The future of workplace coaching – an explorative Delphi study

ABSTRACT

Current mega-trends and the Covid-19 pandemic are influencing the future of work. Workplace coaching is directly and indirectly affected by these changes in numerous ways, which is why we have conducted a Delphi study about the future of workplace coaching. We followed the standard procedures for this technique, using 16 structured interviews and identifying 15 future workplace coaching scenarios. These scenarios were evaluated for their estimated prevalence in 2020 and 2030 and desirability by N = 822 (before the pandemic) and N = 337 (during the pandemic), with market participants from German-speaking countries. To explore different perspectives, four different groups were recruited: coaches, HR professionals, representatives of coaching associations and coaching institutes. The prevalence of digitally-related scenarios is rated significantly higher for 2030. At the same time, artificial intelligence, algorithm-based programs, online coaching and online coach training are rather disliked, especially by coaches who prefer high quality, face-to-face coaching processes. During the Covid-19 pandemic, these scenarios were estimated to be more likely than beforehand.

KEYWORDS:

• Coaching
• Delphi study
• online coaching
• future of coaching

Disclosure statement

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

Additional information

Funding

This work was supported by Deutscher Coachingverband (DCV), ICF- Switzerland, ACC and BSO.

Notes on contributors

Carsten C. Schermuly

Carsten C. Schermuly is a professor for business psychology at SRH Berlin University of Applied Sciences Berlin, Germany. His main research focuses on psychological empowerment, interaction processes and diversity in teams, and the efficacy of coaching.

Carolin Graßmann

Carolin Graßmann is a professor of Business Psychology with focus on Organisation Development and Business Coaching at VICTORIA International University of Applied Sciences, Berlin, Germany. Her main research focuses on the effects of coaching and training, and the factors that determine them.

Silvano Ackermann

Silvano Ackermann, M.A., works as a research associate at the University of Applied Sciences Northwestern Switzerland FHNW. His current research focuses lie in the fields of vocational coaching and e-inclusion.

Robert Wegener

Robert Wegener, PhD, trains coaches at the University of Applied Sciences Nortwestern Switzerland FHNW, organises the International Coaching Conference «Coaching meets Research» and runs his own coaching business since 2010.