Coaching as improvisation: An IPA study of improv exercises in coach development

Coachingcan be viewed as inherently improvisational, yet has rarely been researched assuch.  This paper explores how coachesexperience improvised theatre and the insights they gain for their coachingpractice.  Eleven executive coachesparticipated in a qualitative study using interpretative phenomenologicalanalysis.  The findings highlight thepower of improvisational theatre exercises as experiential learning forcoaches, including in self-awareness and presence, empathy andrapport-building, and comfort with co-creation and the unknown.