Abstract/Summary

Purpose: Team coaching (TC) is a popular new addition to the team learning and development toolkit. However, the conceptualization of TC and the distinction between TC, team training, team development and team building interventions remains unclear. Methodology: We address this significant gap by abductively exploring how TC is conceptualized in practice (n = 410). We survey practitioners engaged in delivering TC to ask how they would define TC and distinguish it from other team interventions. Findings: A thematic analysis of our data reveals eight themes, which can be used to define TC and illustrate areas of overlap and distinctiveness with other team interventions. Research/Practical Implications: The absence of a clearly defined construct is hindering the development of a rigorous theory of TC. The contribution of our paper is, therefore, a clear and comprehensive definition of TC, which can be used by researchers and practitioners alike when working within the domain of TC. Originality/Value: Our paper provides the first systematic exploration of a definition of TC in relation to alternative team interventions. By utilizing an abductive approach in our research, we are able to capitalize on practitioner experience in this practice-led field.