What makes a ‘good’ coach? How stakeholder groups understand the virtues of a coach

George, A. J. T. and Rose, S. (2025) What makes a ‘good’ coach? How stakeholder groups understand the virtues of a coach. International Journal of Evidence Based Coaching and Mentoring, 23 (1). pp. 6-23. ISSN 1741-8305 doi: 10.24384/3sd6-7179

Abstract/Summary

This study explores the virtues needed to be a good coach. In contrast to the considerable focus on competencies, there has been little discussion about what the character traits of a coach should be. We therefore explored what key stakeholders in coaching understood about the virtues of coaches. Experienced coaches and clients (predominantly from a workplace context) were interviewed and the data analysed by reflexive thematic analysis. This identified six virtues: wisdom, temperance, courage, loyalty, non-judgemental and attentive, which were made up of 22 components. This provides a helpful framework for professional reflection and the training and development of coaches, as well as future research.

Item Type	Article
URI	https://centaur.reading.ac.uk/id/eprint/122299
Identification Number/DOI	10.24384/3sd6-7179
Refereed	Yes
Divisions	Henley Business School > Leadership, Organisations, Behaviour and Reputation
Publisher	Oxford Brookes University
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