This guide to coaching niches was created to give those thinking about a career in coaching an idea of the different types of coaching they could pursue.
This list is by no means exhaustive, there are still many smaller niches that exist outside the ones listed or that use a combination of the ones listed.
If you decide that coaching is for you, we recommend choosing a niche that you have personal or professional experience in and that you have a genuine passion for.
Erickson College is here for your coach training journey every step of the way. If you have any questions about a specific niche, even one that is not on this list, please contact us via info@erickosn.edu and we will be more than happy to help.
Marilyn Atkinson, PhD
President Erickson College International
20 Coaching Niches
20 Coaching Niches 2013 erickson.edu #
Contents
Life Coaching
3. What Is Life Coaching 4. Career Coaching 5. Couple Coaching 6. Divorce Coaching 7. Family Coaching 8. Health & Wellness Coaching 9. Holistic Health Coaching 10. Motivational Coaching. 11. Parent Coaching 12. Personal Development Coaching 13. Recovery Coaching 14. Relationship Coaching 15. Single Coaching 16. Spiritual Coaching 17. Success Coaching
Business Coaching
18. What Is Business Coaching 19. Business Management Coaching 20. Entrepreneur Coaching 21. Executive Coaching 22. Leadership Coaching 23. Sales Coaching 24. Marketing Coaching
25. About Erickson College
20 Coaching Niches
20 Coaching Niches 2013 erickson.edu $
What Is Life Coaching?
Life Coaching is a set of tools that can be applied in various situations, helping people with all aspects of their life. It can address health, relationships, spirituality, and professional success to name a few.
What makes a person happy, healthy and successful?
Every persons answer is unique. We all have different values and beliefs about what we want to achieve, how we will achieve it, and how we feel about success.
As a life coach, you will work with clients in regular sessions. These can be face-to-face, over the phone or via the Internet utilizing software such as Skype. During initial meetings, you will prioritize strategies for success; gain insight into their temperament, needs, and communication style to mention a few. You will be instrumental to your clients success, helping them to understand their vision, set priorities and develop an action plan.
20 Coaching Niches
20 Coaching Niches 2013 erickson.edu %
1. Career Coaching
Typical Clients Clients looking for career coaching are aware of the difficulties in the modern labor markets. They will likely be trying to find a new job, advance up the corporate ladder or change fields completely.
What Is Involved A career coach is seldom attached to one specific field. Usually a career coach works with clients in a variety of industries and job levels. Your challenge will be to motivate, excite and help your client land their first job or guide them through a transitional period to their dream role.
In career coaching, you will:
Determine a clients strengths, talents, and goals. Understand a clients needs and desires. Guide them to overcoming workplace obstacles. Help them develop an action plan to attain job satisfaction. Help clients make tricky career decisions. Help them understand how to network for better careers. Assist with a targeted job search. Prepare clients for a successful interview. Help them evaluate a job offer.
20 Coaching Niches
20 Coaching Niches 2013 erickson.edu &
2. Couples Coaching
Typical Clients Couples Coaching clients can take the form of individuals or a couple. They are likely to be having some kind of difficulty with their relationship and are looking for guidance on improving communication and enhancing their intimate relationship.
What Is Involved You will impart techniques on how to better communicate, resolve conflicts, listen to the others needs, and how to increase their intimate bond.
As a Couples Coach, you will be tasked with helping them identify a better path for their relationship. This could include ascertaining:
What are the current difficulties? What common values do they hold? What can they learn from each partners values and needs? How do they communicate with each other? Are their styles compatible? How can they improve their communication skills? What is their ultimate goal in couples coaching? Identifying spaces for mutual growth. Aligning personal values and needs with their partner. What things can they do to show caring, respect, and love to their partner?
20 Coaching Niches
20 Coaching Niches 2013 erickson.edu '
3. Divorce Coaching
Typical Clients Clients can include both men and women looking for support and guidance through and after a divorce.
What Is Involved During and after a divorce, a client will likely be experiencing painful emotions and loss of direction. It is the divorce coachs role to support their client through this tough time, helping them to create a solution-focused action plan for living happily.
