Coaching industry growing fast and specialized – Business Review
Coaching is a big deal, a big industry and, according to Business Review, it is growing. Consider this:
At an international level, the coaching market continues to grow – the 2016 ICF study noted 53,300 coaches globally, a 12 percent increase from 2012, and valued the industry at an estimated USD 2.4 billion and growing. Moreover, according to PwC, the coaching industry was the second fastest growing sector in the world.
The International Coaching Federation (ICF) defines coaching as “partnering with clients in a thought-provoking and creative process that inspires them to maximize their personal and professional potential.” Coaching is a distinct service and differs greatly from therapy, consulting, mentoring, or training. The ICF describes itself as the leading global organization dedicated to advancing the coaching profession by setting high standards, providing independent certification and building a worldwide network of trained coaching professionals. As the world’s largest organization of professionally trained coaches, it offers the only globally recognized, independent credentialing program for coach practitioners. ICF credentials are awarded to professional coaches who have met stringent educational and experience requirements and have demonstrated a thorough understanding of the coaching competencies that set the standards in the profession, says the organization.