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.
Download the article here
This week, Dr Andrew George describes how coaching is an integration of his professional life.
As an academic, my proudest achievements were the students that I helped. I keep on my bookshelves the theses of all my PhD and MSc students, and often I look at them and remember the individuals, the difficult patches in their studies, the highs that we experienced and the change that happened to them. For me, helping people achieve their ambitions has always been key to my professional life.
I left full time academic employment in 2018 and decided to offer myself as a coach. I looked for a training course, and with my background in science and education I wanted to have an education that did more than just train me to be a competent practitioner but which also gave me the intellectual underpinning to the subject. I therefore decided to do the MSc at Henley Business School.
I have also developed through my MSc a research interest in professional and personal development and have published in this area. In particular I have been working to understand how an understanding of moral purpose and character than help professionals reflect on what they do. This research informs, and is informed by, my practice as a coach and a leader.
