In May, we celebrated ICF Coaching Week with a week full of coaching offerings from some of our Associates and the wider coaching network.
The intention, as it is each year, was to raise awareness around the depth, breadth, and impact of coaching for individuals, teams, and organisations.
We thought it might be useful to go back to the beginning and explore what the fuss is around coaching, and why right now may be a good time to find a coach.
Stepping back in time….
When I started out in coaching in 2002 (24 years ago), people seemed to think I had something to do with working on the buses. And it’s true that back then, if you’d searched for a Life Coach, the chances were that you’d risk going on a long, unplanned road trip.
Coaching was done on the phone, often weekly or bi-weekly. I hardly ever met my clients, and without the advent of social media, I usually didn’t even know what they looked like.
Whilst coaching dealt with feelings, there was a clear line as to what topics to avoid. Very few clients talked about their wellbeing, their desire to be more resilient, their work stress or anxiety, or even their confidence – topics that are frequently brought to my coaching table in 2026.
In 2007, the ICF conducted its first Global Coaching Study and estimated there to be between 30-50,000 coaches. Compared with nearly 123,000 in 2025 (a minimum of a 146% growth). Coaching clients would focus on health and wellness if you were a woman, and more of a business focus if you were a man.
The relevance for today….
In today’s BANI world (Brittle, Anxious, Nonlinear, and Incomprehensible), finding time to reflect, rehearse, and react with confidence seems a luxury.
For many coaching clients, the gender topic split of 2007, has merged into an international concern – work and wellbeing, confidence and control, growth and meeting targets. Conversations have returned to the whole person, their whole lives, and the challenges they face in the real world.
The ICF in 2025 recorded that through coaching, individuals felt:
- Greater self-awareness and clarity
- Had increased confidence and personal agency
- Set more meaningful goals
- Improved resilience and adaptability
- Enhanced interpersonal effectiveness
- And benefited from career development and progression
The CIPD found similar results in their 2025 Coaching and Mentoring Factsheet.
If you want to find out what the fuss is about, then why not book one of our free coaching sample sessions? Some things need to be experienced to be believed, coaching is such a personal expereince that you ‘try before your buy‘ is always a good starting point.