Specifically, clients may need guidance in establishing effective communications with their ex-partner, arranging a healthy co- parenting strategy and expanding their skills and mindset to boost their independence and eventual happiness.
As a divorce coach, some of your role may include helping your client to:
Increase their self-confidence. Move past the pain of divorce. View themselves as whole and complete. Communicate more effectively with their ex-spouse. Address the barriers that keep them from moving forward. Set clear co-parenting goals. Separate the emotions from the legal issues. Help transition from married life to being single again. Set new goals for financial security and stability. Realize the benefits of being single. 20 Coaching Niches
20 Coaching Niches 2013 erickson.edu (
4. Family Coaching
Typical Clients Clients often include families who are in crisis, new parents, and adoptive parents who need help coping with a difficult transition.
What Is Involved Family Coaching requires a deep understanding of the relationship between family members. You should be able to empathize with parenting struggles and understand the difficulties faced at various childrens development stages. Assisting parents and working with children to educate and explain the effects of outside influences are common roles. Promoting continuous and trusted communication between family members is also a key area.
Family Coaching clients may face issues such as:
New parent challenges. Teen pregnancy. Addiction and abuse. Violence. School dropout prevention. Anger or stress management. Poor communication. Marriage problems. Parenting issues for different stages, such as toilet training, separation anxiety, depression, or discipline. 20 Coaching Niches
20 Coaching Niches 2013 erickson.edu )
5. Health & Wellness Coaching
Typical Clients Clients are likely to include people with physical and mental struggles in losing weight, increasing exercise, eating healthily, or improving their mindset.
What Is Involved A Health & Wellness Coachs role is to promote positivity. This can be achieved by assisting clients overcome physical and mental issues that result in negative mind-sets. By helping bring their mind to balance, you will help them to feel better about themselves, both in mind and body.
You will partner with your clients to deal with a variety of issues, including:
Typical Clients Many Holistic Health Coaching clients already have an understanding of the importance of mind-body-spirit balance, however they have become stuck and need assistance in reaching a new level of well being.
What Is Involved One of a Holistic Health Coachs challenges is to help people implement what they know will benefit them. Clients may well understand the importance of mind-body-spirit balance and are actively working towards a better state of well-being but need assistance in overcoming particularly difficult aspects. These could include weight loss, increasing energy, overcoming addictions and physical pain.
Some may have looked for solutions using traditional methods such as medication, counseling or therapy but have become frustrated at their ineffectiveness.
Issues that Holistic Health Coaching clients may seek help with:
Guiding them through sickness and recovery. Finding and strengthening inner wisdom. Helping them cure themselves. Helping them rid themselves of toxins. Assisting them in finding mind-body-spirit balance. Identifying the root of a symptom.
20 Coaching Niches
20 Coaching Niches 2013 erickson.edu "+
7. Motivational Coaching
Typical Clients Clients often include individuals who are struggling to stay positive and achieve their goals. Manager and business teams also benefit from motivational coaching, especially in times of difficulty.
What Is Involved Individuals may come to a Motivational Coach to seek guidance for personal issues they might not feel comfortable discussing with friends and family. Your role is to help them identify the issue they face, deconstruct it, and to help find a solution that will transform their attitude.
Managers often come under severe stress from enormous amounts of responsibility. When things are not going as smooth as hoped they can turn to a Motivational Coach to help curb their fears, apprehensions and self-demotion. Such times of strife include economic uncertainty resulting in cutbacks and layoffs of team members.
As a Motivational Coach, you will:
Help identify the clients core issues. Dig deep with clients to realize their true motivations. Find ways to fully utilize their motivations. Help clients construct new attitudes towards issues. Help clients visualize what a life full of motivation will look like.
