Case Study: Enterprise Peer Coaching
Peer coaching in the workplace is a game changer and I had the good fortune to be the Program Manager for the Purpose Network in an organization of more than 400k team members. I was able to see, first-hand, how people can grow in their personal and professional life when they are empowered to cultivate a sense of purpose in their lives.
Peer coaching played a crucial role during the COVID pandemic, helping employees feel connected and supported in ways that traditional structures could not provide. When everything shifted to remote, peer coaching became more than just a nice-to-have; it became a lifeline for many, offering a space where colleagues could share experiences, problem-solve together, and support each other through both work challenges and the personal impacts of the pandemic.
It’s about so much more than coaching! Let’s take a quick look at peer coaching and the power of purpose!
The Why - In Pursuit of Purpose
Our Situation
Our team was facing an unprecedented amount of uncertainty and disruption was (and still is) challenging beliefs and norms.
Our Foundation
Our organization was a purpose-driven company. Purpose + Peer Coaching = Antidote for Uncertainty.
Our Opportunity
Individuals were seeking clarity of personal purpose so that they could meaningfully connect and contribute to the company’s purpose and beyond.
The Who - What Success Looks Like
Who the program was designed for
The program was designed for all team members who aspire to more clearly define and activate their personal purpose and build deeper connections within and across the company. To keep things manageable we began with a a roll-out to our HQ employees.
Participant Success looks like…
You’re aware of your personal purpose and you understand what your need to thrive
(You know what you need)You feel equipped and empowered to articulate and pursue you aspirations
(You ask for what you need)You own your growth and development
(You pursue your passions unapologetically)You choose authenticity over conformity and actively encourage others to do the same
Company Success looks like…
Foster a greater sense of belonging
Strengthen personal connection, appreciation and empathy
Empower ownership of personal growth and development
Evoke self-awareness and inspire authenticity
The How - Rolling Out A Purpose Program
About the program structure and the purpose journey
Platform
Profile for individuals to discover their individual purpose
Purpose Profile
Access to video based peer coaching platform to enable interactive and guided conversations
Peer Coaching
Pairs matched across levels and roles to build meaningful connections through the lens of purpose
Structured & Ongoing
Bi-weekly 45 minute guided conversations
5 conversations per quarter
4 peer coaching partners rotations (per year)
Regular pulse checks to measure impact
Measuring The Impact
Behavior
Our Aspiration: Obtain and sustain 80% adopting the model and demonstrating personal purpose confidence and ownership of behavior
What we measured: Behavioral adoption is determined using two data points, action pledges completed and progression on the Change Curve over time
Data Sources: Coaching platform’s action pledge completion rate and the company’s check-in app
What we learned:
Progress toward behavior change is advanced with peer coaching AND check-in accountability
Team Members are motivated to connect and take action toward their goals
Sponsorship and sponsor participation is critical to maintaining behavior change progress
Fulfillment
Our Aspiration: Obtain and sustain a personal and organizational fulfillment score of 65% or higher
What We Measured: Overall fulfillment was determined using three data points, Relationships, Impact and Growth
Data Sources: Coaching platform’s action pledge completion rate and the company’s check-in app
What we learned:
Peer coaching builds psychological safety
Habit creation takes consistent intention, attention and positive reinforcement of new behavior
Time spent cultivating relationships through peer coaching increases productivity, accountability and business results
Team Members need to see, hear and feel that they have permission to prioritize self
Leaders play an outsized role in sustaining new behavior norms through modeling and storytelling
The Outcomes - Care & Growth
Understanding the impact of Peer Coaching in the organization is an interesting exercise. The behavior and sentiment numbers below have been roughly sustained at these levels since the inception of the program.
Sentiment
81%
Very helpful or Breakthrough
98%
Peer coaching was helpful
Behavior
98%
Positive impact on fulfillment
83%
Took action on commitments
Where Team Members were taking action
Participation by level
Other findings
15%
program growth quarter over quarter
98%
Connected with a couch outside their functional area
-7%
Reduced turnover rates among BIPOC employees
measured against general population
-10%
Reduced turnover rates among participants
measured against general population
-8%
Reduced turnover among woman
measured against general population
Program Expansion
The success of Peer Coaching in the organization was untenable. Working with employee networks, leaders and business councils, I was able to market the program to an ever-expanding group of employees growing the program organically. In response to demand we rolled out several customized customized offerings
Leadership cohort
New employee cohort
Function specific cohorts
Program Reporting
Reports on the performance of the program were prepared on a quarterly basis and shared with leadership. These reports were an amalgam of data from the coaching platform, survey data and internal systems allow us to dig deeply into the audiences we were serving and identify areas of improvement as well as hot topics to surface during coaching sessions.
Program Support
The popularity of the program allowed me to make a business case for integrated Single Sign On (SSO) making participation and measurement even more seamless and demonstrating the technology team’s commitment to the program.
Summary
The Purpose Network peer coaching program demonstrated the powerful impact of peer-to-peer support, particularly in a large organization navigating the challenges of the COVID pandemic. Designed to help employees find and pursue personal purpose, the program fostered connections across levels and departments, busting silos, strengthening a culture of empathy, growth, and belonging. As team members engaged in bi-weekly coaching sessions, they gained clarity on personal goals, developed self-awareness, and built authentic relationships. This emphasis on purpose-driven growth led to measurable benefits:
Enhanced Engagement and Retention: Turnover rates among participants dropped significantly, with 10% lower turnover overall and additional reductions among BIPOC employees (7%) and women (8%). Participants reported increased fulfillment and ownership over personal growth, with 83% taking action on commitments and 98% finding the coaching process helpful.
Improved Productivity and Accountability: By building connections that felt safe and supportive, peer coaching encouraged consistent accountability, leading to higher productivity and measurable improvements in team sentiment. Over 98% of participants felt the program positively impacted their fulfillment, with 81% describing it as "very helpful" or a "breakthrough."
Culture of Inclusivity and Empowerment: The program’s reach extended across functional areas, fostering a culture where employees could embrace their authentic selves. By working with diverse cohorts, such as new hires and leadership groups, peer coaching became a central part of the organization’s identity, resulting in a 15% average growth rate each quarter.
The program's success underscored the importance of supporting employees in both their professional and personal lives, proving that purpose-led peer coaching is not only beneficial for individual growth but also instrumental in building an organization that values connection, purpose, and sustained growth.
