A research report submitted to the Faculty of Commerce, Law and Management, University of the Witwatersrand, in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Management in Business Executive Coaching Johannesburg, 2017 / This research was conducted to explore the influence of managerial coaching behaviours on employee engagement. Organisations need to retain engaged people who are productive and energetic to achieve the organisational success within an ever-changing environment. This might be enabled through the coaching behaviours of managers. While extensive research has been conducted on managerial coaching as a tool to support people to achieve performance, attain goals of the organisation, manage organisational transitions, and, achieve learning, research is limited on how managers can create engagement through utilising managerial coaching behaviours. Organisations need sustainable interventions that will positively impact the overall engagement of people. The manager is a crucial point of contact with people, and is able to create or destroy people’s engagement. This research has a constructivist or interpretivist approach and uses a case study methodology where five cases were analysed and cross-case analysed by interpreting the experiences of managers and two of their team members selected by extreme or purposive sampling on their engagement levels; in other words, one engaged and one disengaged person was interviewed per case as well as the manager. The findings established that engaged employees have a higher perception of their manager’s coaching behaviours than disengaged colleagues, and that all the managers were highly engaged yet varied in how they perceived their own coaching behaviours, and in turn, how they influence engagement. The managers’ use of a more empowering coaching style enhances engagement and their coaching behaviours influence fluctuating engagement levels, while a reflective practice within managerial coaching enables deeper understanding of perspectives, and in turn, engagement, but is not a common practice amongst managers. Engagement levels were also influenced by; coaching conversations which occur on a continuum from informal to formal; the manager’s coaching ability to create a sense of accountability and ownership; an agile or flexible managerial coaching approach in response to learning or business needs; and, the relationships and presence of the manager. The expertise of managers was valued irrespective of the perception of coaching behaviours or levels of employee engagement. Positive feedback and praise from the manager makes people feel recognised and significant, while the predominant managerial coaching behaviours falls within the performance coaching paradigm. Organisations need to develop the coaching behaviours of their managers to impact on the organisation’s and the individual’s performance, longer term development, skills acquisition, and wellbeing. / MT2017

Thesis (MPhil)--Stellenbosch University, 2015. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: This research assignment is a qualitative study into the common factors supporting the matching between coach and coachee. The research purpose was to contribute to the lack of understanding of common coach and coachee matching factors based on the views of coaches and coachees respectively, and to provide guidelines for matching to key stakeholders that participate in the practice and profession of coaching. To do this, the available literature on the coach-coachee relationship and matching was reviewed in parallel with the psychotherapeutic literature on the subject. The literature informed the semi-structured interview guide, which was used to interview three coaches and eight coachees following their introductory meetings. The eight introductory meetings between coaches and coachees were the basis for the 16 interviews with the individual coach and coachee participants, and comprised the data used in the thematic analysis. The coach and coachee data were compiled on spreadsheets, allowing key themes to be identified. These themes were interpreted making reference to the literature and then synthesised into super-ordinate themes, from which guidelines were extrapolated for coaches, coachees and client and coaching organisations. It was found that there were two super-ordinate themes common to both coaches and coachees: relational chemistry and perceived personal benefit. These super-ordinate themes were however comprised of different factors for coaches and coachees. Relational chemistry for coachees comprised coach similarity, openness, ability to build rapport, empathy and assurance of confidentiality. Relational chemistry for coaches comprised below-the-line similarity with coachees, a distinction from above-the-line similarity aligned to the literature. Perceived personal benefit to coachees included coach difference, confidence, credibility and derived and expected personal benefit. Perceived personal benefit to coaches included coachee challenge, coachee motivation and fitting the coach’s area of speciality. It was found that matching factors could be grouped generically and specifically. Generic factors could easily be applied in all matching situations and were therefore useful in coach training and coachee match preparation, and specific factors posed the greater matching challenge requiring considered attention by those charged with matching. Relational chemistry, an almost elusive notion in the literature, was found to be the result of particular coach and coachee matching factors. A surprising result was the importance of the coaches’ views, found to be the more tenuous and influential in matching with coachees. It seemed that coaches could regulate the coachee’s matching experience if they were sufficiently motivated to do so based on their perception of personal benefit. The key recommendations of this research are encapsulated in the guidelines developed from the findings. Essentially, stakeholders in the practice and profession of coaching are encouraged to utilise the common factors identified in this research in coach training, coachee preparation, and coach-coachee matching situations.

