Relating in executive coaching: a behavioural systems approach

摘要

Purpose - In recent research the strength and nature of the relationship between coaches andrnexecutives appears as a critical success factor in successful coaching outcomes. However, little theoryrnhas as yet been devoted to an analysis of how relationships are used in executive coaching. Such anrnanalysis requires going from the monadic, individual level of analysis to the dyadic, relational level.rnThe purpose of this paper is to develop a theory of relating in executive coaching at this dyadic level ofrnanalysis.rnDesign/methodology/approach - A conceptual analysis of relating in executive coaching isrnpresented, drawing on a combination of the behavioural approach (Skinner and others) and thernsystems approach (Bateson and others). A verbatim of a coaching conversation serves as anrnillustration.rnFindings - It is found that the behavioural and systems approaches may be fruitfully combined inrnone behavioural systems approach. Following this, relating in executive coaching is characterised asrnsystemic, behavioural, communicational, and patterned.rnOriginality/value - The paper is among the first to study executive coaching at the dyadic level ofrnanalysis, and to develop a combined behavioural systems approach towards that purpose. Thisrnapproach and its outcomes add to and can be clearly distinguished from the more common humanistic,rnpsychodynamic, and cognitive approaches to executive coaching.