Assessing contracting and the coaching relationship: Necessary infrastructure?

Abstract

While the criticality of a strong coach-client relationship has received significant attention, this study represents one of the few investigations of coach behaviours that impact the relationship. Using qualitative and quantitative methods, we explore "contracting", defined as the collaborative determination of logistics, parameters and framework of the coaching engagement, as an important foundation for an effective relationship. We create a preliminary measure, the Contracting Inventory Scale, and investigate contracting’s connection to the coach-client relationship. Additionally, we explore executives’ perspectives on contracting as "infrastructure", a behavior that is necessary, but by itself does not lead to great outcomes, and discuss implications, noting that this study provides a platform for future empirical work and useful information for coaching practice.

Keywords

• executive coaching
• leadership development
• coach behaviour
• contracting
• coaching relationship