We will have to identify new trends in this data, with our 2012 report as a baseline. If, in years past, business coaches classified themselves as executive coaches, separating them out this year would tip the scales in favor of the ‘published process’ answer.  (30% of executive coaches follow a process, only 20% of business coaches do).  We believe that most business coaches previously identified themselves as ‘other professionals.’ In that case, they would not have seen the question about published processes in prior years’ studies.

So, which coaches follow a published process?

 

 

So, we asked executive coaches what process they followed. Among specific processes coaching mentioned by our respondents, just two have meaningful market share. For the third year, the Coactive process and the Sherpa process each earned slightly over 20% of all the process mentions.

These are not the only significant processes, however. Corporate Coach U, Grow, Hudson and ICF competencies received mention, all at fewer than 5% of our answers. Thirty six additional processes were mentioned, once each.

Do you base your coaching on a published process? (Executive coaches)

There is gravity at the high end of the spectrum for published processes. Larger firms create their own teams of coaches, who are trained and certified together, and expected to create a common language and culture. Rather than allowing each coach to develop their own, they rely on published processes to deliver predictable results.

Their approach, we are told, is based on a simple fact: larger corporations and agencies are not in the business of writing a coaching process or curriculum. Coaching may support their mission, but coaching is not their mission.

Sidebar or graph:

70% of coaches from firms with 1000+ employees are internal coaches.
30% of coaches from mid-sized firms (100-999 employees) are internal coaches.
Fewer than 2% of coaches with smaller firms (99 employees or less) are internal

The numbers bear that out. Coaches in larger firms follow a published process more often.
53% of coaches in large firms *(1,000+ employees) do.
36% of coaches in mid-sized firms (100-999 employees) do.
Just 25% of coaches in smaller firms (99 employees or less)
21% of coaches in the smallest firms (1-5 employees) do.

Which executive coaches follow a published process?

11% of coaches who claim ‘personal experience’ as their background for coaching.
18% of coaches whose background is ‘formal education not related to coaching’.
23% of those who cite self study or online training in coaching.
32% of those who went through classroom training and certification as a coach.