6 Types of Personal & Professional Development Coaching

Did you know 80% of people who receive coaching report increased self-confidence? Additionally, more than 70% describe benefits like improvements in work performance, relationships, and more effective communication skills after working with a coach.

Here are 6 common types of powerful personal and professional development coaching, the specific assistance each type provides, and why they might be a good choice for you.

Career Transition Coaching

This type of coaching focuses on professionals who are looking for a new job or a new career, and helps to best position them in the marketplace. However, these services also benefit people who want to explore opportunities at their current organization.

Most often, career transition coaching starts with an assessment like the Myers-Briggs Type Indicator Career Report. This assessment helps individuals understand how their personality affects their career exploration and shows the benefits of choosing a job that fits with their personality.

Career coaching also often includes resume and LinkedIn development, networking assistance and interview skill building.

Executive Coaching

Many executives feel isolated due to not having peers to discuss the options, doubts and challenges faced within their position.

An experienced executive coach provides feedback and support to CEOs and leaders within companies, introducing an outside perspective and valuable guidance.

This can be especially helpful when leaders have to address complex issues such as difficult employees, family business problems, teambuilding or strategic direction.

Additionally, executive coaching can assist leaders in “thinking outside the box” when creative solutions are needed to move a company forward.

Retirement Coaching

Retirement is often approached from a financial perspective. But there are many other factors to consider, too.

For example, did you know retired men were 40% more likely than employed men to experience depression, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention?

That’s where retirement coaching can help. Coaches work with individuals or couples to address the transition to retirement holistically, which can help minimize possible feelings of purposelessness, anxiety or depression after leaving the workforce.

Typically retirement coaching starts with an assessment that measures retirement readiness in six areas: career and work, health and wellness, finance and insurance, family and relationships, leisure and social, and personal development.

The retirement coach then uses the information provided to guide coaching sessions with the individual or couple. The end result is a customized plan for retirement based on core values, strengths and weaknesses.

Life Coaching

The idea of life coaching may sound strange at first. But this service can be extremely helpful — particularly for professionals in the workforce.

Many life coaches say clients approach them when they are experiencing high levels of stress, a lack of work-life balance or feelings of purposelessness. Basically, they need some sort of change!

So life coaches partner with them to identify growth areas. Coaches also help clients see where their values may not be lining up with their choices. This holistic approach helps clients set practical goals that bring about real change.

In one study, 67% of life coaching clients surveyed reported that coaching helped them to have better work-life balance. Additionally, 80% reported improved self-confidence, and 70% said they saw growth in their work performance.

Leadership Coaching

This type of coaching works with new leaders or emerging leaders at a company to help them improve their skills and create a healthier, more productive work environment.

Leadership coaching can include Leadership 360 assessments that collect and organize feedback from supervisors, peers and subordinates.

It can also include soft skills training on topics such as time management, communication, teamwork, leadership, problem solving and more.

All leadership coaching can be done within an organization through seminars and workshops, as well as individually.

Performance Coaching

Performance coaches most often work with companies who need to realign high-potential employees. The process teaches these valuable team members how to optimize strengths and compensate for challenging areas.

Performance coaching can include training on:

• Time management
• Discussing sensitive issues
• Dealing with conflict
• Holding others accountable
• Goal setting
• Resolving conflicts constructively
• Motivating others

This type of coaching is ideal for organizations seeking to empower employees to reach expected performance goals.

To Sum It All Up

There are many other types of coaching, too, such as business coaching, skills coaching, employee coaching and more. However, these six types of coaching tend to be the most commonly used for professional and personal development. And the benefits are easy to see!

Have questions about the coaching services from our organizational development division, Samaritan Consulting Group? Contact us here.