What do these results regarding overall influences on coaching practices tell us about potential differences between USA and non-USA coaches? Mostly, as in the case of our previous analyses, the results tell us that there are not many differences or that our categorization is too general (with all respondents from outside the United States being placed in one category). Yet, there are several questions yielding near significant (p. <.10) differences. We might find that non-USA coaches are more likely to be influenced by engagement in formal supervision and by conducting coach-related research, whereas the USA coaches are more likely to be influenced by their own experiences as someone receiving personal coaching.
Is a pattern detectable here? It does seem that coaches from outside the USA are more likely that those inside the USA to be influenced by the more formal structures of the coaching profession: supervision and research. Conversely, the USA coaches are “carrying their own baggage” with them. They were influenced by their own personal coaching experience. They are now on their own—being influenced perhaps by their own experiences that they themselves interpret (without the assistance of an outside supervisor). There is no need for research or evidence-based coaching practices, if we are going to rely on our own internal guidance and acquired wisdom.
We don’t need to read books if we are our own “in-house” expert. In an earlier essay on results from this Development of Coaches study, I concluded with the following observation and recommendation:
As Francine Campone noted in her request for participation in the first Survey, the field of coaching should build a culture of research and evidence. I would add a further recommendation to this proposal: this culture should move coaching beyond isolation and autonomy. It should move the field to a culture of collaboration, in which thoughtful dialogue is accompanied by evidence-based information, reflective practice and a desire to advance the inter-discipline of professional coaching through critical inquiry. Hopefully, this set of articles, reporting on results from the Development of Coaches surveys, is contributing in a small way to building such a culture.
