Competences of business coaches as a quality factor of practical management training

This article analyzes professional competences of business coaches. Our research was based on the survey results of business coaches and managers who took advanced training in educational centres of the Urals (Russia). The study found that managers' perception of business coach professional tasks is largely utilitarian and practical – “profound expertise of a problem”, “assistance in handling specific business tasks”. Business coaches perceive their tasks in a broader context – “transform mind for success”, “motivate for development”, “inspire positive changes”. Requirements for business coach activity include a set of subjectrelated, methodological, practical and communicative competences. The most important competencies are “profound knowledge of the topic, problem, business area”; “skills of a moderator, facilitator, and an ability to 'shake up' the audience”; “successful management experience”; “ability to hear the audience and promptly adjust the plan and content of training to specific requests of the clients”. Managers assess the significance of such competencies higher than business coaches themselves. Revealed differences in assessments indicate a disparity between managers' expectations and business coaches’ vision of their primary objectives. Coordination of participants' views will promote to improve the quality of training and development (T&D) programs and maximize their practical benefits for customers.