How Much Does Coaching Relationship Matter for the Outcomes? The Role of the Coaching Relationship Components When Using a General or Cognitive-Behavioral Approach in Coaching

Abstract The coaching relationship and its components have been previously studied, but there is no evidence to compare their contribution in different coaching approaches. This study aims to investigate the role of relationship in the efficacy of the coaching process in two coaching approaches. Participants in the study completed questionnaires regarding the coaching relationship (Working Alliance Inventory and Agnew Relationship Inventory), emotions of the coach using Positive and Negative Affect Schedule scale, their goal attainment using Process Evaluation Scale level, and solution focus orientation using the Solution Focus Inventory. The sample consisted of 77 participants, 43 of those underwent cognitive behavioral coaching (CBC) and 34 of them general coaching. Our results show significant differences between CBC and general coaching in terms of negative emotions ( p = .04; d = .47), coaching relationship ( p = .001; d = .70), and positive emotions displayed by the coach ( p = .008; d = .73), with CBC having better outcomes. Moreover, our results showed that the coaching relationship quality is rated higher by clients in CBC, but it counts for less in the success of the coaching process compared with general coaching. Also, we found that both of these approaches are efficient in terms of goal attainment and solution focus orientation.