Abstract
M.Phil.
In this study the experiences of business coaches of becoming and being a coach were explored through the weaving together of three inter-related ‘texts’: Firstly, the research participants’ experiences of becoming and being a business coach and how these were couched in their own words and expressions, exemplifying or suggesting metaphors and metaphorical thinking. Secondly, the metaphors and metaphorical thinking that the participants’ experiences, words and expressions evoked in the researcher as a trainee coach; and, thirdly, the connections between these metaphors and those that appear or were suggested in the body of knowledge on business coaching. The inter-relationship of the three “texts” constituted the research question, including the specific research objectives emanating from it.
The research study was conducted within a qualitative research paradigm and the research strategy used was that of interpretive phenomenological analysis (IPA). The application of IPA yielded four main metaphors:
Firstly, the business coach as Proteus, underpinned by two super-ordinate themes (the role of the coach and the coaching space) and supported by four emergent metaphorical themes (the coach as time-traveller; as container; as bearer; and as creator of spaces). Secondly, the business coach as Nomad underpinned by the super-ordinate theme of the position of the coach, and supported by seven emergent metaphorical themes (the coach as insider; as outsider; borderlines, boundaries and bridges in coaching; coaching as diving deep; a bird’s eye view in coaching; being on a knife’s edge and the blind spot). Thirdly, the metaphor of a Cup of Tea, underpinned by the super-ordinate theme of the business coach’s self-care, and supported by five emergent metaphorical themes (cleansing, exhaustion, physical ailments, nourishment and boundaries). Fourthly, the metaphor of Journeys, underpinned by two super-ordinate themes (coaching as journey and the journey of the coach). Coaching as journey...