Research: does coaching work?

With a global spend estimated at over US $2 billion (Sanghera, 2004) coaching is clearly not a niche market but an accepted contribution to the executive’s development portfolio. It is unsurprising therefore that the buyers of coaching, both individuals and organisations, are starting to ask what can they expect to achieve from a coaching engagement, what approach or model is right for them and how can they get the best from the interaction. The market is, in effect, maturing.