Coaching may help people reach goals and do better at work.

The review

1. 01

   Who took part

   The review covers 18 studies with 2,090 people. Most were employees or executives, and some were university students or high school teachers.

2. 02

   What they did

   People were coached by trained coaches who had no authority over them, usually for 4 to 14 sessions. One study ran 50 sessions.

3. 03

   What happened

   Coaching helped people set and reach goals, and it helped work performance too. Work performance results varied a lot, and one study with a very large effect made the gain look bigger. Studies with no comparison group showed bigger gains than studies with one.

What the review found

1. HelpedGoals

   Across 11 studies, coaching helped people set goals and work toward them.

   • Rule: With a coach or therapistused

   Pooled analysis of 11 studies with 789 people · vs people with no coaching, or checked before and after · they rated themselves · ⚠ whole programmes were tested, so no single part can be credited; mixes trials with other kinds of study

2. HelpedGoals

   Across 6 studies, coaching helped people do better at work, though results varied a lot.

   • Rule: With a coach or therapistused

   Pooled analysis of 6 studies with 2,007 people · vs people with no coaching, or checked before and after · ⚠ the studies disagreed a lot; whole programmes were tested, so no single part can be credited; mixes trials with other kinds of study

3. HelpedOther outcomes

   Across 10 studies, coaching helped people feel better, including less stress and burnout.

   • Rule: With a coach or therapistused

   Pooled analysis of 10 studies with 564 people · vs people with no coaching, or checked before and after · they rated themselves · ⚠ whole programmes were tested, so no single part can be credited; mixes trials with other kinds of study

Source