At a time when people increasingly operate as "Lone Cowboys" both in their personal and professional lives, it is no surprise that the appeal of having a life coach is on the rise. A good coach can help people get on track, set goals and reach new levels of fulfillment and success.
According to the International Coaching Federation, "Professional coaches provide an ongoing partnership designed to help clients produce fulfilling results in their personal and professional lives. Coaches help people improve their performances and enhance the quality of their lives."
Coaching emerged as a distinct field in 1992, when Thomas Leonard founded Coach University. Today, some coaches have general practices while others specialize in a specific interest area (career, fitness, financial, weight loss, etc.) or focus on working with specific populations (i.e., executives, people with ADD, divorced women, etc.)
People come into coaching from a wide variety of backgrounds. While there are a number of coaches who have prior training as therapists or counselors, it is not necessary to have this type of background to become a successful coach. In fact, at the moment, virtually anyone can call themselves a coach -- there is no one established credential/licensing requirement for becoming a coach. The length and quality of coaching training programs vary tremendously, so it is important to find a program that provides you with a real base of skills, knowledge and information to turn your interest in coaching into a viable business.
Income Potential:
Fees earned vary by specialty, number of client hours and by the level of experience of the coach. Some coaches charge as little as $35/hour while others are able to command $750/month for three half-hour telephone consultations.
Options for Flexibility:
This is a very flexible career. Coaching is generally done by telephone so your work can be performed anywhere.
Resources for Further Exploration:
International Coaching Federation (ICF)
Books:
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