What makes coaching effective?
Whilst it is clear that workplace coaching is effective, the features that make it so have proved incredibly difficult to assess.
Studies tend to involve very few people, tend not to have meaningful control groups (i.e. a replica group of people subject to the same conditions who don't get coaching, for comparison purposes), don't account for differences in coach style, approach and quality, or find companies willing to fund it. Added to this, coaching is still a relatively new area so there is limited solid information on effectiveness available (although many coach training programmes suggest otherwise by reporting on coaching studies most of which are not robust or authoritative).
So, it was good to see a new analysis of 117 studies carried out in 2018 (by Bozer and Jones*) to identify those aspects that make a difference to coaching effectiveness. They found that coachee characteristics count enormously. Effective outcomes were linked to coachees:
being interested in learning and improving (i.e. they did not have a fixed mindset and were not over-confident)
having good levels of self-efficacy (i.e. had confidence in their ability to develop)
being well motivated to take part
trusting the coach and being comfortable to speak openly
This supports the findings from other studies. In our one-to-one coaching programmes, coachees are invited to take a self-assessment to check their readiness for coaching. Our coaches all undertake a 'willingness and readiness for coaching' assessment as part of the initial engagement.
The authors found less evidence to support:
the need for similarity between coach and coachee (including professional or social background and gender). The coach's experience is a more important factor
the use of feedback (such as 360). It is unclear how feedback affects coaching outcomes - it can be effective when done well but when poorly carried out can be demotivating
the importance of the manager's support for the coachee during the coaching - this was found to be inconclusive.
To discuss our approach to workplace coaching do get in touch.
Ex-Finance Directors or ex-lawyers do not make better coaches for Finance Directors or lawyers. Coach quality and experience is the key.
* For the full article see https://scienceforwork.com/blog/workplace-coaching-success/