Experience of positive psychology coaching while working from home during the COVID-19 pandemic: an Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis

ABSTRACT The COVID-19 pandemic has highlighted the importance of organisations attending to the wellbeing of their employees, and workplace coaching has already been shown to improve performance and enhance wellbeing. Positive psychology coaching (PPC) is an emerging intervention that considers wellbeing an integral part of the coaching intervention. There is currently a gap in our understanding of how PPC is experienced by people affected by the pandemic and its restrictions. To address this gap, an Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis (IPA) design was used to explore the lived experience of six employees of a UK-based financial services company who received PPC while working from home (WFH) during the COVID-19 pandemic. The study provided an insight into how PPC can lead to positive outcomes for employees, with the findings being presented through five themes: valuing opportunity for safe reflection; increasing awareness; alleviation of negative emotions; re-energised by identifying a way forward; and renewed confidence. The study contributes to our awareness of how participants experience an intervention that intentionally integrates performance improvement and the enhancement of wellbeing.