Advancing the Science of Executive Coaching through Leader/ship Identity Work

This paper advances the theoretical foundations of executive coaching by focusing on Leader/ship identity work. While executive coaching is widely used for leadership development, its application through identity work is limited due to a lack of conceptual frameworks and evidence-based practices. The paper aims to integrate Leader/ship identity work into executive coaching, enhancing both theory and practice. Based on a qualitative doctoral study using Narrative Inquiry with 34 expert global coaches conducted between 2017 and 2024, it introduces the Mechanism of Executive Coaching for Leader/ship Identity Work and presents executive coaching as an Identity Enhancement Space, refining coaching concepts and practices.