Coaching meets digitalization

“Organization, Digitalization, and Design” were the themes of the 5th International Coaching Congress, held on June 12 and 13, 2018, in Olten, Switzerland.

Prof. Dr. Matthias Schmidt (Görlitz) and Prof. Dr. habil. Carsten Schermully (Berlin) delivered the opening keynote address this year at the 5th International Coaching Congress on June 12 and 13, 2018, in Olten, Switzerland. On the topic “The Future of Work—The Future of Coaching,” the two industrial and organizational psychologists highlighted new approaches to learning in the workplace.

Innovation cycles in the fields of communication and technology are becoming shorter. As new demands are placed on people, we need new forms of learning and development for organizations. The interaction between the individual and the organization is the focus of nearly every coaching session. The shift toward digitalization in organizations brings with it profound changes: new forms of leadership, media-supported communication, the democratization of decision-making, growing shared responsibility, virtual teamwork, and International Affairs. Where does coaching come into play here? What contributions can coaching make?

These topics were discussed at the 5th International Coaching Congress with practitioners and academics in workshops and following presentations. Dr. Douglas Riddle (Harvard Medical School) joined via video link from the U.S. After many years of working in organizations, the CCL senior once again focused on the core of coaching, which he called “transformative conversations.” Dr. Jonathan Passmore (Henley Business School), a British researcher, presented findings from coaching and mentoring research.

The second day of the conference began once again with an interactive debate. The discussion between entrepreneur Barbara Josef and Dr. Joël Luc Cachelin centered on the opportunities and risks of the digital workplace: ranging from rosy to bleak. Prof. David Clutterbuck (Oxford Brookes University) posed the provocative question: When will artificial intelligence take over coaching? The subsequent panel discussion addressed the points raised and examined the challenges this poses for coaching and coaches.

Following the conference, there was a call for coaches to improve their media literacy and adaptability, but also a call to pay attention to the impact that online coaching has on coaches themselves. Prof. Hansjörg Künzli of the Zurich University of Applied Psychology warned that new advisory services from self-help groups are popping up online every day; in psychotherapy, “online” has long since become the norm, and that its effectiveness is indeed comparable to the “offline” form; therefore, established coaches should not simply shy away from these new challenges.

Dr. Deborah Helsing of Harvard University’s Graduate School of Education set a reflective tone by exploring the question: What if organizations welcomed the “whole self” of their employees? What if they fostered a culture of open and honest feedback? This was followed by an intensive discussion, as the current processes of change within organizations also offer these opportunities.

For Prof. Schmidt, the conference once again provided new opportunities for collaboration with researchers from the United Kingdom and the United States. The Institute for Coaching Studies already has long-standing research partnerships with the University of Applied Sciences Northwestern Switzerland and the ZAHW. The fifth edition of the “Coaching meets Research” conference offered a rich mix of topics, formats, and cultural perspectives. As the theme labs demonstrated, scientific progress is now characterized by a good exchange between theory and practice.