The Coach is a game-changer

The future offers a wide choice of paths for self-improvement professionals

Coaching has become a high-growth field, and “The Coach” has come a long way from being the person on the sports field unlocking star performances.

There has been a notable increase in the demand for professional coaching in many fields, in corporate and personal spheres.

This has increased the demand for proper, accredited training, and there is now a wider choice of routes to take to develop as a professional coach.

While not everyone has the interest or experience to become an executive coach in the corporate world, the good news is that the profession is also growing in terms of the diversity of the types of coaches.

Life coaching is well established in the self-help industry; relationship coaching is on the rise; and health, wellness and nutrition coaching is becoming increasingly sought after as more and more people see the advantages of having the support of a thoughtful, encouraging, professional partner as they move towards achieving important personal and life goals.

Coaching is clearly heading into a future where it will become commonplace – for any person wanting to change behaviour, get additional support, insight or to reach a personal goal – to seek out a coach to help bring clarity, focus and accountability in their change journey.

With a growing body of research attesting to the benefits and effectiveness of coaching, it is becoming more evident that being coached can bring a competitive advantage, and be relevant to a variety of endeavours.

“New specialisations and innovations in the field of coaching are constantly emerging as qualified coaches are carving out career niches because they have particular expertise, experience and interest in coaching people facing specific challenges,” says Karolyne Williams, head of coaching at the Sacap Graduate School of Coaching and Leadership in Johannesburg.

“Coaching has moved away from the exclusivity and elitism of just serving high-performance athletes and business executives. And this is an encouraging direction for those interested in coaching as a career.”

Brett Simpson’s gruelling journey with cancer – which affected his life long after treatment and remission – inspired his move into qualifying as a coach. He founded Cancer Journey Coaching.

Brett says: “Cancer affects relationships, finances, work and all areas of life. The coaching model I worked with really gave me the tools to build strategies in my journey through cancer. It dealt with not only my emotional needs but also practical demands of money, how my diagnosis affected my relationships, my ability to work and the like. It was even more valuable when my treatment was completed and I was expected to ‘get on with my life’. I was changed, I had new eyes and a brand-new perspective on what life meant to me.

“I worked with my coach to redefine and create a new life. It’s in this area of post-treatment, when life is meant to get back to ‘normal’, that I find coaching really becomes incredibly powerful.”