The WABC Team Coaching Definition is the first-ever, global association-sponsored evidence-based definition of team coaching, as a subspecialty of business coaching and specialized area of practice. This working definition offers a succinct statement of what team coaching is and how it’s distinct from other types of coaching.
Specified WABC Credentials and WABC Accredited® Programs adhere to this definition. This definition also educates the public and helps employers, clients and their sponsors and organizations understand what to expect from team coaching.
Team Coaching – as a subspecialty of Business Coaching – is a specialized area of practice. This type of coaching involves a team coach(es) engaging in a collaborative and reflective process with an “intact team” (a minimum of 3 people) within a business, profit or nonprofit organization, institution or government. The goal is to enhance the team’s awareness and effectiveness so as to achieve business and organizational goals and objectives.
Team Coaching enables team members to understand their role in and alignment with the business or organization’s broader needs and goals, and to enhance that role in ways that are measurable and sustainable. The Team Coaching process includes engagement with relevant stakeholders to properly align the team’s context, objectives and challenges to the broader systemic influences affecting its performance.
Successful Team Coaching establishes an atmosphere of mutual trust, respect, safety, challenge and accountability. In doing so, it clarifies shared aims and direction, improves working relationships, collaboration and overall team effectiveness. To that end, the team coach must conduct an ethical and competent practice, based on appropriate professional experience, business knowledge and an understanding of individual and organizational change.
Since 1997, WABC has been committed to defining and leading business coaching excellence. We’ve spent years on in-depth research, literature reviews and consultations with some of the world’s top business coaches and their clients to create evidence-based standards for professional business coaches.
In 2026, we engaged a WABC Research Team to undertake further investigation and research into team coaches. One result is this working draft definition of Team Coaching. This definition is based on the real-world tasks of team coaches in small and large businesses, governments, institutions, nonprofits–any organizations where they practice. From later-2026 to later-2027, this definition will undergo further validation through our pilot accreditation process involving a select group of training providers from around the world. Once the pilot is completed, we’ll finalize and publish this definition.
WABC reserves all rights in connection with the WABC Team Coaching Definition, including the right to change, replace or discontinue.
The WABC Team Coaching Definition was introduced in September 2026 and is currently exclusive to select
WABC Accredited® providers.
