January 27, 2022 - NOBCO, the largest professional association for coaches in the Netherlands, and ICF Netherlands, the Dutch representation of the International Coaching Federation (ICF), jointly publish a white paper in which they state that professional coaching has social added value. In the white paper Coaching in an opaque market, the organizations answer the question of what coaching is and what characterizes a professional coach. As professional organizations, NOBCO and ICF Netherlands want to use the white paper to provide a broad public insight into the social importance of professional coaching and the current knowledge about the effectiveness of coaching. Below is a summary.
Coaching is an independent profession and has no protected title. Anyone who wants to can call themselves a coach and everyone can use a different definition of coaching. The large increase in coaches and coaching in the Netherlands leads to an opaque coaching market where people no longer know how to distinguish between a professional coach and a self-appointed coach.
With the white paper Coaching in an opaque market NOBCO and ICF Netherlands make a statement: coaching has social added value and if it is used in a professional manner, it is - especially in these turbulent times - more valuable than ever.
Coaching is a form of guidance that is used to facilitate self-oriented change, with the ultimate goal of increasing functioning and general well-being. That sounds promising, but what is the actual added value of coaching for workers and organizations? Here are the three most important result areas:
1. Mental health at work
Research shows that poor mental health at work costs an employer in Europe approximately between 1,600 and 2,000 euros per employee every year. The Mind Matters research report (2021) indicates which programs are used by organizations to improve the mental health of employees. Coaching is also mentioned. Increasing personal resilience is an essential part of improving people's mental health. Coaching appears to make a significant contribution to increasing personal resilience, as shown by other scientific research.
2. Prevent burnout and improve work-life balance
A report from TNO that contains data for the years 2014 to 2018 shows that the number of people reporting burnout complaints has increased in those years. In 2018, 16.4% of male employees and 18.1% of female employees appeared to experience complaints several times a month or more often that could lead to burnout.
This increase in burnout complaints seems to be mainly due to the fact that people have started working more independently of their location. The current 24-hour society means that the boundaries between work and private life are increasingly blurring.
Research by Hays Netherlands among 1,054 employees showed that 61% of employees indicated that work-life balance has become more important and more than 31% also indicated that support for physical and mental well-being is now a priority.
The 2020 NOBCO benchmark also showed that no fewer than 77% of the coach questions have to do with work-life balance.
Various scientific studies have shown that coaching can contribute to the prevention of burnout. There are also indications that coaching makes a positive contribution to improving work-life balance.
3. Committed and productive employees
Improved team functioning, higher employee engagement and increased productivity are the most frequently mentioned effects of coaching within companies, according to annual research by the Human Capital Institute in collaboration with ICF (International Coaching Federation Netherlands). Previously it turned out that the top 5 reasons for using external coaches in companies are: leadership development, improvement of communication skills, improvement of collaboration in teams, improvement of decision-making processes and increase in productivity. Scientific research also shows that coaching increases things such as work performance and organizational commitment.
Benefits of a professional coach
By choosing a certified coach, someone can be assured that the coach has been trained for the coaching profession, adheres to a code of ethics, develops in the field and complies with the possibility of a complaints procedure.
“Everyone, regardless of role or position, benefits from coaching. Especially in a time of transformation when something different is required of us, a coach can accelerate your professional and personal growth.” – Gerard Penning, CHRO ABN AMRO
“ Having a beckoning perspective is what I wish most for everyone. High-quality coaching available for every budget is definitely a prerequisite for this.” – Rutger van den Breemer, FNV career director
“PZO participates in discussions within SER about social challenges, such as burnout. It is good to see that NOBCO and ICF, with their professional coaches, can make a valuable contribution to removing this and other pressure from people and organizations.” – Margreet Drijvers, director of PZO Netherlands
Conclusion
The added value of coaching can be seen in various areas. The added value largely lies in improving the mental health of employees, allowing them to perform in a more balanced business and private life. In addition, coaching can lead to more committed employees.
Would you like to take advantage of coaching? Then choose a certified coach who is affiliated with a professional organization such as ICF or NOBCO.
NOBCO
The Dutch Order of Professional Coaches is, with more than 4,500 affiliated coaches, the largest professional organization of professional coaches in the Netherlands. Coaches join NOBCO because they value quality and want to continue to develop themselves in their profession as a coach. NOBCO is part of the European Mentoring & Coaching Council (EMCC), which is active in 26 countries.
ICF Netherlands
The Dutch chapter of the International Coaching Federation, ICF Netherlands Chapter, represents more than 450 local certified coaches as part of 50,000 ICF members worldwide. Coaches join ICF because they are committed to advancing the high standards provided by the independent ICF certification and the global network, in more than 150 countries, of trained coaching professionals.
The white paper can be downloaded:
