29/11/2010 by Mike Morrison 

Coaching is everywhere, in this piece we explore the history of coaching through academia, sport, business and beyond. It [Coaching] is the hot topic of management, leadership and people development. This article explores the history of coaching through the ages.

There are as many forms of coaching methodologies are there are coaches, so is there a “right” way? Or is the term “coaching” a generic word for one-to-one guidance, help or support?

A True Insight into Coaching

The origination of the term ‘Coaching’ started in the later part of the 1880s. This term has been mostly associated with the sports profession through its varied forms. The first thought which rushes to our mind when we think about coaching is about sports coaching. This is because coaching is very well-developed in the sports arena.

The term ‘Coach’ was initially started in 1830 and Oxford University put forth the meaning of this term as slang for a tutor. Coaching can be defined in several ways and methodologies depending on the area where it is

Coaching can be defined in several ways and methodologies. This depends on the area where it is utilized and the need is to define it in layman’s term so as to understand the gist of the subject.

A very simple definition of this broad term is the fact that Coaching is a true methodology. It concentrates on directing, instructing and training either an individual or a group of people with the only aim to attain certain goals and objectives.

Coach –

Meaning “instructor/trainer” is c.1830 Oxford University slang for a tutor who “carries” a student through an exam; athletic sense is 1861. The verb is from 1610s, “to convey in a coach;” meaning “to prepare (someone) for an exam” is from 1849

Coaching through the Ages

The emergence of coaching was a very gradual and slow process. There are several theories which support the initiation of this methodology and the Grounded Theory of the Roots is one significant theory which commemorates the foundation of coaching. Strong roots of coaching have been noticed in several perspectives such as psychology, social sciences, business and several others.

Let us split up this journey into the significant time periods in which this method emerged into a major stream as in the current times.

History of Coaching – Prior to 1900

During the end of the 18^th century and towards the start of the 19^th century, it was noticed that philosophy emerged as a separate branch of social sciences and thus exclusive studies were carried out to study the intricacies of the human society and the individual as such. Psychology emerged in its initial form during this period wherein which there were vague descriptions of mental functions and perceptions.

In 1879, Wundt and James carried out exclusive work on philosophical traditions. During this period, psychology did experience growing pains just as coaching seems to be experiencing now.

The contemporary branch of modern management certainly had its roots put out in the 19^th century. It was towards the middle of this era, that theories and structuring such as training, motivation, organizational structure, etc. were laid out and brought to notice during the industrial revolution.

Personnel management also emerged during this period along with consulting and it was in between the 1880s to 1950s that the first variety of management consultants came into the picture. There were not as many changes which occurred in other disciplines during this period such as sports, performing arts or also in the field of education.

History of Coaching – 1900s through 1920s

This was the period for technological advances and the scientific perspective was at its peak at this time. In fact, you can even perceive that the root disciplines of coaching were even founded during this period. Industrialization took an advanced turn during this period and the discovery of the theory of relativity in physics played a great role during this time. In fact, this time was actually referred by Goldman as a ‘shift from a mechanical model to the organic model of the world’.

Freud who took up an enhanced interest in Psychology became the first person who interpreted psychotherapy during this time. By the end of this century, there were five sub-disciplines from psychology which is a huge achievement in itself. From the 1900s, there was a marked difference in how managers

From the 1900s, there was a marked difference in how managers utilized scientific theories in managerial functioning which was to a greater degree in response to Industrial Revolution which certainly demanded work specialization, the unity of command, proper hierarchical chain and coordination of activities.

In the 1910s, one observed scientific and classical management perspectives started to emerge and in the 1920s, the human relations movement also initiated. The famous Hawthorne studies were developed in the 1920s and business theories and practices also started adopting psychological theories and models to run the business.

History of Coaching – 1930s through 1950s

Advances in technology continued during this period as well and objects of modern production started invading our lives and almost all the aspects of life such as management, education, consulting and even development started to accept the military model of control and command. This time period actually saw a difference of opinion in the field of psychology and in fact many of the Freudian theories were opposed during this period.

The second force of psychology, Behaviourism, also rejected the theories of Freud and actually offered an empirical approach through scientific methods. In fact, the emergence and establishment of behaviourism during the 1910s to the 1950s was as a reaction to the Freudian theories. It was in the 1950s that Maslow and Rogers came up with a humanistic approach in psychology which is known as the third force of this sector wherein personal and phenomenological aspects of the human experience were given great precedence. During this time, Perls also popularized the Gestalt therapy and Cognitive Psychology also took shape during this time.

