This study explores the virtues needed to be a good coach. In contrast to the considerable focus on competencies, there has been little discussion about what the character traits of a coach should be. We therefore explored what key stakeholders in coaching understood about the virtues of coaches. Experienced coaches and clients (predominantly from a workplace context) were interviewed and the data analysed by reflexive thematic analysis. This identified six virtues: wisdom, temperance, courage, loyalty, non-judgemental and attentive, which were made up of 22 components. This provides a helpful framework for professional reflection and the training and development of coaches, as well as future research.

Keywords: Coaching, virtue, phronesis, coaching education, coaching training

This article was written by Andrew George, MBE and Dr. Susan Rose. Published by Oxford Brookes University in the International Journal of Evidence Based Coaching and Mentoring 2025, Vol. 23(1), pp.6-23. DOI: 10.24384/3sd6-7179.

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