| Although the coaching literature is steadily expanding as more research on coaching outcomes is conducted, this growth has not kept pace with the rapid development of the coaching profession. Therefore, many areas of coaching, such as distance coaching, have not been empirically investigated. Distance coaching refers to coaching conducted at a different physical location than where the coaching client is located and utilizes some form of technology, such as the telephone, email, or video conferencing. Due to the paucity of empirical research in this area, the current study investigates if a relationship exists between the coach-client relationship and coaching outcomes when coaching is conducted using only the telephone. This study also investigates if self-observed outcomes were sustained over six months. Finally, this study investigates if the coach-client relationship correlates with client satisfaction when coaching is rendered at a distance. Archival data gathered from 152 vice president and director-level employees along with three of their observers (e.g. boss, direct reports, and peers) at a Fortune 500 telecommunications company, will be used for this study. It is anticipated that this study's empirical results will contribute critical information about this coaching modality to both the coaching literature and the coaching profession. |