Thesis (MPhil)--Stellenbosch University, 2014. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: The purpose of this research was to suggest the best process to follow for the implementation of an internal coaching programme in a multi-national retail organisation. The key resources and barriers to the implementation of an internal coaching were explored to answer the research question. This research was a qualitative study. Using an inductive approach, it sought to explore and interpret data collected from research participants and documents. A purposive sampling approach was used. A total of twelve top and senior employees from a multi-national furniture retail organisation, that the researcher is employed at, in the Sandton area, participated in the research. Data was collected using semi-structured interview guides and the study of company documents. The critical factors for the implementation of a coaching programme identified by the research participants were similar to the critical factors identified for the implementation of a project, with resources and the purpose of coaching (or impact on the business) as the most critical. Key resources were identified as people, financial support, tools and time. It was also found that a critical factor for the implementation of a coaching programme is the alignment of the purpose and objectives of the programme to those of the organisation. Buy-in from stakeholders, communication and alignment with the Human Resources strategy were the other critical factors identified. A top-down approach is preferred to obtain buy-in from management. The research found that barriers identified with the implementation of a coaching programme were similar to the barriers identified when implementing a project. Given the specific nature of a coaching programme, the research findings also indicated certain unique features in addition to following the same process as the implementation of a project. These features were organisational readiness and the selection of participants in a coaching programme. Implementing an internal coaching programme suggests change and therefore organisational readiness is important. The findings revealed that 83 percent of the research participants believed that knowledge of coaching is essential when implementing an internal coaching programme. Of the research participants, 75 percent believed that a combination of internal vs. external coaches should be used. The suggested process to follow when implementing an internal coaching programme includes the following steps: (i) Establish the need; (ii) Do research on the impact of coaching in an organisation; (iii) Ensure the implementation of a coaching programme is aligned to the strategic objectives of the organisation; (iv) Develop clear objectives; (v) Obtain buy-in from the top; (vi) Allocate the necessary resources; (vii) Develop a clear communication strategy; (viii) Identify milestones and timelines; (ix) Measure progress; (x) Conduct regular team meetings; (xi) Give regular feedback; and (xii) Measure return on investment. The study has some limitations as it only collected data from one organisation. It does however add to the body of knowledge in suggesting a best practice process to follow when implementing a coaching programme.

Thesis (MPhil)--Stellenbosch University, 2015. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: The Coach and Mentors of South Africa (COMENSA) coach/mentor supervision policy of 2010, which was updated in 2013, aims to convey COMENSA’s official position on coaching supervision as well as inform members about this practice. The policy offers a framework for best practice for coaching supervision and serves as a benchmark against which to compare the goals and competencies of coach supervisors in South Africa. COMENSA’s policy on supervision includes a list of seven goals. The policy further recommends that, throughout the supervisory relationship, the supervisor must be able to demonstrate a range of behaviours and competencies, as well as be able “to pay attention to, work with and balance” the three functions of supervision, namely: developmental, resourcing, and qualitative. Currently it is unknown whether the coach supervisors offering supervision in South Africa actually meet these behaviours, competencies and goals. In addition, it is unknown what qualifications and experience the coach supervisors have and whether their supervision meets the supervisees’ expectations. This study assessed whether coach supervisors in South Africa actually meet the COMENSA supervision policies’ competency requirements and supervision goals and whether these goals and requirements are necessary and sufficient for quality coaching supervision sessions. The study also explored whether coaching supervision met the supervisees’ expectations. The research design was an empirical qualitative study using a multi-method approach involving interviews and documents. The study was interpretive and exploratory in nature. Primary data was sourced through semi-structured interviews with 23 participants comprising five supervisors and 18 supervisees from three regions in South Africa. Secondary data came from the two COMENSA coach/mentor supervision policies (2010 and 2013). The data was analysed using ATLAS.ti. It was found that supervisors focused their goals on learning and support first, then relational dynamics and professional practice issues. In the COMENSA coach/mentor supervision policy the emphasis differs. The policy focuses predominantly on relational dynamics, then learning and professional practice. Supervision as support was mentioned only briefly in two goals. According to the perspective of their supervisees, supervisors were competent in terms of the requirements set out in the COMENSA coach/mentor policies (2010 and 2013) and supervision largely met their expectations. Supervisees identified areas for improvement in supervisor facilitation skills, providing a safe space and stronger contracting. A surprising result emerged with 11 of the 18 supervisees either already using supervision to discuss the business of coaching or wanting this to be an added element of the process. The business of coaching covers topics such as marketing and how to run a practice and is not typically included in coaching supervision. The competency of raising cultural awareness and respecting diversity and difference was not mentioned by any of the participants, a surprising omission given the diverse socio-political environment of South Africa.

