, tool, or exercise: The idea of listening to omens — noticing synchronicities, gut feelings, and meaningful moments — and allowing them to guide your next steps.
Quote: “And, when you want something, all the universe conspires in helping you to achieve it.”
Additional thoughts: I recommend this book to clients who feel lost, behind, or disconnected from their purpose. It softens their self-judgment and opens the door to deeper self-trust.
— Submitted by Elisa Ramos
The Miracle Morning
Author: Hal Elrod
Why I love it: The SAVERS routine helped me rebuild structure, discipline, and clarity during a time when I desperately needed grounding. The small daily habits created a big internal shift.
Key insight(s): Change doesn’t happen from one big moment — it happens from consistent daily choices that rewire your mind and identity.
Favorite principle, tool, or exercise: The SAVERS method (Silence, Affirmations, Visualization, Exercise, Reading, Scribing). Even doing a “mini” version creates noticeable momentum.
Quote: “Your level of success will rarely exceed your level of personal development.”
Additional thoughts: I use this with clients who feel overwhelmed or “too busy.” A 10-minute version of the routine often becomes their first real step toward sustainable personal growth.
— Submitted by Elisa Ramos
Your Best Year Ever
Author: Michael Hyatt
Why I love it: After facing Stage IV cancer, homelessness in my earlier years, and three bankruptcies that humbled me completely, I learned that resilience doesn’t come from avoiding hardship—it comes from having a clear vision in the middle of it. This book gives people a framework to design their year with purpose, not just react to circumstances. When you’ve lost everything multiple times, you understand the power of intentional planning. It’s transformational for clients who feel stuck or overwhelmed by their own setbacks.
Key insight(s): Your future isn’t determined by your past or present circumstances—it’s shaped by the decisions you make today. Vision pulls you forward, even when circumstances are pulling you down.
Favorite principle, tool, or exercise: The goal-setting process that connects your annual vision to your daily actions. It removes overwhelm and creates momentum—exactly what I needed to rebuild after each bankruptcy and health crisis.
Quote: “The secret of getting ahead is getting started.”
Additional thoughts: I recommend this to clients who know they want change but don’t know where to start. My story shows them that rebuilding is possible; this book gives them a practical way to begin.
— Submitted by Yohannes Tilahun
Awaken the Giant Within
Author: Tony Robbins
Why I love it: This book changed my life in 1991 when I was homeless with nothing. It was the first time I understood that my circumstances did not have to define my future. Those principles helped pull me from homelessness into a CEO role at General Electric Ethiopia. Many years later, after facing bankruptcy three times and Stage IV cancer, I came back to the same ideas to reclaim my purpose again. This is the book I return to in the hardest seasons because it keeps reminding me I still have agency.
Key insight(s): Your decisions—not your conditions—determine your destiny. I’ve lived that truth through homelessness, financial collapse, and cancer. Once you decide what you stand for, the path becomes clearer, even when it still looks dark.
Favorite principle, tool, or exercise: The “raise your standards” exercise. I use it with clients to help them shift from passive hope to active ownership of their lives. After losing everything multiple times, I know firsthand that standards—not circumstances—determine your comeback.
Quote: “It’s in your moments of decision that your destiny is shaped.”
Additional thoughts: This is a powerful book for clients who feel defeated by life. I’m still here, still coaching, still building after homelessness, bankruptcy, and terminal cancer. This book helps people see that even in their darkest moments, they are not powerless and their future can still be meaningful.
— Submitted by Yohannes Tilahun
Final Thoughts
Personal growth fuels professional growth, and the more you experiment and integrate, the more your clients benefit. Let these books be a source of fresh perspectives, practical strategies, and renewed inspiration for your own life and your coaching practice.
Pick a book to explore this month: try a concept in a session, reflect on how it changes your approach, or share an exercise that resonates with your clients. Even small shifts in perspective can have a big impact on how you show up and the results your clients experience.
If you enjoyed this article, be sure to explore additional articles in our Real Talk series for more recommendations, tips, and tools to grow your coaching business.
And if you’re interested in becoming a certified personal development coach, read our review of the Best Personal Development Coach Certification Programs.
Thanks to our contributing coaches!
Book recommendations in this article were provided by the following coaches:
- Yvette Janse van Rensburg — Yvette is an award-winning mental performance coach helping high achievers unlock sustainable success through peak mindset, energy mastery, and emotional resilience. Instagram
- Denita Bremer — Denita is a complex trauma coach who helps Christian moms create the relationships they actually want. Website
- Barbara Bates — Barbara is a Health, Executive, and Life Coach working with mature professionals at times of change. LinkedIn
- Wendy Burbridge — Wendy helps high-achieving women get clear and confident about elevating their personal lives to match their professional success. Website
- Reneé Clair — Reneé Clair is a Holistic Business Coach & Consultant helping solopreneurs grow sustainably with calm, clarity, and confidence. Website
- Elisa Ramos — Elisa is a life coach and author helping people rewire limiting beliefs and confidently step into their strongest, most purposeful selves. Website
- Yohannes Tilahun — Yohannes is a financial and productivity coach who helps individuals and entrepreneurs gain clarity, eliminate overwhelm, and build a life and business with purpose. Website
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