I need your help!
Hello. My name is Bradley Davidson. I am an ICF-certified coach and a doctoral student at Johnson University. For my PhD dissertation, I am conducting a study entitled,
“Finding Chazown: The Role of Coaching in the Discernment of Calling.”
This study will examine how coaches and the phenomenon of coaching (particularly within a spiritual context) support coachees in discerning, understanding, and living their calling, or life purpose.
For the study to be successful, I am searching for a few experienced coaches who are willing to be interviewed about their experiences coaching individuals who are searching for their calling or life purpose. I am also searching for a few coachees who have worked with a coach on this topic. If you are a coach (or coachee) with experience coaching (or being coached) on this topic, I would like to talk with you. You will only be asked to spend 1-2 hours in a one-time telephone interview with me. While your investment in time is low, your impact on the coaching profession can be huge!
Will you consider being a study participant? Please explore this Research Participant Info Center to learn more about the research, about me, and about how you can help. Then, please contact me using any of the contact methods at the bottom of this page.
I am looking forward to hearing from you. Thank you, in advance, for considering becoming part of this ground-breaking research!
My best regards,
Bradley Davidson
ABOUT THE RESEARCH
PURPOSE OF THE STUDY
The importance of purpose and meaning in life has been a long-standing topic of interest to both laypersons and researchers and reflects a central desire among humanity. Researchers have sought to understand the most effective way to discern one’s purpose. Coaching is emerging as a viable means of supporting individuals in the process of understanding their purpose. Coaching is a partnership between a coach and coachee which elicits thought-provoking awareness and creativity enabling and inspiring the coachee to achieve their potential and reach their goals. However, despite its emergence as a potential means of supporting the discernment process, little focus has been placed on empirically evaluating what causes coaching to be effective in supporting this process.
The purpose of this study is to identify the characteristics of coaching that drive success in helping coachees discern and live their calling. Using a phenomenological method of qualitative inquiry, this research seeks to more fully understand the lived experiences of coaches and coachees who have utilized coaching as a means of discerning and living their calling. Because this researcher’s interest is in exploring this topic through a spiritual lens, for the purpose of this research, calling will refer to being called to a specific vocation which is assigned by God.
The primary research question is, “What are the characteristics of coaching that most drive success in helping the coachee discern and live his calling?” The following subsequent questions were also developed:
- How do coaches uniquely coach to maximize their support of individuals in the clear discernment of their calling?
- What are the most important components of coaching (e.g., coaching model, framework, competencies, etc.) that drive its efficacy in supporting individuals in discerning their calling?
- How do coaches integrate faith and discernment into the coaching process?
PARTICIPANT REQUIREMENTS
Unlike traditional quantitative research studies which require large random samples of participants, research participants in phenomenological qualitative studies must have experienced the phenomena pertinent to the study. Because of the importance of the experiences of the participants, participants in this study must meet the following requirements.
If you are a COACH, you must…
- Self-identify as Christian
- Be at least eighteen years old
- Have recent experience coaching a coachee on life purpose or calling
- Be certified by CCNI or ICF or have at least five years of coaching experience with at least twenty coachees.
If you are a COACHEE, you must…
- Self-identify as Christian
- Be at least eighteen years old
- Have recent experience being coached on life purpose or calling.
READ THE INFORMED CONSENT
Please take a moment to read the Informed Consent material to learn about risks, confidentiality, and other important information.
ABOUT THE RESEARCHER
Bradley Davidson is an ICF-certified personal and professional coach and spiritual director with over twenty years experience as a leader, coach, educator, writer, and strategist. He has developed and provided personal coaching, executive coaching, leadership development, conflict management, and change management solutions to both individuals and several Fortune 100 and 500 organizations.
Brad is a PhD student at Johnson University, a Christian university in Knoxville, Tennessee. For a number of years, Brad’s coaching focus has been on clients who are seeking to discern, clarify, and live their life calling or purpose. Therefore, it seemed natural for Brad to focus his doctoral studies on this important topic for coaches and coachees.
Quick Facts About Brad
- Life Purpose Expert – Over a decade of study, research, and coaching on the topics of life purpose, meaning, and calling
- Bachelor of Science Degree in Management of Human Resources – Southern Nazarene University – Bethany, Oklahoma
- Master of Science Degree in Industrial & Organizational Psychology – Kansas State University – Manhattan, Kansas
- Post-Graduate Certificate in Professional & Executive Coaching – University of Texas at Dallas – Naveen Jindal School of Management – Dallas, Texas
- A.B.D. Ph. D. in Leadership Studies – Johnson University – School of Business and Public Leadership – Knoxville, Tennessee
- Currently studying Spiritual Direction – Southern Methodist University – Perkins School of Theology – Dallas, Texas
- Associate Certified Coach – International Coach Federation – Lexington, Kentucky
- Certified Senior Professional in Human Resources (SPHR); the most senior human resource certification in the profession from the Human Resources Certification Institute – Alexandria, Virginia
- Senior Certified Professional (SHRM-SCP) – Society for Human Resource Management – Alexandria, VA
- Certified Practitioner of the Myers-Briggs Type Indicator, Strong Interest Inventory, FIRO-B, and other assessments from Consulting Psychologist Press (CPP)
- Certified Emotional Intelligence Consultant by Multi-Health Systems (MHS)
- Certified ‘360 Feedback’ consultant – Center for Creative Leadership (CCL)
- Certified Hogan Personality Assessment consultant – Hogan Assessments
- Extensive training in coaching, leadership, organization design, and conflict mediation
- Member, International Coach Federation and Christian Coach’s Network
- Member, Elder, and Chair of the Board at New Hope Christian Church in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma
DO YOU HAVE QUESTIONS? CHECK OUT THE FAQ’S
As a study participant, you will be a key part of this cutting-edge research which has the potential to add to the body of knowledge of coaching. By participating in the study, you could have a significant impact on the future effectiveness of coaching and, by extension, the coachees that are served by the profession.
Your participation in the study will remain confidential. While information from your interview will become part of the published study, the identify of participants will not be revealed. For more information about confidentiality, please read the full Informed Consent document.
If you are selected to participate, you must only commit to the time required to participate in an in-depth interview. This interview will take between 1 and 2 hours.
For complete information on risks, please read the Informed Consent document.
Yes! Upon request, all participants will receive a copy of the complete dissertation following the successful defense before the dissertation committee at Johnson University.
WILL YOU PARTICIPATE?
I would be honored to hear of your interest in participating. If you are interested in participating in this important research, please contact me, Brad Davidson, at:
Phone: 405-615-8997
Email: bradley.davidson@liveandleadonpurpose.com
OR
Complete this form:
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