The Four Discourses of Coaching

This post takes excerpts from my book, Coaching and Mentoring a critical text: Sage pub.

The four discourses of coaching describe the underpinning forces that shape

coaching theory and practice.

“Coaches, coaching theorist and coach trainers focus on gaining information

about coaching knowledge and technique.

However they also need to observe themselves and their practice from new

perspectives; to look at the discourses, structures and mechanisms that inform

the ‘thinking behind the thinking’.

This analysis reveals that within coaching four discourses currently exist:

These discourses shape coaching practice today

• The Soul Guide

• The Psy Expert

• The Managerial

• The Eco-Coach

The table below summarises each coaching discourse, from the stance of the coach, what the client works on, and finally what the coach focuses on.

I will be sharing more depth on the four discourses of coaching in later posts, or you can find chapters on each in Coaching and Mentoring a critical text