The role of wellbeing in business coaching in South Africa
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Date
2015-03-06
Authors
Tomasella, Laura-Anne
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Abstract
Adult development in organisations is a topic that takes on new implications in
complex, uncertain economic times. Globalisation and rapid technological
advancements, coupled with local issues that create a highly stressful environment,
influence the productivity, performance and efficiency of individuals in the workplace.
This research report is built on three research questions. The first explores business
coaching as a positive process that develops capacities in individuals in order to
influence organisational objectives. The second investigates the belief that
individuals’ wellbeing affects their productivity, performance and efficiency in the
workplace, thereby affecting organisational results. The third research question
examines whether wellbeing plays a role in business coaching in South Africa, and if
so, how that role is characterised.
Following a review of the literature, qualitative research was undertaken using semistructured
face-to-face interviews to investigate the research questions.
The exploration of the coaching-wellbeing issue confirms that an association
between wellbeing and business coaching exists. The role it plays in the coaching
agenda is that of ‘outcome’, and while wellbeing has a genuine presence, it appears
as an unarticulated result or by-product of articulated, legitimate business coaching
goals.
Wellbeing emerged in business coaching conversations through four themes –
engagement, happiness, health and stress. Experiencing coaching as a goalorientated
development intervention is found to enhance wellbeing. The research
report furthermore confirms that coaching results in improved happiness, health and
wellbeing.
Description
Thesis (M.M. (Business Executive Coaching))--University of the Witwatersrand, Faculty of Commerce, Law and Management, Graduate School of Business Administration, 2014.