20 Coaching Niches
20 Coaching Niches 2013 erickson.edu ""
8. Parenting Coaching
Typical Clients Parents face a myriad of challenges when raising children and some simply become overwhelmed when this major responsibility controls their life. Parents want reciprocal loving relationships with their children
What Is Involved Parents strive for reciprocal loving relationships with their children and a Parenting Coach helps them achieve this. You should be able to assist struggling parents to learn effective ways of nurturing their child through tough times, preparing them for the road ahead. You will help the parent understand current issues and assist them in creating a plan of action to resolve and move forward. The result of Parent Coaching is a strengthened parent-child relationship with successful open, honest and loving communication. You will likely help with some of the following parenting problems:
Dealing with Newborns. Temper Tantrums. Potty Training. Anger & Hostility Issues. Sleeping or Bedtime Problems / Bedwetting. Picky Eaters. Social Issues. Teenage Sex & Pregnancy. Depression or Suicidal Thoughts. Drugs & Alcohol Abuse. Creating spaces for healthy development. 20 Coaching Niches
20 Coaching Niches 2013 erickson.edu "#
9. Personal Development Coaching
Typical Clients Personal Development Coaching clients are looking to improve themselves in one or multiple ways. They understand that life is precious and they want to get the most out of what they have.
What Is Involved Personal Development Coaching covers a wide selection of areas, from identifying ways to increase overall happiness, love, wealth, and overall enjoyment of life. Clients have these things inside of them already; it is a Personal Development Coachs role to help the client become aware of them.
As a Personal Development Coach you will impart the importance of self-love, confidence, and a positive mindset. You will likely work on personal life issues, such as:
Personal Relationships. Self-Love. Discovering the Authentic Self. Positive Mindset. Goal Setting. Increased Income. Increased Joy and Passion. Increased Self Confidence. Reducing Stress and Anxiety. Self-Motivation. 20 Coaching Niches
20 Coaching Niches 2013 erickson.edu "$
10. Recovery Coaching
Typical Clients Recovery Coaching deals with individuals who are recovering from forms of addiction, such as drugs, alcohol, sex, and gambling. Addiction impacts people from all walks of life meaning your clients could vary dramatically if you so choose to enter this field.
What Is Involved A Recovery Coach plays a slightly different role than an addiction councilor. A Recovery Coach focuses on the individuals life after the initial sober period. This can include helping the client to set personal and professional goals, whist remaining sober. A clients road to recovery is long and full of daily struggles, including stress, time management and staying focused. It is a Recovery Coachs role to remind them of why they decided to become sober and provide the self-help tools they need to succeed in their new life. Such tools can include:
Typical Clients Relationship Coaches are often sought when an individual is looking to enhance their personal and or professional relationships.
What Is Involved Relationship Coaching extends beyond intimate relationships to encompass any and all relationships with other people. A client may choose to involve a Relationship Coach if they are having trouble attracting friends, or simply the wrong type of friends. They could be struggling with self-confidence issues, making the process of networking particularly difficult. These types of issues usually penetrate both personal and professional relationships, limiting the clients success and happiness.
Clients may need help with the following:
Discovering the troubling aspects within a current relationship. Identifying issues such as fear, low self-esteem, or anger. Enhancing self-confidence to identify people who are not good matches. Helping to learn how to attract their ideal partner and build a good relationship. Working through communication missteps that may be preventing happy relationships. Identifying ways to set personal boundaries with others. 20 Coaching Niches
20 Coaching Niches 2013 erickson.edu "&
12. Singles Coaching
Typical Clients People hire Singles Coaches to help them navigate through the challenges of finding the right partner. However a big part of Singles Coaching is also helping people enjoy themselves as a single person and disassociate with the idea that they have to be with someone to be happy. Clients can be very diverse; they can be young or old, male or female, rich or poor.