Thesis (MPhil)--Stellenbosch University, 2014. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: Despite workplace bullying becoming more prevalent today, limited focus has been placed on this phenomenon within the organisational research context. It is important to note that this particular field of study still seems to be fairly new. Preventative measures for workplace bullying have focused on organisations taking responsibility through revisiting organisational leadership and culture, implementing policies and programmes, one of which includes coaching interventions. The present study set out to state that through effective and well-directed coaching interventions, awareness regarding workplace bullying can be created on both an individual and organisational level. The main objective of the study was to explore what coaching interventions and techniques can be used in coaching to address workplace bullying in South Africa. This study, positioned in the interpretivist paradigm, explored the personal experiences of 13 qualified and registered business coaches with COMENSA in South Africa, regarding their understanding, experience and knowledge of coaching related to workplace bullying from the sample group, through qualitative data. The sample group participated in individual semi-structured interviews relaying their experiences by answering specific questions, formulated as guidelines to the study. The questions were grouped into four categories, in order to analyse the qualitative data by using the content analysis method. The study found that coaches are increasingly faced with the responsibility to coach individuals related to workplace bullying, that it is a definite problem in South African organisations, but that organisations are currently not addressing it. The sample group in general had an average understanding of the concept of workplace bullying. However, their experience in workplace bullying contributed to insight on a number of factors, not obtained from literature. This also included the identification of several approaches, techniques and tools, which have been used with great effectiveness, whether coaching bullies or individuals being bullied. The sample group also emphasised a number of critical areas that coaches need to be aware of, including the importance of coaching supervision, proper contracting with clients and the effect that workplace bullying have on the coach himself, to mention just a few. The study focused on discussing the findings of this study by analysing and comparing the specific results, with previous literature, research and studies. The literature mentioned a number of theoretical underpinnings that can be used in workplace bullying coaching, but the study found more value in the processes followed by the coaches regarding effective coaching interventions, combined with approaches, tools and techniques, which are indicated specifically in the study. It was also found that an effective workplace bullying coach should have a good knowledge of organisations, organisational culture and the dynamics in business. In relation to South Africa’s focus on workplace bullying, the study found that this is greatly lacking, and special attempts should be made to create awareness of the topic in South African organisations. Investigations are proposed to incorporate workplace bullying into the South African labour legislation and to establish a Workplace Bullying Body to quantitatively and qualitatively investigate and regulate workplace bullying in South Africa.

