Date of Degree
5-2026
Document Type
Dissertation
Degree Name
Doctor of Business Administration (DBA)
Program
Business Administration
Advisor
Dr. Annette E. Carven
Advisor
Dr. Dawn Liguez
Advisor
Dr. Pamelyn Witteman
Abstract
This qualitative dissertation examines the transformative effects of executive coaching on leaders’ development, personal growth, decision-making, and overall effectiveness across varied organizational contexts. Grounded in authentic leadership theory and employing a generic qualitative inquiry design, the study investigated how leaders who completed executive coaching describe changes in their behavior and mindset. Eleven experienced leaders participated in semi-structured interviews selected through purposive sampling. Thematic analysis, guided by the cyclical and inductive coding methods of Saldana (2021), generated 187 initial codes, which were distilled into 72 final codes. These final codes were then further refined into twelve categories and four overarching themes: leadership development, personal growth, enhanced decision-making, and leadership effectiveness. Continuous comparison and analytic memoing ensured codes accurately reflected participants’ recurring language and unique professional contexts, while data saturation was achieved according to Hennink and Kaiser’s (2022) sufficiency criteria. Findings reveal that executive coaching is widely regarded as transformative, driving self-awareness, authenticity, confidence, and improved team effectiveness. The study identified nuanced demographic themes: leaders over 45 reflected more deeply on emotional intelligence and authenticity, whereas younger leaders emphasized adaptability and the acquisition of tactical skills. Women and participants from minority backgrounds highlighted the role of coaching in combating imposter syndrome and fostering an authentic voice. Coaching delivered by external facilitators promoted greater psychological safety and self-disclosure. The study concludes that executive coaching delivers multidimensional, lasting benefits for both leaders and organizations by advancing mindset, behavior, and relationships, establishing coaching as a vital catalyst of sustainable leadership effectiveness and organizational change in modern environments.
Recommended Citation
Norman, Dwayne, "Exploring the Transformative Effects of Executive Coaching on Leaders: A Qualitative Study" (2026). Theses & Dissertations. 479.
https://athenaeum.uiw.edu/uiw_etds/479
First review - F. Lucille (Sia) Achica
Dwayne Norman Final Dissertation - v2.pdf (866 kB)
Revised manuscript from 1-22-26 review
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