The Future Of Life Coaching
By Jeff Wasserman
Life & Business Coach

The Life Coaching profession is growing and developing at a rapid speed. Life Coaching as a profession was founded by the late Thomas Leonard approximately 20 years ago. For years, Thomas was the leader and provider of most of the coaching programs still currently offered, including the famous "clean sweep program."

Thomas believed that coaching was in it's infancy and there was so much more to be developed and marketed. About 5 years ago, the coaching profession saw major changes. Thomas sold Coach U, then after touring the country, started Coachville. Shortly thereafter, the energy shifted, Coachville was not accepted or welcomed into the ICF. Thomas focused on providing his own community to compete with the ICF, whose intentions shifted since it was created by Thomas and other coaches.

Two years ago, Thomas passed away of a sudden heart attack and will be greatly missed. Soon the energy shifted again. Thomas left the coachville organization to Dave Buck. Soon problems arose and like with any business, staff changes quickly followed. Susan Austin and Andrea J. Lee were gone, as well as several other staff members.

The coaching profession was in turmoil. After a short time, Dave Buck aligned himself with Tom Stone, ( Thomas Leonard's personal coach) and new staff members. Tom brought to Coachville a concept which he presented at the "Absence of You" seminar.

Soon Dave Buck and Coachville had something new to present to coaching community, something concrete and exciting. Tom brought coaching into the next phase, which I call, "transformational coaching." Tom introduced a device which he calls the Wavemaker.

Over the next two years, many changes have taken place. Life Coach College opened in February 2003 to offer coach training to specialty groups, including the natural health care profession. Life Coach Marketing was formed to provide marketing assistance for coaches and the US Life Coach Association was formed to provide an alternative to the traditional coaching organizations. USLCA focuses on bringing coaches and clients together, while the ICF focuses on regulations and conduct in the coaching community. The IAC focuses on certifying coaches.

I can see so many new directions for the coaching community.

Click here to read more of my views on the future of the coaching community.