Executive coaching enhances goal attainment, resilience and workplace well-being: a randomised controlled study

TLDR

This is the first randomized controlled study of executive coaching delivered by external professional coaches. The study randomized 41 executives to receive 360‑degree feedback, a half‑day workshop, and four individual coaching sessions over 10 weeks, using a cognitive‑behavioural solution‑focused approach, with quantitative and qualitative outcome measures. Coaching improved goal attainment, resilience, workplace well‑being, and reduced depression and stress, while participants reported increased self‑confidence, personal insight, and management skills that helped them navigate organisational change.

Abstract

In a randomised controlled study, 41 executives in a public health agency received 360-degree feedback, a half-day leadership workshop, and four individual coaching sessions over 10 weeks. The coaching used a cognitive-behavioural solution-focused approach. Quantitative and qualitative measures were taken. This is the first published randomised controlled study in which coaching was conducted by professional executive coaches external to the organisation. Compared to controls, coaching enhanced goal attainment, increased resilience and workplace well-being and reduced depression and stress. Qualitative responses indicated participants found coaching helped increase self-confidence and personal insight, build management skills and helped participants deal with organisational change. Findings indicate that short-term coaching can be effective, and that evidence-based executive coaching can be valuable as an applied positive psychology in helping people deal with the uncertainly and challenges inherent in organisational change. Practical impactions are discussed and recommendations are made for the effective measurement of coaching outcomes.