Masterful Coaching

[Year]

Executive Summary

This study aims to find out what is a masterful coach?” in attempt to capture the talent of those who move beyond the functional execution of the work and provide results based on content-knowledge and management of uncertain complexity. I will argue that defining the profession of coaching by functional competencies fails to capture modes of learning and knowledge utilized when a practioner moves beyond the models of instruction toward context-bound knowledge, the mastery. A greater understanding of such mastery not only contributes to the legitimacy of the profession, but also provides a framework for the growth and development of its practioners.

The intention of this dissertation is not to undermine the value of standards and functional competence as a predicator of professionalism. Rather, the purpose of this dissertation is to highlight distinction between competence and mastery within the field of coaching.

This research will be conducted so that the integrity research could be maintained? and contradictory effects that could undermine the promise for future research are avoided in this research. The choice of study subjects based on the best technical approach and an evaluation of the advantage of the promise of the participants and humanity in relation to the risk to be conveyed by the participants. This study is associated with issues that are considered as important.

Phase one of my study will be to interview heads of 25 Accredited coach training programs. This interview will be 60-90 minutes in length and be conducted over the phone. They will NOT be recorded. The heads of coach training programs will be asked to identify what they believe to be the 5 key functions of a coaching engagement. They will then be asked to describe the 5 levels of performance (Novice, Advanced Beginner, Competent, Proficient, and Master) for each of the 5 key functions. The final question will be to have the heads of the coach training programs provide 2-3 names of coaches they believe operate at the “master” level across all 5 key functions of the coaching engagement.

In the Phase Two, coaches will be initially sent an invitation to participate based on the recommendation from the specific head of their related coaching program. If they agree to participate they will be sent a letter of informed consent and the interview questions we will be discussing during our call.

Following organizations can be considered for participant's recruitment:

International Coaching Federation

Association of Coaching and Development

Chamber of Coaching

For the initial screening the professional job profile will be observed and the top positioned job profile will be short listed. Moreover I will forward a request letter to the professional for the interview in order to determine their willingness to participate in the study. After the initial interview I will forward a permission letter to above listed organizations in order to obtain the permission for conducting interviews with their employees.

Brief Description of the Background and Purpose of the Research

“The coaching industry is far from meeting the basic requirements of a true profession,” suggests Grant (2009, ...