Coaching from a philosophy of science perspective

Abstract

Coaching is a multidisciplinary human development method. As such there is no academic discipline that ‘owns’ the coaching profession. Having contributors from across disciplines can appear to result in an amalgam or patchwork of techniques that have been thrown together with no underlying principles to guide them. This can invite a view of coaching as nothing more than a utilitarian set of tools to accomplish discrete, individual goals. The purpose of this paper is to describe and discuss underlying principles to the coaching process that are rooted in the historical context of what coaching has been, is, and will be. These fundamental principles contain a specific view of personhood that has social and cultural implications that reach far beyond the practice of the coaching profession itself. Hence, there is a common claim that the coaching paradigm will and is changing the world. This article will attempt to substantiate this broad and sweeping claim by drawing on a philosophy of science perspective. The implications for a theory of coaching, the practice of professional coaching and the role of coaching research are also considered.