I am reading: The significance of behavioural learning theory to the development of effective coaching practice

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I am writing an essay on the psychological approaches behind coaching and mentoring and found this article. I will publish my essay later when I've finished it, but for now what I have found interesting is: according to Reber, behaviourism can be defined as an “approach to psychology which argues that the only appropriate subject matter for scientific psychological investigation is observable, measurable behaviour.”


Hence the coaching techniques that are rooted in behavioural psychology are things like:
- observing an expert or behaviour,
- role modelling,
- goal setting and self-reinforcement,
- combination of skills based trainings
- variety of other facilitative techniques including discussion, demonstration and feedback


This article has changed my view on behaviourism, since I thought it was very simplistic, only looking at behaviour and it cannot be therefore used in coaching to achieve long lasting change. I now can see how some of the techniques are indeed very useful, in fact, necessary in measuring the success of coaching.