Coaching: The Secret Ingredient for Lasting Organizational Development. Dr. William Brendel. 5/6/25

Grounded in behavioral science research, dialogic studies, and global wisdom traditions, Organization Development (OD) uses collaborative, caring interventions to drive sustainable improvements in human systems. While OD aims to create lasting change, sustaining that change often requires ongoing reflection and learning—this is where coaching plays a vital role.

In OD, coaching supports both transformation and continuity by fostering learning systems that drive innovation and personal growth. Leaders and teams benefit from cognitive developmental coaching, which enhances their capacity to manage uncertainty and navigate complex challenges through reflective dialogue and introspection.

A core concept in this session is the reflective practitioner, a professional who examines their values, emotions, and assumptions to improve their effectiveness. In OD, this reflective practice is known as Use of Self, the intentional application of self-awareness to professional interactions. By mastering Use of Self, OD practitioners and coaches bring authenticity, empathy, and presence to their work, strengthening their ability to facilitate meaningful, lasting change.

Participants will learn:

How coaching strengthens sustainable change and learning systems in organizations.
Strategies for developing reflective practitioners through Use of Self.
How immersive learning and AI tools can help amplify coaching impact in OD efforts.
Ways to integrate peer coaching to reinforce ongoing growth and innovation.