The coaching process of the expert coach: a coach led approach

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to engage expert coaches’ in an exploration, conceptualisation, and modelling of their coaching process. Six coaches, each developed a model, with accompanying explanation, of “their” coaching process. These models and explanations were content analysed to identify features of the coaching process and included examination of how to represent the process pictorially. The coaches were then interviewed where they discussed the identified features and how to represent their coaching process as a “realistic picture”. As a result of this process of data collection, analysis, and member checking, the coaches’ conceptualisation of the coaching process and how best to model it was agreed amongst participants. There were seven core principles that underpinned the model: learning partnership; individualised; clear structure with evolving process; orchestrating approach; influenced by coaching environment; holistic and flexible process; and adaptable and dynamic; and six component parts that described the operationalisation of the coaching process: values, knowledge, and skills; contextual constraint; learning environment; preparation phase; performance phase; review phase. The agreed upon pictorial representation of their coaching process brought the process “to life” and provides researchers, coaches, and coach developers with a conceptualisation of the process by coaches for coaches.

Keywords:

• Coaching process model
• coaching practice
• expertise
• coaching education

Acknowledgements

The authors would like to thank the expert coaches for their willingness to engage with the project and enthusiasm to discuss their coaching process. Without their co-operation this research would not have been possible.