ABSTRACT
This chapter talks about "executive coaching". Organizational Role Analysis has been adapted by many practitioners of systems-psychodynamics-based organizational consultancy, who variously refer to their work with individuals as "organizational role consultancy" or simply "role consultancy", and more lately—largely for marketing purposes—as executive coaching. For some coaches, particularly those using GROW or a person-centred approach, non-directiveness was absolute. The 1980s saw the introduction of the term "executive coaching" in the UK through a small band of people including John Whitmore, Graham Alexander, and their associates, who started as sports coaches using the Inner Game approach invented by Timothy Gallwey in the USA. Therapists in private practice are increasingly interested in providing coaching, in part driven by the need to find alternative ways of deploying their skills as long-term therapy wanes in popularity. The coaching industry could perhaps usefully learn from the field of psychotherapy and take the first steps to self-regulation, the development of accredited training, and recognized professional standards.
