Being Well, Working Well: the Measured Impact of Workplace Coaching

Abstract Book of the 7th International Conference on Research in Human Resource Management

Year: 2025

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Being Well, Working Well: the Measured Impact of Workplace Coaching

Sheela Hobden, Dr Tünde Erdös, Michael Tischelmann

ABSTRACT:

Organisations face growing pressure to invest in interventions that enhance employee resilience and well-being, yet robust evidence linking workplace coaching to measurable outcomes remains limited. This study addresses that gap, positioning workplace coaching within human resource development as a potential driver of sustainable performance.
Between 2022 and 2024, 60 workplace coach–client pairs and a control group completed two validated measures — PERMA (positive emotion, engagement, relationships, meaning, accomplishment) and StressScan (stress, coping, cognitive hardiness, and related factors) — before, during, and after a five-session coaching programme, with follow-ups at three and six months. Coaches met rigorous professional standards, and half received additional training in a well-being–rooted coaching model.
Results show statistically significant improvements in positive emotion, engagement, relationships, meaning, and problem-focused coping for coached participants compared to the control group. While other well-being elements also improved, the absence of significant differences from the control group limits claims of direct coaching impact.
These findings strengthen the empirical case for workplace coaching as a targeted method to boost specific, high-value dimensions of well-being and resilience. They also offer HR and organisational leaders evidence to inform investment decisions in coaching as part of broader employee well-being strategies.

Keywords: Workplace Coaching, Coaching Psychology, Resilience, Well-Being, Human Resource Development