Executive coaches’ backgrounds – Yes, they can make a difference

Abstract

In 2009 Kauffman & Bachkirova posed the question “Does the coaches’ background make a difference..?” (p.3). This paper outlines research conducted to explore how coaches’ prior career experiences can affect their relationships with clients. Data from reflections of four experienced executive coaches, all with senior executive prior careers, and of a client of each of the coaches was examined using Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis. The findings indicate that coaches’ backgrounds can make a difference with coaches feeling more confident and better able to question, probe and challenge and clients feeling better understood and greater confidence in their coaches and their coaching.

Keywords

• coaching
• coaches’ backgrounds
• credibility
• confidence
• ipa