Jonathan Passmore

Objectives: This study sought to identify the key behaviours used by executive coaches that were perceived by coachees to have the most favourable impact on their experience and progress.

Design: The study used a semi-structured interview design within a qualitative approach.

Methods: Grounded theory was employed to analyse the transcripts and to build a series of descriptive and conceptual codes.

Results: The results from this small-scale study suggest that coachees seek not only particular behaviours but also certain personal attributes in a coach. Key behaviours and attributes identified were common sense confidentiality, being collaborative, setting take-away tasks, balancing challenge and support, stimulating problem-solving, effective communication, staying focused, containing emotions, helping develop alternative perspectives, use of a variety of focusing tools and techniques and use of self as a tool.

Conclusions: The study makes some tentative practical recommendations for those involved in coaching practice and coach training.

Keywords: executive coaching, grounded theory, coach behaviours, coach training, coaching research study and coachee perceptions.

Full article: Volume 5, Issue 1 pages 48 - 62