Peak moments: the experience of coaches
International Journal of Evidence Based Coaching and Mentoring June 9, 2022 DOI: 10.24384/8xqy-pv21 (opens in new tab) via DOAJ
Summary
AI-generated from the abstractPeak moments in coaching—encompassing peak experience, peak performance, and flow—are under-researched. A heuristic study with ten experienced UK coaches identified five core conditions that increase the likelihood of such moments occurring. The findings suggest that these conditions foster joy, engagement, and a vitalizing, aesthetic experience, enriching the coaching relationship through connectedness and collaborative engagement between coach and coachee.
Study at a glance
| Characteristics | Heuristic study Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Sample size | 10 |
| Population | Experienced coaches in the UK |
| Topics | Mystical experience |
| Keywords | Peak performance Flow Intuition Transcendence |
| Key finding | Five core conditions increase the likelihood of a peak moment occurring in coaching. |
Abstract
Peak moments include peak experience (Maslow, 1964), peak performance (Privette, 1983) and flow (Csikszentmihalyi, 1990). Research of the literature revealed that peak moments are an under-researched phenomenon in coaching. This paper addresses the imbalance, and reports on a heuristic study (Moustakas, 1990) undertaken with ten experienced coaches in the UK. Analysis revealed five core conditions which increase the likelihood of the occurrence of a peak moment in coaching. The implications of these findings relate to the joy and engagement of coaching as a vitalising, aesthetic experience, adding richness through the connectedness and collaborative engagement between coach and coachee.