Coaching – narrative-collaborative practice

Purpose: This paper aims to provide both the theoretical foundation and formulation of practice for narrative coaching. We advocate that coaching as narrative-collaborative practice should form the new wave (third generation) of coaching practice and encourage coaching and coaching psychology communities to engage in its practice and research. Methods: In providing the theoretical foundation for coaching as narrative-collaborative practice, we first draw on its societal and cultural foundation. We argue that narrative coaching can support self-created and reflective leadership, provide continuous development of coaching methodology as it focuses on values, gives opportunities for meaning-making and provides a reflective space for the unfolding of narratives in terms of the construction of reality and the concept of meaning. Results: From the above foundations, we develop a general narrative coaching methodology by integrating the general characteristics of ‘externalising conversation’ and ‘re-authoring’ (two common forms of narrative methods) and highlight its collaborative properties including narrative coaching in groups. Conclusion: We summarise the purpose of this paper and conclude that coaching as a narrative-collaborative practice can provide empowerment and social acknowledgments to coachees’ self-identity and re-iterate our call to promote coaching as a narrative-collaborative practice.