Conclusions from a 2009 PriceWaterhouseCoopers study on coaching:
A number of conclusions and implications for the coaching industry can be drawn from the study findings.
Some of the key conclusions from this study include:
1. Clients are generally satisfied with the coaching experience. In addition to awarding very high
ratings to all of the coaching criteria tested, the vast majority of clients also indicated that they were
very satisfied with their experience. Further confirming the success coaches are having is the fact that
almost all (96%) clients indicated that they would repeat the coaching experience given the same
circumstances that lead them there in the first place.
2. When monetary gains are an expected outcome, coaching generates a very good return on
investment (ROI) for clients. By design, not all types of coaching lead to monetary gains for the
client (or their company). Accordingly, only 40% of respondents indicated that they had seen a
financial change (personally or company) as a result of coaching. Almost two thirds of those who
experienced a personal ROI indicated that they had at least made their investment back. The
median personal ROI indicates that those who seek a financial gain can expect a return in the range
of 3.44 times their investment.
3. The ROI for companies can be significant. The vast majority (86%) of those able to provide
figures to calculate company ROI indicated that their company had at least made their investment
back. The ROI for companies is quite a bit higher with a median return of 7 times the initial
investment. In fact, almost one fifth (19%) indicated an ROI of at least 50 (5000%) times the initial
investment while a further 28% saw an ROI of 10 to 49 times the investment.
This post was contributed by Steve Gladis, PhD., whose blog Survival Leadership ranked #5 of Top 100 Leadership Blogs.
