Coaching in organizations: what is the scientific evidence about its effectiveness?

Abstract

The individual coaching process is a growing intervention used in work organizations. The investment in this tool is justified by the belief that a worker can develop skills, change behaviors, and achieve goals with the help of a professional coach. This would result in better individual and organizational performance. However, little is known about the scientific basis of its effectiveness. This study sought to search, in the scientific literature, about what is known with respect to the effectiveness of individual coaching processes in the work context. From the analysis of nineteen scientific papers published, using a method of rapid systematic review, the results suggested little scientific evidence on the effectiveness of coaching. There is a need to conduct more empirical studies with high quality and scientific methodological rigor, which may bring more scientific evidence and greater robustness and reliability for research results in this field.