Beyond Competence: Rethinking Team Coaching as a Plural Practice

In this paper the results of a meta-review of 423 peer-reviewed articles on team effectiveness, plus books and book chapters, are reported. The study was conducted in search of evidence to support the idea there exists a single particular approach to coaching teams. From the study emerged a model comprising 11 themes, different aspects of team effectiveness. The model underwent preliminary testing with a group of 50 team leaders. The results of this study provide no support for the idea that there is one best way to help teams become more effective, indeed the rationale for such an approach is challenged conceptually. Implications for future research are discussed, including research and critical analysis at the individual practitioner level.