Experience of positive psychology coaching while working from home during the COVID-19 pandemic: an Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis

ABSTRACT

The COVID-19 pandemic has highlighted the importance of organisations attending to the wellbeing of their employees, and workplace coaching has already been shown to improve performance and enhance wellbeing. Positive psychology coaching (PPC) is an emerging intervention that considers wellbeing an integral part of the coaching intervention. There is currently a gap in our understanding of how PPC is experienced by people affected by the pandemic and its restrictions. To address this gap, an Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis (IPA) design was used to explore the lived experience of six employees of a UK-based financial services company who received PPC while working from home (WFH) during the COVID-19 pandemic. The study provided an insight into how PPC can lead to positive outcomes for employees, with the findings being presented through five themes: valuing opportunity for safe reflection; increasing awareness; alleviation of negative emotions; re-energised by identifying a way forward; and renewed confidence. The study contributes to our awareness of how participants experience an intervention that intentionally integrates performance improvement and the enhancement of wellbeing.

KEYWORDS:

• COVID-19 pandemic
• Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis (IPA)
• positive psychology coaching (PPC)
• wellbeing
• working from home (WFH)
• workplace coaching

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Christian van Nieuwerburgh

Christian van Nieuwerburgh is Professor of Coaching and Positive Psychology at the University of East London (UK) and Executive Director of Growth Coaching International. He is also Visiting Professor at the University of Bergamo (Italy) and Honorary Fellow at the Centre for Positive Psychology at the University of Melbourne (Australia).

Margaret Barr

Margaret Barr coaches education leaders and facilitates coaching development programmes through Growth Coaching International. She is a research supervisor on the MSc Applied Positive Psychology and Coaching Psychology programme at the University of East London, and guest lecturer on the ‘Into Headship’ programme at the University of Glasgow.

Alexandra J. S. Fouracres

Alexandra J. S. Fouracres is a coaching psychologist, researcher and writer. Alexandra has over 20 years’ leadership experience in financial services where she works in financial crime prevention. She is also a research supervisor on the MSc Applied Positive Psychology and Coaching Psychology programme at the University of East London.

Tia Moin

Tia Moin is a Positive Organisational and Coaching Psychologist who works with organisations and individuals to develop potential, performance and wellbeing. She is also a coaching researcher and research supervisor on the MSc Applied Positive Psychology and Coaching Psychology programme at the University of East London.

Charlotte Brown

Charlotte Brown is a career coach, coach supervisor and founder of Kaleidoscope Career Coaching. She is also a tutor, assessor and facilitator on the Certificate in Coaching at the University of Cambridge and the Executive MBA programme at Henley Business School.

Corinne Holden

Corinne Holden is a Careers Guidance Coach running her own business working with young people. She is also an academic researcher undertaking projects for the University of East London and has recently started a PhD in Occupational Psychology for City University of London.

Cornelia Lucey

Cornelia Lucey holds an MSc in Applied Positive Psychology and Coaching Psychology from the University of East London and an MA in Leadership from University College London. She is a practitioner psychologist and has worked as a leadership development consultant, educator and coach across sectors for over 15 years.

Philippa Thomas

Philippa Thomas is a BBC news presenter and leadership coach, and has been a BBC news journalist for over 30 years. As an MSc student in Applied Positive Psychology and Coaching Psychology at the University of East London she is researching the fields of purpose, wellbeing and Positive Leadership.