TY - JOUR

T1 - The relationship between working alliance and client outcomes in coaching

T2 - A meta-analysis

AU - Graßmann, Carolin

AU - Schölmerich, Franziska

AU - Schermuly, Carsten C.

PY - 2020/1/1

Y1 - 2020/1/1

N2 - A growing number of studies emphasize the working alliance between the client and the coach to be a key factor in coaching. Synthesizing 27 samples (N = 3563 coaching processes), this meta-analysis sheds light on the relationship between working alliance and a broad range of coaching outcomes for clients. The meta-analytic results indicate a moderate and consistent overall relationship between a high-quality working alliance and coaching outcomes for clients (r =.41, 95% CI [.34,.48], p <.001). Working alliance was positively related to all desirable coaching outcomes (range: r =.32 to.64), with the strongest relationship to affective and cognitive coaching outcomes. Moreover, working alliance was negatively related to unintended negative effects of coaching (r = –.29). Results revealed no differences regarding the type of clients, coaches’ expertise, number of coaching sessions, and clients’ or coaches’ perspectives. Similar to other helping relationships like psychotherapy or mentoring, the results support the importance of a high-quality working alliance in coaching.

AB - A growing number of studies emphasize the working alliance between the client and the coach to be a key factor in coaching. Synthesizing 27 samples (N = 3563 coaching processes), this meta-analysis sheds light on the relationship between working alliance and a broad range of coaching outcomes for clients. The meta-analytic results indicate a moderate and consistent overall relationship between a high-quality working alliance and coaching outcomes for clients (r =.41, 95% CI [.34,.48], p <.001). Working alliance was positively related to all desirable coaching outcomes (range: r =.32 to.64), with the strongest relationship to affective and cognitive coaching outcomes. Moreover, working alliance was negatively related to unintended negative effects of coaching (r = –.29). Results revealed no differences regarding the type of clients, coaches’ expertise, number of coaching sessions, and clients’ or coaches’ perspectives. Similar to other helping relationships like psychotherapy or mentoring, the results support the importance of a high-quality working alliance in coaching.

KW - client outcomes

KW - coaching

KW - meta-analysis

KW - relationship quality

KW - working alliance

KW - Management studies

UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85061991922&partnerID=8YFLogxK

U2 - 10.1177/0018726718819725

DO - 10.1177/0018726718819725

M3 - Journal articles

AN - SCOPUS:85061991922

VL - 73

SP - 35

EP - 58

JO - Human Relations

JF - Human Relations

SN - 0018-7267

IS - 1

ER -