Abstract
This exploratory study examined the influence of intergenerational family patterns and transgenerational transmissions on coaching effectiveness. It specifically focused on the potential impact of coaches’ intergenerational patterns on their countertransference risks and development of coaching resources. Fifteen executive coaches were socioanalytically interviewed with a focused genogram and a self-as-instrument approach to understand the impact of intergenerational patterns and underlying family dynamics on coaching effectiveness. Results indicated a relationship between these factors and coaching effectiveness. This was especially the case with regard to the development of functional and adaptive coping behaviour rather than transmitting dysfunctional, maladaptive behaviour only. Analysing and debriefing live coaching situations with a focus on potential countertransference reactions would further validate these findings in future research. Given the results of this study, it seems essential to integrate the reflection of intergenerational patterns and related countertransference risks into the training and supervision of coaches.
Highlights
I’m sorry I missed you I had a secret meeting in the basement of my brain
1 Introduction potential negative impact countertransference and dysfunctional behaviour patterns of coaches have on the coaching effectiveness and working alliance with coachees it appears, that to-date no research has been undertaken to understand whether behaviour patterns passed down family generations have an influence on how an executive coach interacts with a coachee
A review of the current research indicates that the research on the impact of intergenerational behaviour patterns and transgenerational transmissions is predominantly focusing on the fields of clinical and health psychology
Summary
I’m sorry I missed you I had a secret meeting in the basement of my brain. 1 Introduction potential negative impact countertransference and dysfunctional behaviour patterns of coaches have on the coaching effectiveness and working alliance with coachees it appears, that to-date no research has been undertaken to understand whether behaviour patterns passed down family generations have an influence on how an executive coach interacts with a coachee. Enough, no research seems to have been conducted on the impact of these dynamics on executive coaches and their effectiveness when working with clients. The profession of executive coaching shows a broad variety of highly effective practices and approaches reaching from solution-focused brief coaching (Dierolf, Meier & Szabo, 2009), systemic and hypno-systemic coaching (Hawkins & Turner 2020; Leeb, Trenkle & Weckermann, 2017), behavioural and performance coaching (Goldsmith, 2007; Whitmore, 2017) to strength-based coaching (MacKie 2016). From a psychodynamic perspective the focus of executive coaching lies on the exploration of underlying drivers and root causes for the behaviour and the emotional reac-
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
