Book Review
In recent years, coaching has shifted from a loose collection of motivational slogans to a more rigorous discipline that borrows from psychology, education, and organisational development. Into this evolving landscape steps Shiva and Shakti: The Dance of Transformation in Coaching by Vishwajeet Agarwal, an ICF Master Certified Coach (MCC), who has worked with professionals and students globally and is active in international coaching and education initiatives. His book attempts something ambitious: to weave together ancient Indic philosophy, contemporary coaching science, and real-world practice into a coherent model of human change.
At first glance, the pairing of Shiva and Shakti might suggest a purely spiritual or mythological text. Vishwajeet, however, is careful not to turn his book into religious commentary. Instead, he uses Shiva and Shakti as powerful metaphors for the inner dynamics of coaching.
Shiva represents stillness, awareness, and witnessing – the quiet space in which a client begins to see themselves honestly. Shakti embodies movement, energy, and creative action – the impulse that turns insight into tangible change. The "dance" in the title is the ongoing interaction between these two forces within every person seeking growth.
Vishwajeet structures the book around stages of transformation that many coaching clients will recognise. Early chapters focus on what he calls the "Shiva as Client" phase, where a person arrives in coaching weighed down by confusion, fear, or exhaustion. Rather than rushing into problem-solving, the author shows how a coach can first honour this stillness – even when it looks like stuckness – and help the client make sense of their experience. There is a quiet respect in the way he describes this phase: people are not broken, he reminds us, they are simply standing at a threshold.
As the narrative progresses, Shakti gradually takes centre stage. Vishwajeet describes how small shifts in awareness, when handled with care, generate new energy in a client's life: the courage to set boundaries at work, the curiosity to explore a new field of study, the willingness to repair a strained relationship. The book is peppered with anonymised case vignettes drawn from his practice with entrepreneurs, students, and leaders. These stories are one of the book's strengths. They keep the metaphors grounded; we are not only told about transformation in abstract language, we see how it unfolds in actual conversations.
Beyond metaphor and storytelling, Vishwajeet is clearly committed to positioning coaching as a serious, evidence-informed profession. He references established coaching competencies, links his approach to research on positive emotion and creativity, and emphasises the importance of structure in sessions. Readers who expect a purely inspirational text may be surprised to find discussions of assessment tools, progress tracking, and reflective practice. Yet this combination of head and heart – philosophy alongside measurable outcomes – is precisely what gives the book its distinctive flavour.
One of the more compelling sections explores how positive emotion functions as both fuel and feedback in coaching. Drawing on his own empirical work with early-stage entrepreneurs, Agarwal argues that positive emotion is not a fluffy add-on but a critical resource for complex problem-solving. He describes how coaching conversations can intentionally cultivate emotions such as curiosity, hope, and gratitude, which in turn broaden a client's thinking and open space for creative solutions. For readers accustomed to high-stress, high-performance environments, this reframing of emotion as an asset rather than a distraction may feel particularly timely.
The book also speaks to educators and youth workers through its attention to life skills and academic motivation. Vishwajeet notes that many students in South Asia and beyond are technically proficient yet struggle with decision-making, self-regulation, and resilience. He proposes that a coaching-informed approach to mentoring can help bridge this gap, and he illustrates the point with examples from his work in universities. For institutions grappling with student well-being, this portion of the book could easily serve as a starting point for faculty development or mentoring programs.
Stylistically, Shiva and Shakti is accessible without being simplistic. Vishwajeet writes in clear, conversational English, occasionally leaning into poetic phrases when discussing inner experience, but quickly returning to concrete questions and exercises that coaches can use. Each chapter closes with reflection prompts that invite the reader to examine their own patterns of thought and behaviour. Practicing coaches may find these prompts helpful in supervision or peer-learning groups; individuals reading the book for personal growth can use them as a self-coaching toolkit.
For readers, another notable aspect of the book is its rootedness in South Asian context. While much of the coaching literature still assumes Western corporate settings, Vishwajeet is attentive to the realities of families, workplaces, and educational institutions in India and neighbouring countries. Clients in his stories navigate parental expectations, migration, exam pressure, and the push-and-pull between tradition and modernity – themes that will resonate strongly with South Asian readers. At the same time, the core ideas of awareness, agency, and compassionate action are universal enough to speak to an international audience.
The book is not without its limitations. Some readers may wish for more explicit engagement with critical perspectives on coaching, such as questions of power, privilege, or systemic barriers. Others might prefer more detailed citations of the research studies that inform Vishwajeet's approach. Yet even here, the author's intent seems clear: this is not meant to be a dense academic volume but a bridge between scholarship and practice. It invites coaches, counsellors, educators, and leaders into deeper reflection rather than overwhelming them with technical jargon.
Where the book truly distinguishes itself is in its insistence that transformation is a relational process. Vishwajeet consistently portrays coaching not as a one-sided transmission of wisdom from expert to client, but as a partnership in which both parties bring their humanity to the table. The coach offers structure, curiosity, and presence; the client brings lived experience, values, and the ultimate responsibility for action. The dance of Shiva and Shakti, in this telling, is not something the coach performs on the client but a choreography they co-create.
For those who already practice coaching, Shiva and Shakti offers a fresh lens through which to examine their work. It challenges practitioners to ask whether their sessions truly honor both stillness and movement, both deep listening and courageous experimentation. For readers who are new to coaching – whether they are students, parents, team leaders, or simply individuals at a crossroads – the book serves as an inviting doorway into a field that is often misunderstood. It demystifies the process while preserving its depth.
Most importantly, the book highlights the potential of coaching as a culturally sensitive, ethically grounded form of support for people navigating change. In an era when quick fixes and simplistic advice flood social media, Vishwajeet's emphasis on patient inquiry, evidence-informed practice and respect for the client's autonomy feels both refreshing and necessary.
Drawing on decades of experience in leadership, education, and coaching, Vishwajeet brings both practitioner insight and research-informed perspective to his writing. Shiva and Shakti: The Dance of Transformation in Coaching is not just a manual for coaches; it is a thoughtful reflection on what it means to accompany another human being through uncertainty. By bringing together ancient symbols, contemporary research, and stories from everyday life, Vishwajeet Agarwal offers readers a distinctive contribution to the conversation on personal and professional growth. For anyone curious about how structured, compassionate dialogue can catalyse lasting change, this book – and the coaching philosophy it embodies – is well worth a careful read.
