Abstract
The main purpose of the present study was to implement an experiment with a control group designed to explore the effects from external executive coaching on goal setting, self-efficacy and causal attribution. The study is comprised of 20 executives at a branch of a Norwegian Fortune 500 company who all voluntarily participated in an experiment over a period of 1 year. Analyses by means of analysis of covariance show that the goal setting strategy dimension, leadership self-efficacy and successful causal attributions to strategy increased in the experiment group compared to the control group. These findings are discussed based on the possible impact these variables have on performance, and how external executive coaching might be beneficial for companies.
Acknowledgements
This research was supported by a grant from the Olympic organization in Norway, the Norwegian University of Science and Technology, Department of Education, and the NTNU Social Research. The authors wish to thank them for their support, both financial and otherwise. The authors also wish to thank the Editor and the anonymous reviewers for their constructive feedback and helpful guidance and direction during the revision process of this manuscript.
Notes
1. April 2011: Business Source Complete, ISI Web of Knowledge and PsycINFO.
2. CIPD is Europe's largest HR and development professional body.
3. Master Certified Coach, assessed and approved by the International Coaching Federation.