There have been numerous studies which demonstrate the importance of the coaching relationship and its relevance in ensuring the successful outcome of the coaching process. However there has been little exploration of how coaches develop their ability to foster coaching relationships in practice. The aim of this research was to consider the way practitioners make sense of the coaching relationship in order to provide insight into the meaning schemes that underpin this capability. The research, involving 79 coaches, was based on Q-methodology. The participants were asked to sort 60 statements, drawn from the concourse of opinion on what is important in managing the coaching relationship, to reflect their own view. Q-methodological factor analysis led to the identification of four viewpoints, each reflecting a different way in which coaches made sense of their own ability to foster the coaching relationship The four perspectives, ‘Equality and Exploration’, ‘Supportively Connecting’, ‘Pragmatic and Professional’ and ‘Empathic Consultative’ suggested a range in the way coaches work with complexity, conflict, ambiguity and holistic understanding. This observation led to the tentative suggestion for a developmental framework, for the way in which coaches enhance their ability to manage coach client relations. The findings support an argument for taking into consideration the concepts of adult development and ego maturity when considering how coaches can continue to develop and evolve their ability to manage the client relationship.
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Crosse, Elizabeth
Supervisors: Myers, Adrian
Oxford Brookes Business School
MA Coaching and Mentoring Practice
2018
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