Vol. 14 No. 2 (2026)
Space and Culture, India

Research

Coaching and Professional Self-Realisation: Ukrainian Business Leadership in Wartime Contexts

Published 2026-09-26

  • Vsevolod Zelenin

Vsevolod Zelenin
Professor, Department of Psychology, Mykhailo Dragomanov State University of Ukraine, Kyiv, Ukraine

Abstract

This study investigates the psychological state of business leaders during a period of military crisis and examines the role of coaching support in fostering professional self-realisation. A total of 152 respondents (69 men and 83 women) participated, with data collected through Google Forms. Both quantitative and qualitative methods were employed. Well-being was assessed using the PERMA Profiler Measure across six dimensions, while the Positive Mental Health Scale (PMH Scale) and the Modified BBC Subjective Well-being Scale (BBC SWB) measured life satisfaction.

The results demonstrate that coaching support enabled leaders to reframe crisis situations as opportunities for growth rather than insurmountable challenges. Leaders who received coaching reported significantly higher levels of well-being compared to those without such support. Specifically, positive emotions increased by 18%, work engagement by 14%, sense of meaning by 18%, accomplishment by 16%, and physical health by 12%. Conversely, loneliness decreased by 32% and anxiety by 34%.

These findings underscore the beneficial impact of coaching on leaders’ psychological resilience, emotional adaptability, and capacity for constructive action during crises. They suggest that integrating coaching and psychological support into crisis management strategies can enhance leadership effectiveness, strengthen talent management, and provide critical tools for navigating adverse circumstances.

Keywords

Crisis Management, Professional Self-Realisation, Cognitive Flexibility, Adaptability, Emotional Resilience, Ukraine

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Author Biography

Vsevolod Zelenin

Vsevolod Zelenin is a Professor and psychologist affiliated with Mykhailo Dragomanov State University of Ukraine in Kyiv; the supplied profile also identifies him as a Professor in the Department of Political Psychology and International Relations. He holds a PhD in Psychology, a Candidate of Psychological Sciences degree, a Master’s degree in Psychology, and a Master’s degree in Art History. His professional experience includes work as a political technologist, executive coach, and NLP expert. He is the author of more than 70 scientific publications, including papers indexed in Scopus and Web of Science, as well as more than ten popular books on psychological counselling, coaching, and strategic communication. His distinctions include Honoured Educator of Ukraine (2021), the “For Assistance to the Army” badge (2023), and Excellence in Education (2025).

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