How does coach training change coaches-in-training? Differential effects for novice vs. experienced ‘skilled helpers’

ABSTRACT

Coaches are essentially in the business of facilitating change in others. Yet little is known about the changes that trainee coaches themselves go through as they learn coaching skills and theory. This study identifies some of the key inter- and intra-personal attributes that developed over a nine-month programme of coach-specific training, while comparing differences in impact on trainee coaches who have prior working experience as a therapist with those without therapist experience. The group as a whole had significant increases in satisfaction with life, mindfulness, solution-focused thinking, self-insight, and a need for self-reflection. The training had less impact in terms of inter- and intra-personal skills on experienced therapists than the non-therapists. Nevertheless, coach training is beneficial even for those with prior experience in working as a therapist. This study suggests that coach training typically induces a wide range of personal changes and development that are impactful on a deep personal level. Although therapists already have many of the so-called soft skills required in coaching, those from a therapeutic background still benefit considerably from coach training. One key area highlighted in this study is the need for those coming from a therapeutic background to increase their skills in problem disengagement.

KEYWORDS:

• Coaching skills
• therapist vs non-therapist
• mindfulness
• solution-focused thinking
• self-insight
• need for self-reflection
• evidence-based coaching

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.

Notes on contributors

Dr. Ofer Atad (PhD) holds a PhD in Organisational Behaviour for Tel Aviv University, a MSc in Coaching Psychology from the Coaching Psychology Unit and the University of Sydney, and a MSc in Management from Tel Aviv University and a BA in Behavioural Science from Tel Aviv University. He has over 13 year’s successful experience as an executive and workplace coach, and has taught coaching psychology and positive psychology at universities worldwide. In addition he has published a number of coaching-specific research projects in the peer reviewed press. He also recognised as one of Israel’s leading professional coaches and is highly regarded in the professional and academic coaching arenas.

Prof. Anthony Grant (PhD) was globally recognised as a key pioneer of Coaching Psychology and evidence-based approaches to coaching. In January 2000 Anthony established the world’s first Coaching Psychology Unit at Sydney University where he is the Director of the Coaching Psychology Unit. He had over 100 coaching-related publications. He was a Visiting Professor at Oxford Brookes University; a Senior Fellow at the Melbourne School of Business; and an Associate Fellow at the Säid School of Business, Oxford University. In 2007 Anthony was awarded the British Psychological Society Award for outstanding professional and scientific contribution to Coaching Psychology. In 2009 he was awarded the ‘Vision of Excellence Award’ from the Institute of Coaching at Harvard for his pioneering work in helping develop a scientific foundation to coaching. He was a 2014 Scientist in Residence for the ABC – the Australian national broadcaster and in 2016 was awarded the Australian Psychological Society ‘Workplace Excellence Award for Coaching and Leadership’. In 2017 he was awarded the Henley Business School Award for his contribution to coaching. In 2019 he was part of a research group that was awarded the ‘Best Symposium’ at the Academy of Management Conference in Boston. He enjoys playing loud (but unfortunately not particularly Claptonesque) blues guitar.