ARTICLES

The Academy of Management Executive, 2005, #19 (1), pp. 61-76.
(Change Status: Prior to February 01, 2006 this publication was named The Academy of Management Executive)

This article advocates the effectiveness of group leadership coaching. The argument is made that although one-on-one coaching can be highly effective, leadership coaching in a group setting will have a much higher pay-off because changes in leadership behavior are more likely to occur. Discussion is offered to show that group leadership coaching establishes a foundation of trust, makes for constructive conflict resolution, leads to commitment, and contributes to accountability: all factors that translate into better results for the organization. The article suggest that a change methodology centered on group coaching makes for high-performance teams, is an antidote to organizational silo formation, creates organizations without boundaries, and makes for true knowledge management. It also explores the similarities between leadership coaching and psychotherapy. A strong plea is made to subject aspiring leadership coaches to clinical training to create awareness of the kind of deep-seated psychological problems that can derail the leadership coaching process. Finally, the article includes a discussion of a number of general concerns about leadership coaching.