The role of wellbeing in business coaching in South Africa

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.