Competencies of Coaches that Predict Client Behavior Change

Abstract

Coaching as a practice and process has grown. Coach training and certification is currently based on competency models derived from opinion surveys not research on coaching outcomes. Competency models developed on expert opinion were about 50% accurate in terms of predicting managerial effectiveness in prior studies. To address this gap, we tested behavioral emotional and social intelligence competencies of coaches, not self-assessed, that predicted client behavior change over 2 years. The sample was 240 coach-client dyads involving 60 different coaches. Effective coach competencies were achievement orientation, adaptability, emotional self-control, empathy, organizational assessment, and influence. To rule out general mental ability (GMA) as a component, a subsample of 135 dyads based on 27 different coaches showed that GMA was not significant. In the subsample, effective competencies were the above list and conflict management, with near significant findings for coaching/mentoring and teamwork. More studies are needed to guide training and certification programs.