Active ingredients in executive coaching: A systematic literature review

Abstract

This critical review has examined the evidence of active ingredients (antecedents, mediators and moderators) through which outcomes are produced in executive coaching (EC) engagements. Most literature suggests EC interventions are generally effective (e.g. Grover & Furnham, 2016). However, there is a paucity of rigorous research investigating how EC works (Bickerich et al., 2018). Various authors have called for research to fill this gap and to further EC as evidence-based practice (Athanasopoulou & Dopson, 2018). A systematic search was conducted to identify recent meta-analyses, reviews and articles through five databases, selecting peer-reviewed articles published globally between 2009 and June 2019. A stepwise analysis identified 46 active ingredients cited in 28 included articles. Evidence of EC active ingredients is still in its infancy and focused on coachees’s and coaches’ characteristics, and coaching relationship (respectively 32 per cent, 25 per cent and 20 per cent of citations). This confirms the key role of individual characteristics and importance of building a solid alliance. On the flipside, the coaching process (17 per cent citations) and contextual elements (seven per cent) remain largely unexplored areas. This review also shed some light on neglected aspects like the need for coaches to be competent in dealing effectively and ethically with all the stakeholders in the triangular EC relationship. Methodological limitations and research-gaps are discussed, and recommendations are made for research and practice.