Before starting as a coach, get to understand this

Mr Mahesh Sharma, 56, was a professor living in North India, with three children at home. He wanted to find a new career. Mrs Sharma wanted to pursue a new challenge. So, both decided to become life coaches.

A L&D corporate professional went on to take up a coaching certification program in 2010 with a view to enrich and grow his career. That skill came handy when he decided to quit corporate world in 2013. The coach certification acted as a parachute and helped him land safely and running on the ground.

Corporate professionals are actively pursuing opportunities that will allow them to quit a 9-5 job and yet make money. Between 2015 and 2019, the female shares of coach practitioners rose across all regions except the Middle East and Africa. The largest increase was in Asia, up by seven percentage points from 52% in 2015 to 59% in 2019.

 The global annual average revenue earned by coaches is USD 47,100. Almost three in four coach practitioners (74%) currently hold a credential or certification from a professional coaching organization, up from 70% in the 2016 study.

The non-profit International Coach Federation, which is considered the main accrediting and credentialing body for both training programs and coaches, estimated in its 2020 Global Coaching Study that there were 71,000 coaches worldwide.

So, what is fuelling the boom? It is plain and simple – demand and supply.

India is still underserved market that needs qualified and certified coaches. At the last count (Aug 2020) globally there were 42,786 credentialed coaches in 147 countries. Of these Asia had 9% while North Americas had 47%. India has only about 766 credentialed coaches (ACC-PCC-MCC) for a population of 1.34 billion while North Americas (Bermuda, US Canada & Greenland) had 20,188 coach. Singapore has more than 700 coaches. The figures tell us the potential of growth.. Pre- Pandemic the coaching was virtual to the extent of 60-65%. Now it is almost 100%. That means that coaches can potentially market themselves and acquire clients globally. In India there are large proportion of coaches are employed HR / L&D professionals. It means that potential to have many more coaches operating independently / freelancing is huge.

Most professional in corporate world have felt vulnerable during 2020 & 2021 more than ever. Hope and wish that everyone stays safe through the difficult times, Yet, it is worth considering a career option, if needed, or may be Plan-B.

If this career option seem worth exploring and exciting for you, the way is to get the training and get certified. To be accredited by the International Coach Federation, a training program must meet a number of criteria.

Those desirous of understanding more, exploring an alternative career, adding to the competencies to enhance career growth prospects may reach out to me on LinkedIn or my email ID [email protected]