Executive coaching signals an employee is valued and worth investing in. It helps retain individuals who might otherwise leave out of frustration, by identifying pathways to change situations or to accept what isn’t within their gift to change (yet).

Coaching seems to have a protective effect on employees’ mental health and a positive ripple effect on other colleagues. (Our founder, coaching psychologist Jessica Chivers conducted a piece of research on this that’s currently unpublished. Anticipating an upcoming coaching session seemed to enable coachees to cope better in the moment with challenges as they knew they’d have a place to work through it. Knowing there was this space in the diary seemed to help them ‘contain’ their anxiety/anger/frustration/worry).

Coaching isn’t a panacea and it won’t solve issues that are being created by systemic cultural issues or structural challenges such as an under-resourced team. What it will do in such circumstances is give a valued team member an invaluable space to think and gain a sense of control.