The Evidence for Executive Coaching

Every industry statistic in this report is sourced from named industry research published by recognized executive-coaching organizations. The primary industry sources include the ICF Global Coaching Study, MetrixGlobal LLC, Manchester Inc., the Personnel Management Association, Bersin by Deloitte, and BetterUp Labs. The page also includes a separately-labeled section of proprietary JMG data from LeaderWatch®, John Mattone Global's stakeholder pulse system. LeaderWatch data is distinct from the industry research: it is measured via anonymous third-party stakeholder ratings rather than leader self-report, so it is explicitly attributed and separated from the independent industry data.

LeaderWatch® is John Mattone Global's proprietary stakeholder pulse survey administered during and after coaching engagements. It measures leadership effectiveness through anonymous ratings from peers, direct reports, and supervisors at intake and again at 6 and 12 months on a -3 to +3 Likert scale. The key difference from self-report research is who is observing: LeaderWatch data comes from the people around the coached leader, not the leader themselves. Industry surveys like the ICF Global Coaching Client Study ask the coached leader how coaching went. LeaderWatch asks the leader's team. Stakeholder observation removes the self-justification bias that inflates self-report data, which is why the numbers are lower than some industry self-report figures (52% average stakeholder-observed improvement across 788 development goals vs 70%+ self-report in industry surveys) but more defensible.

Manchester Inc. found an average 529% ROI across Fortune 500 coaching engagements. MetrixGlobal measured 788% ROI when including the value of retained talent. The ICF/PwC Global Coaching Study reported a median return of 7x the original investment. The range depends on how outcomes are measured and whether talent retention savings are included in the calculation.

BetterUp Labs found 34% lower attrition in coached leadership populations. The Center for Creative Leadership reported that 40% of executives who leave cite lack of development as a primary reason. Manchester Inc. data showed a 77% improvement in relationships with direct reports, a leading indicator of team retention.

The Personnel Management Association found that training alone produces a 22% improvement in productivity, while training combined with coaching produces an 88% improvement. Coaching provides the accountability, personalization, and sustained practice that turns knowledge into behavior change. Without coaching, most training content is forgotten within weeks.

Yes. The Media Kit section below provides embed codes for each chart. You may use these visualizations in internal presentations, board reports, and published articles with proper attribution to John Mattone Global and the original research sources cited beneath each chart.

The Wheel of Intelligent Leadership maps both inner core elements (character, values, self-concept, thinking patterns) and outer core competencies (communication, team leadership, decision-making). The research outcomes in this report track directly to outer core improvements that are observable and measurable. Coaching that addresses only outer core skills without touching the inner core tends to produce smaller, less durable gains.