Episode Description:

Welcome to Coaching Revealed, the podcast brought to you by the Institute of Coaching - How do we know that coaching is working? In this episode of Coaching Revealed, we are kicking off a new series on coaching research and the evidence base of the profession. Opening this new season is Angela Passarelli, former Director of Research and current Chair of the IOC’s Scientific Advisory Council. Angela is interviewed by IOC Executive Director, Jeff Hull about the history of coaching research. Along with her personal career as a scholar at the Fuqua School of Business at Duke University and the Weatherhead School of Management at Case Western Reserve University, Angela and Jeff discuss the research that has been supported by the Institute of Coaching.

In this episode, Jeff and Angela cover: 

• The evolution of the coaching research field from proving efficacy to understanding mechanisms and dynamics 
• The results and findings of early fMRI studies on coaching with Richard Boyatzis 
• The impact of coaching on positive emotional attractors (PEAs) and negative emotional attractors (NEAs)
• The research work supported by the Institute of Coaching
• The trends of coaching research and future areas of focus

If you are interested in learning about research at the Institute of Coaching, you can learn more at: https://instituteofcoaching.org/research-ioc

If you are interested in submitting a proposal for a coaching research grant you can learn more at: https://instituteofcoaching.org/ioc-research-grants

Episode Summary: 

How do we know that coaching is working? In this episode of Coaching Revealed, we are kicking off a new series on coaching research and the evidence base of the profession. Opening this new season is Angela Passarelli, former Director of Research and current Chair of the IOC’s Scientific Advisory Council. Angela is interviewed by IOC Executive Director, Jeff Hull about the history of coaching research.

As a researcher, Angela studied at Weatherhead School of Management at Case Western Reserve University with David Kolb and Richard Boyatzis. Noticing the sparseness of coaching literature available at the time, Angela was inspired to contribute to the field. With this early work focusing on fMRI studies, neurobiology, and human reaction to various forms of leadership styles. 

With early coaching studies, Angela cites surprising findings, such as how both conversations about one’s ideal self and problem-focused conversations can lead to stress responses in coachees. Working through these findings, the research revealed that visioning conversations can lead to adaptive physiological responses and error reduction. 

Within the coaching field of study, Angela shares her excitement on the improvement in the methodology of coaching research. With papers and projects shifting from validating efficacy to showcasing meta-analysis. Additionally, research on the profession’s impact has increased scope to include the fields of leadership, healthcare, and education. This includes the work of the Institute of Coaching, to provide opportunities for researchers as we disseminate knowledge to active practitioners in the field.

To close out the episode, Angela shares how individuals can support research by joining organizations like the Institute of Coaching and investing time into learning from the research or contributing to the work of research institutions.