The Practice of Coaching by Managers: Impacts of Organizational, Cultural, and Other Supports and Hindrances

J Cooper International Journal of Coaching in Organizations 2011

Leaders and managers have been using coaching as one style of interacting with subordinates for years. It continues to be seen as an effective technique in creating both a healthy climate and enhanced performance. Specific research relating management’s use of coaching style and culture is sparse at best. However, research on leadership styles that have related concepts, such as transformational leadership, seem to indicate that: 1) There may be particular types of cultures that support management’s use of coaching; and 2) There is little evidence that culture inhibits it. In addition, the author draws on his own experience to describe additional elements that appear to support or hinder the use of coaching by managers.