It seems that coaching just jumped onto the consulting scene and became one of the most talked about activities in personal and professional development. However, it took almost twenty years for coaching to become an “overnight success.” A question I am often asked is, “Where did coaching come from?” Through research, interviews and personal experience, I have observed four major factors that have created the industry we know today.

1. PERSONAL DEVELOPMENT SEMINAR PROGRAMS -

In the early eighties there were several large personal development seminars that challenged participants to breakthrough their limiting beliefs, take responsibility for their lives and take action on what really mattered both personally and professionally. In these programs participants were often teamed up with a “coach” who would work with them either in person or by phone to clarify their goals, give them feedback and hold them accountable to what they said they would do. Several of these coaches decided to create their own businesses working with private clients in a similar method to what they did with the seminar participants. The success that clients had from working with these coaches created referrals and greater demand for coaches nationwide.

2. CORPORATE EXECUTIVES -

About the same time as coaches were working with individual clients in the private sector, high-level executives were hiring motivational psychologists, sports coaches, and professional speakers to help give the “the edge” over their competitors. The work was focused on clarifying priorities, creating awareness of strengths and weaknesses, and improving their focus and leadership. These executives found the effectiveness of this work so important that they began to suggest that their “coach” work with the company’s managers. As the results continued to spread throughout the company, there was a natural progression where the executives and managers began suggesting that their spouses and children work with these trained “motivators.” This development helped contribute to the growth of coaching beyond the corporate arena.

3. COACH TRAINING ORGANIZATIONS

Another major factor that affected the growth of the coaching profession is the amount of coach training organizations that have been founded since the early nineties. This year, the International Coach Federation will hold their fifth annual conference near Orlando, Florida. Over 800 coaches will attend and share their experience and ideas with each other. I was responsible for designing a moderating a panel of representatives from coach training organizations around the world. When I began planning this event I thought there were three of four such organizations. After months of research I discovered that there are actually at least twenty organizations in the business of formal coaching training. These schools have continued to create a supply of coaches that helped bring coaching to all parts of the world. Therefore, the number of trained coaches has increased the availability and quality of coaching which has resulted in the exponential growth of people working with coaches today.

4. COACHING INDUSTRY ASSOCIATIONS

In 1992 two separate coaching associations were founded by coaches who were committed to addressing the need for professional definition, credibility, professional development, ethics, standards and community. In 1997 these two organizations merged to create what is now the International Coach Federation (ICF). Today, the ICF is the primary worldwide resource for business and personal coaches and the source for those who are seeking a coach. This “formalization” of the industry has created a vast amount of media attention which has helped educate the public as to what coaching is, how coaching works, and how to find a coach. For more information about the ICF visit www.coachfederation.org. It is estimated that today there are over 10,000 full and part-time coaches worldwide. Membership in the ICF has grown over 400% in the last two years and doesn’t seem to be slowing down. It is obvious that coaching works and because it works we will continue to see it grow and evolve for many years to come.

Bio: Rich Fettke is a professional speaker, a Master Certified Coach and author of the audiobook FOCUS: A Guide to Clarity and Achievement. For more information about Rich's keynotes, workshops or private coaching visit his website at www.Fettke.com. He can also be reached at
(800) 200-COACH or Rich@Fettke.com

See Also: Articles by Rich and Courage Workshop.

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