It was in the 1950s that Maslow and Rogers came up with a humanistic approach in psychology which is known as the third force of this sector wherein personal and phenomenological aspects of the human experience were given great precedence. During this time, Perls also popularized the Gestalt therapy and Cognitive Psychology also took shape during this time.

History of Coaching – 1960s through 1970s

The humanistic movement took place in the 1960s and it advised employers that people need to be treated well and it was during this period, that there was predominant importance attributed to coaching in business literature as well. In fact, references to coaching evolved out from human resource journals and started appearing more in training and management journals.In the time period from 1960 to 1979, 15 of the 23 articles written on the topic of coaching were published in training journals. Coaching began to get primary importance and there were four management books which were published on coaching and the main subjects captured the essence of these books were on how managers can utilize coaching to improve performance.Before the 1970s, the term ‘Executive Coaching’ was not in use but rather the term ‘Counseling’ was exclusively used in the business domain. Initially, companies used to recruit Counselling executives who were like psychologists so that managers could have one-on-one sessions with them. The coaching approach was later introduced and was unanimously accepted in the business use.In the period from 1960 to 1979, 15 of the 23 articles written on the topic of coaching were published in training journals. Coaching began to get primary importance and there were four management books which were published on coaching and the main subjects captured the essence of these books were on how managers can utilize coaching to improve performance. Before the 1970s, the term ‘Executive Coaching’ was not in use but rather the term ‘Counseling’ was exclusively used in the business domain. Initially, companies used to recruit Counselling executives who were like psychologists so that managers could have one-on-one sessions with them. The coaching approach was later introduced and was unanimously accepted in the business use.

History of Coaching – the 1980s

It was in between the 1970s and 1980s when the United States understood the potential of the coaching process in the business sector and concluded that coaching is essential to support and aid managers so that they can attain their performance requirements and can also contribute directly towards the survival of the business. It was Kinlaw who emphasized that all forms of coaching necessarily includes two main features which are one-on-one conversations and concentration on performance or subjects related to performance.

In Britain, the subject of coaching received a fresh meaning and referred to the process wherein which you can conduct direct discussions with your colleagues in an attempt to solve problems and thereby complete the required tasks. Coaching and counselling were often used interchangeably.

The 1980s definitely saw the growth of coaching and its complete domination into the business literature. Discipline journals greatly accepted the success of coaching and published numerous articles on this concept and it was during this time as well that the inception of coaching was traced to its roots of leadership development training and management practice of learning skills and understanding. Even the collaborative model of consultation was referred to have certain similarities to that of coaching.

History of Coaching – the 1990s through 2004

It is surprising to note how the concept of coaching progressively spread during the nineties. References to coaching were continuously mentioned in journals and the increase of such articles drastically increased during this period.

The development in the coaching industry has been tremendous. It has reached a maturation level during this point with respect to the accumulated coaching experience, an increase in the number of coaching professionals in various areas and the enhancement of sophistication in management and human resource professionals.

Several coaching books hit the market at this time. Journal articles written on coaching started flooding the various publications and this number rose drastically in the early 2000s. 39 books on coaching were also published in the 2000s and contributed heavily towards the strong development of coaching. Whitmore in 1992 his book “Coaching for Performance” popularized the GROW Model and made coaching more accessible to the workplace.

History of Coaching – 2004 to 2010

In recent years, the sphere of coaching has adapted several models where the root disciplines of coaching can be employed in the various business sectors. Theories in the psychological section have been exclusively utilized for the purpose. There were also influences of coaching from disciplines such as sociology, linguistics and anthropology. In addition, the coach-client relationship is being extensively studied and monitored as well.

Business coaching has become a must in the corporate world. Companies understand that they cannot progress in the correct direction without including coaching in their development. Organization psychology further strengthened coaching by offering numerous strategies and also supported developmental counselling for key management personnel.

Business coaching has become a must in the corporate world. Furthermore, organisations and companies understand that they cannot progress in the correct direction without including coaching in their development. Organization psychology further strengthened coaching by offering numerous strategies and also supported developmental counselling for key management personnel.

As we can see coaching is not new. Furthermore, we do not need “specialist” training or accreditation to be a coach. What we need is in context experience.

History of Coaching – A True Insight into Coaching

Some key references used in the History of Coaching include:

The Inner Game of Tennis By Tim Gallwey 1974
The Power of Positive Thinking By Dr Norman Vincent Peale, first published in 1952
Freedom and the college By Alexander Meiklejohn 1923
Coaching for Performance By John Whitmore 1992
Educational Review, Volume 60 Doubleday, Doran, 1920 Vols. 19-34 include “Bibliography of education” for 1899-1906, compiled by James I. Wyer and others
The Journal of the National Education Association, Volume 1 National Education Association of the United States, The Association, 1916