4 Ways A Life Coach Can Help You Succeed In Your Career

Just as a tennis coach helps with various aspects of your tennis game (e.g., serving, returning, post-game recovery), a life coach helps with various aspects of your life (e.g., relationships, money, health, career). While there are various coaching certifications, unlike the medical profession, there is no requirement for a coach to be certified or licensed in coaching. As the prospective client, you will need to vet your potential coach based on their background, expertise in what you need help with, and track record helping others.

Since there’s no one governing body for coaches, it’s up to the coaches themselves whether they brand as a life coach, career coach, business coach, executive coach, health coach, etc. According to the 2023 Global Coaching Study by the International Coaching Federation (ICF), business coaching, including executive coaching, leadership coaching, organizational coaching and small business coaching, has seen a growing share of the overall coaching industry. Coaching for executives and business leaders also commands higher fees. Someone who might offer life coaching (i.e., coaching on relationships, money, health, etc.) but also offering career, business and/or leadership coaching may choose to brand as a career, business or executive coach in order to highlight that aspect of their offering, tap into that growing pool and command the higher fees.

If you’re interested in finding a coach to help with career success, life coaches could be a cost-effective alternative to career, business or executive coaches. Here are four ways a life coach can help you succeed in your career:

1. Achieve Goals In Your Current Role Or Company

Since life coaches have different specialties and talents, look for a life coach with expertise in communication and relationship-building skills to help you navigate your workplace. This could include improving how you advocate for yourself to your manager or senior leaders, setting stronger boundaries with toxic colleagues or building a stronger professional network. A life coach with substantive work experience can support you on landing that promotion and/or raise. A life coach who specializes in building better habits or routines could help you improve your time management, thereby improving your day-to-day work situation.

2. Land A New Job

A life coach might have knowledge of the job search process if they worked in human resources, recruiting or as a longtime executive hiring their own teams. In addition to other areas of your life, a career-savvy life coach can specifically support you in getting a new job. Check to see what specific services they offer (e.g., resume, LinkedIn, cover letters, interview preparation, offer negotiation). If they don’t offer job-search specific services, a life coach still might be helpful as an accountability partner and support system. Regular calls with your life coach can keep you your job search on track and organized, as well as give you a pick-me-up during the inevitable peaks and valleys of a job search.

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3. Discover New Professional Goals, Such As A Career Change Or New Business

Life coaching often involves asking powerful questions to help you unpack your values, interests and priorities. Some life coaches offer personality and/or skills assessments, such as Myers-Briggs Personality Assessment or the Gallup StrengthsFinder. This can help you figure out what to do next and pick new professional goals, such as a career change or new business. In addition, to discovering these new possibilities, a life coach with experience in these areas might help you take the next steps to pivot your career or launch your business.

4. Advance Personal And Career Goals In A Holistic Way

Since life coaches focus on various aspects of your life, they can help you maintain a more holistic view of your personal and career goals. While you might have career-related goals as a priority, the coaching might also include your personal relationships, wellness and finances so you don’t neglect these areas and then have to put out fires there. A whole-life focus may also improve your work/ life balance. Finally, a strong personal foundation helps you better weather the ups and downs of a job search, career change, new business or other big career move.