Coaching in the workplace is typically a human resource or training responsibility. It provides positive support, feedback and advice to an individual or group to improve their effectiveness in the business setting. It can include executive coaching, corporate coaching and/or leadership coaching.

A number of organizations now train professionals to offer coaching to businesses, but there is no certification required to be a coach, and membership in such organizations is entirely optional. Many coaches refer to themselves as consultants, but coaching is not a practice restricted to external experts or providers. Many organizations expect their senior leaders and middle managers to coach their team members to reach higher levels of performance. Some even employ their own coaches, especially in the sales arena.

According to a MarketData Report in 2007, an estimated 40,000 people in the US work as business or life coaches and the industry is growing at rate of 18% per year.

This begs the question – what will coaching look like in 100 years?

Chances are, the anticipated result of coaching is not going to change very much. People will still be looking for more engagement, additional support, progress, knowledge, etc.

What might change is the delivery, how and where most people will receive coaching and where as well as when it’s received. Developing technology will allow much of this to occur. New mobile devices, new learning management systems and additional research on learning all may impact this, but the core of coaching will still be helping people progress in the workplace.

Let us know your visions of coaching in 100 years.