There are executive coaches, career coaches, adult attention deficit coaches, sales coaches, relationship coaches, public speaking coaches, small business coaches. There are coaches that specialize in a certain aspect of business like venture development, start up, or marketing. There are coaches with life skills counseling background, coaches for therapists and of coarse coaches for coaches. These days people spend more time and money with coaches trying to shave a few strokes off their golf game than they do planning their life. Skeptics have said that coaching is no more than a glorified and paid golf partner, providing a service that could be easily accomplished with a friend or spouse.
Professional coaches disagree.
Coaching is like any other professional advisor and on the same level as lawyers and accountants. Coaching is faster than psychotherapy and more powerful than good intentions. Neil Godin of Neil Godin International, a professional coach and speaker for over 30 years, says, Coaches are about human development. Until we start teaching citizenship, self management, basic literacy and entrepreneurship in our schools, demand for qualified and professional coaches will only increase. Coaching does not dwell on past transgressions and mistakes, but instead focuses on helping the client create the life they want.