The impact of personality traits on the effectiveness of solution-focused coaching in a workplace context

Introduction: This study explores the relationship between Solution-Focused Brief Coaching (SFBC) interventions and the Five-Factor Model (FFM) of personality traits within a workplace context. Methods: The research involved 43 white-collar employees participating in three coaching sessions with follow-up assessments. Various methodologies were employed, including self-report questionnaires, 360-degree performance evaluations, and semi-structured interviews. Results: The findings indicate that personality traits – extraversion, agreeableness, conscientiousness, emotional stability, and openness – exhibited significant correlations with key outcomes such as self-efficacy, performance, goal attainment, satisfaction with the coaching process, and the quality of coach-coachee collaboration. Although long-term improvements were not substantial, the relationship between personality traits and growth was observable over extended periods. Discussion: These results align with existing literature, suggesting that SFBC effectively enhances self-efficacy and performance, with personality traits playing a crucial role in determining the success of coaching interventions. Conclusions: Importantly, the study concludes that while SFBC brought improvements for all participants, considering personalised coaching interventions could further optimise the effectiveness of developmental strategies in organisational settings.