The purpose of this qualitative, phenomenological study was to explore the perceptions and lived experiences of Department of Defense (DOD) civilian employees to identify how their personal sense-making affects their coaching of adult students. The author used an interpretative phenomenological analysis (IPA) method involving personal interviews of 20 study participants to gather verbatim interview data regarding sense-making and coaching of adult students. The population for the study was 20 Department of the Army employees working at the Army Management Staff College, US Army Training and Doctrine Command, Fort Belvoir, Virginia, and Fort Leavenworth, Kansas. Significant discoveries regarding sense-making supported the Seven Properties of Sense-making (Weick, 1995) while suggesting that Weick's construct include an 8th property involving ethical considerations and personal values. In addition, interview data provided sense-making and coaching recommendations related to the themes of leadership, management, decision making, self-knowledge, and coaching. The researcher explored the importance of trust, respect, character, critical thinking, and effective listening, which both faculty interviews and literature reinforced by observations, reflections and shared sense-making. [The dissertation citations contained here are published with the permission of ProQuest LLC. Further reproduction is prohibited without permission. Copies of dissertations may be obtained by Telephone (800) 1-800-521-0600. Web page: http://www.proquest.com/en-US/products/dissertations/individuals.shtml.]