One-to-one coaching and coachee personality trait change

Jones, R. J. ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-7329-0502 and Woods, S. A. (2024) One-to-one coaching and coachee personality trait change. Journal of Managerial Psychology. ISSN 0268-3946 doi: 10.1108/JMP-01-2023-0044

Abstract/Summary

Purpose A specific area of interest in the coaching literature is focused on exploring the intersection of personality and coaching, however, research has yet to explore whether coaching exerts reciprocal effects on personality traits (i.e., if personality trait change can accompany coaching). Utilizing the explanatory theoretical framing of the DATA framework (Woods et al., 2019), we propose that coaching may indirectly facilitate personality trait change by firstly enabling the coachee to reflect on their behaviors, secondly, implement desired behavioral changes which, consequently facilitate personality trait change. Design/methodology/approach A quasi-experiment was conducted to explore coaching and personality trait change. Students participating in a demanding, work-based team simulation (N = 258), were assigned to either an intervention group (and received one-to-one coaching) or a control group (who received no intervention). Personality traits were measured before and after coaching and positioned as the dependent variable. Findings Results indicate that participants in the coaching group exhibited significant changes in self-reported agreeableness, conscientiousness, extraversion and core self-evaluations, which all significantly decreased after coaching, however no change was observed for the control group. Originality We provide the first exploration of coaching and personality trait change, contributing to both the coaching literature, by providing evidence regarding the efficacy of coaching to facilitate personality trait change in coachees, and the personality literature, by highlighting coaching as an important tool for those interested in personality trait change. Our research also has implications for other interventions such as mentoring, as we provide support for the notion that interventions can support personality trait change.

Item Type	Article
URI	https://reading-clone.eprints-hosting.org/id/eprint/114714
Identification Number/DOI	10.1108/JMP-01-2023-0044
Refereed	Yes
Divisions	Henley Business School > Leadership, Organisations, Behaviour and Reputation
Publisher	Emerald Group Publishing
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