M.Com. / Please refer to full text to view abstract

Thesis (MBA)--Stellenbosch University, 2012. / The new world of business requires the growth and development of all staff to ensure a competitive advantage for the organisation by maximising the effective and productive impact of the human resources of the company. It is in this context that the informal coach within the company can make the greatest impact by facilitating the development and growth of aspiring leaders and managers to reach their full potential. In this context, the informal coach will be an employee of the company and have a regular designation within the organisation. Apart from his or her daily duties, the coach will aspire to provide guidance and facilitate change with fellow employees on an informal and relaxed basis. The coaching will not take place during formal sessions, as is the case for a traditional coaching process, but will be guided by daily interaction between the coach and client within the work environment. When fulfilling this role the coach needs to be aware of the core principles, skills and values to form the basis of the coaching process. The coach should further have a clear understanding of the independent position that is required within the interaction with the client, where the focus is on the goals, hopes and curiosities of the client as a centre to growth and development. The coach should consider the perspectives of the client that was formed by the client’s life experiences and that could have a profound impact on the effectiveness of the coaching interaction and the possible hindrances to optimal personal development. During this process the particular life stage of the client will play a prominent role in the interaction, with the coach to consider the specific needs and desires of the client in context of his or her development stage or managerial level. The personal and organisational leadership style of the client and the company should be considered when initiating a coaching process, with the client required to be capable of utilising a variety of leadership styles effectively to assure the optimal use of teams. The coach should assist the client to develop the capacity to identify which leadership styles are required under certain conditions and how to use it effectively. The leadership pipeline and succession planning within the company will play an important role in the way the client will be guided to fulfil a specific management or leadership role. In this case the coach will need to be aware and collaborate with human resource planning within the company to ensure that the identification and development of the client is aligned with company strategies and planning. Throughout the interaction the coach should provide feedback to the client on the progress made during the coaching process. This feedback should be managed appropriately to act as motivation to the client for further development. Typically a 360° peer review can be used as a source for feedback as long as it is properly managed to yield accurate and appropriate results. The role of the informal coach should thus not be underestimated in the workplace to facilitate personal growth for individuals and managers to ensure the continued strategic strengthening of the company and the future survival of businesses.

Thesis (MPhil)--Stellenbosch University, 2014. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: The South African coaching and mentoring industry is a fragmented and unregulated work environment with no entry barriers. Industry standards and quality are undefined and dependent on a myriad of coaching training institutions, of which only one, the University of Stellenbosch, is registered with and quality assured by the National Qualifications Act. The result is a mixed bag of coaching approaches, philosophies and methodologies which are not necessarily grounded in evidence-based practice. Thus the industry is characterised by market confusion and an influx of untrained or poorly trained practitioners. Although coaching is not a high-risk occupation, it still carries a significant responsibility. It directly influences decision-making in business and in the lives of individuals. Consequently it has the potential for a considerable positive impact on society. However, the unregulated environment of South African coaching exposes the public to coaching behaviour which may be incompetent and unethical. The global demand for coaching has been growing steadily over the past few years and South Africa is no exception. Unfortunately this growth is at risk of stagnation and decreasing levels of trust – typical ingredients for a fad recipe. It must be stated though that there are pockets of excellence, often supported by international qualifications and credentials. In early 2013 the newly elected executive committee of COMENSA (Coaches and Mentors of South Africa) embarked on a bold journey to rectify this situation. A decision was made to professionalise the coaching industry by registering with government as a self-regulated professional body in 2014. To prepare for this, COMENSA launched a strategy for the development of local standards, credentialing and continuing professional development based on international benchmarking. This research documented the launch of the strategy through a monitoring and evaluation framework. It investigated the strategy's activities in relation to intended results. It also probed a number of direct stakeholders regarding their understanding and expectations of the strategy as well as their attitude towards it. The research yielded in-depth insights into the objectives of the strategy – some of them unstated in the strategic document, but still intended. It also uncovered a stakeholder view which contained indicators of the market confusion mentioned above. Finally, it identified a potential misalignment between the expectations of the strategy and the requirements contained in the government policy on self-regulated professionalisation. In conclusion it must be added that this research was the first phase of a longer-term monitoring and evaluation project on the impact of a professional coaching environment. Key words: COMENSA; coaching; professionalisation; self-regulation; monitoring and evaluation; impact evaluation; evaluating strategy. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Geen

