Executive coaching practices: What do executive coaches do

Executive coaching is a rapidly growing area of practice. However, there has been a documented lack of empirical basis or evidence to support such rapid growth (Blackman, 2007). While a growing body of literature is developing from diverse practice areas such as management training, training and development, coaching federations, and psychology (Kampa-Kokesch & Anderson, 2001), very little of it has focused on what the executive coach does when practicing their craft. "What happens in coaching engagements remains quite mysterious as there is a lack of detailed case studies that describe what practitioners actually do with their clients" (Kilburg, 2004, p.204).;This qualitative dissertation was designed to explore the question, "What do executive coaches actually do with their clients?" Using a purposive sampling strategy, 10 executive coaches were interviewed. Participants all had a minimum of five years of executive coaching practice experience to be included. Findings indicated that this group of executive coaches engaged in three primary tasks: (1) assess or collect data in the areas of motivation, evaluation and feedback (process and outcome), and they use psychometric tools to aid this process, (2) demonstrate awareness in the areas of their role and function with clients, and in regards to the discipline itself, and (3) this group demonstrates skills in the areas of relationship management and professional conduct. Of note, those executive coaches who were prepared formally in an academic setting compared to those who were prepared via certification training. Future research in the areas of preparation as a predictor of success is recommended, as is work examining the influence of pre-coach preparation style or modality.;Keywords: executive coaching, assessment, role, awareness, skill. .