Thesis (MPhil)--Stellenbosch University, 2014. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: The trend towards globalisation and its role in fomenting hyper-competition practices have brought new forms of workforce development and management strategies to the fore. As such, business coaching as a recent addition to the workforce development interventions has moved into the strategy arena. However, as pointed out in various texts (Cavanagh, 2006; Stout-Rostron, 2009a; Chapman, 2010; Peltier, 2010; Rosinski, 2010; Kahn, 2011; Wildflower and Brennan, 2011), business coaching like most other multi-dimensional interventions is complex. This complexity in part stems from the need to align the organisation’s business coaching needs with the needs of the coachee (Stout-Rostron, 2009a). Added to this is the influence of the coachee’s sense of readiness as well as the impact of the three-way coaching relationship to the outcomes of business coaching. This means that, while a business coaching model can contribute to the basket of workforce development interventions, it is possible that the appropriate application of this model will be contingent on the circumstances of particular organisations. Against this background, the aim of this study was to explore how contextual factors influence the appropriate application of business coaching. Towards this end, the study placed the contextual focus at Engen Petroleum Limited and the findings revealed six factors, which can influence the appropriate application of business coaching along the three dimensions of: i) aligning the organisation’s business coaching needs with the needs of the coachee; ii) readiness for coaching; and iii) the coaching relationship. Two of the six factors, namely clarity on expected outcomes as well as programme structure and support can influence the alignment of the organisation’s business coaching needs with the needs of the coachee. Two other factors, namely knowledge about the coaching programme and the level of self-awareness can influence the coachee’s sense of readiness for coaching. The last two factors relating to choice of coach and contract as well as confidentiality and progress reporting, can influence the coaching relationship dimension of business coaching. These findings have implications for coaching research and organisational practice - in particular, at Engen. Thus, to leverage the benefits of business coaching, the researcher developed and recommends ‘The Business Coaching Cycle’ (see Figure 6.1) as a framework for Engen and other organisations to consider when seeking to appropriately apply business coaching as a people development strategy. The five components of ‘The business coaching cycle’ include alignment of the organisation’s business coaching needs with the needs of the coachee; ensuring coaching readiness; formalising the coaching relationship; adhering to the coachee’s confidentiality needs when reporting on progress and organisational support for referral of the coachee to an Employee Assistance Programme (EAP) or a training intervention when necessary. In terms of contribution to the coaching research, the study raised one possibility for further research, namely: ‘Exploring the readiness of the work environment for the coachee’s behavioural change after a business coaching intervention’.

Thesis (Ph.D.)--University of the Witwatersrand, Faculty of Commerce, Law and Management, Graduate School of Business Administration, 2017. / Coaching is a young, growing professional practice with its origins in many older established fields of knowledge. There is considerable research into what coaches think about their work and the theories and methods underlining these approaches. However, there is a great deal less research on how the executives or coaching clients experienced the coaching. This research answered the questions from the coached executive perspective by first wanting to know (1) what the lived experience of the coaching executive was; and (2) based on that lived experience, what theory about the coaching process would emerge. This emerged theory would be grounded in evidence from the coachee. A total of 17 clients were involved in the research. While the research had a strong phenomenological underpinning, the method used was that of constructivist grounded theory. There were five key findings with theoretical propositions behind each of the findings. The findings are: (1) Coaching is a response to an unmet need in an individual who lives in a volatile, ever changing world with great complexity. Coaching provided a wellness model that is collaborative, client driven, and adaptable. A primary need in people is to have a sense of well-being and personal meaning in this world. (2) Even though the coaching is a response to a need, the coaching client still needs to be ready to be coached. A client readiness theory with integrated components was developed based on the clients’ lived experience. The interrelationships based on the client’s perceptions were a new contribution. (3) There are several processes in coaching but the key focus of the processes is that they are active and present. The processes also understand the relationship between the ‘being’ and ‘knowing’ of the coach and the ‘doing’ of the coach. The doing covers the active processes but it is the way in which the coach does these processes (the being) that influences their efficacy. (4) The coach needs to be authentic, credible and present. (5) Brain integration leads to deeper self-awareness, well-being and personal meaning. This theory of brain integration is based in Interpersonal Neurobiology, and the nine domains of integration assist in providing an overarching framework in which to position the outcomes of coaching. The contribution was broad in that it looked at all aspects of the coaching process: the coach, the coachee, the process, the outcomes and the context and provided an integrated framework. / MT2017