What Is Involved Singles Coaching clients often find meeting and dating the opposite sex challenging, often creating a sense of anxiety and self-doubt. It is the Singles Coachs role to help them feel comfortable and confident in their own skin, addressing their fears and assist them in taking steps to achieve successful relationship. Singles Coaching clients may need help with some of the following things:
Building stronger communication skills. Increasing their self-confidence. Understanding the signals of the opposite sex. Identifying the best venues to meet people. Learning how to build a relationship, from the initial attraction to long-term relationships. Transforming their feelings of desperation into being a person happy with himself or herself. Learning to identify potential and compatible partners. Creating a vision of their ideal partner. Designing an action plan to meet the perfect person. 20 Coaching Niches
20 Coaching Niches 2013 erickson.edu "'
13. Spiritual Coaching
Typical Clients Clients interested in Spiritual Coaching often have some experience in understanding their spiritual nature but require some guidance in finding their center.
What Is Involved A Spiritual Coach guides a client on their spiritual journey or awakening. They help connect the client to their unconscious self while disassociating from their ego. Clients are often searching for inner peace and their true life purpose. Spiritual Coaches show their clients the direction, and encourage them along their journey to enlightenment and joy.
Spiritual Coaches help clients with the following:
Re-discovering and re-connecting with their identity. Tapping into their spiritual wisdom. Boosting their self-confidence. Enhancing their self-love and self-respect. Understanding their life purpose. Creating action steps to take control over their lives. Opening up spiritual awareness. Setting new and exciting goals. Helping them solve physical, mental, emotional and spiritual issues with their inner solutions.
20 Coaching Niches
20 Coaching Niches 2013 erickson.edu "(
14. Success Coaching
Typical Clients Success Coaching clients often seek help because they feel unfulfilled and are constantly searching for personal success or happiness without joy.
What Is Involved Success is different for every individual. It is the Success Coachs role to help the client identify what truly matters to them. This usually involves surpassing the tangible measurement of monetary wealth and possessions to find happiness and success in more human aspects of life and living. You will help your client identify short and long-term goals that will resonate with the idea of success you identified with them. With your guidance, your clients will learn how to:
Boost their self-confidence to take on any challenge. Increase their feelings of self-worth. Learn how to communicate well with others. Identify their talents and abilities. Build on their strengths to achieve everything they want. Determine their short and long terms plans. Design an action plan for reaching their goals. Understand how to reward and motivate themselves. Build a personal support system. Set goals, small and large, that will keep them on track. Overcome negative mindsets & adopt the attitude of success. 20 Coaching Niches
20 Coaching Niches 2013 erickson.edu ")
What Is Business Coaching?
An astute Business Coach will be able to identify a persons strengths, skills, talents and work with them to truly reach their full potential.
You will guide a person in developing action steps that maximize a persons expertise and mindset. You will provide feedback and encouragement to your clients as they progress to their goals.
Successful people understand that success happens by diligently following clear-cut steps, measuring progress, and celebrating the milestones along the way. As a business coach, you will be trained to understand successful business practices, conducive work environments, motivational approaches, and tools to overcome any obstacles.
20 Coaching Niches
20 Coaching Niches 2013 erickson.edu "*
1. Business Management Coaching
Typical Clients The client base for Business Management Coaching is very diverse, including managers and leaders from start-ups, small, medium, and large corporations.
What Is Involved The Business Management Coach plays a wide variety of business roles, not concentrating on one specific field. Instead, they take a holistic view of the clients business to aid the client in asking the right strategic questions to improve their business.
Business Management Coaches should have significant experience in business management, having managed several aspects of businesses themselves. Some Business Management Coaches have large amounts of experience in certain industries, whilst others maintain a broader appeal. The Business Management Coach develops a goal-oriented plan with their client to help reach their business goals.
A Business Management Coach can help a client with many business areas, such as:
Communication with employees. Communication with suppliers & vendors. Time management. Organizational skills. Measured goals for increased profitability. Gaining self-confidence as a successful business owner. 20 Coaching Niches
20 Coaching Niches 2013 erickson.edu #+
2. Entrepreneur Coaching
Typical Clients Entrepreneurs range from the very young with little experience and big ambitions, to older, more experienced business people who may feel they need support in certain areas of entrepreneurship. Clients may be in the process of starting a new business venture or struggling to make their current venture reach their goals.
What Is Involved Entrepreneur Coaching is much more than simply pointing an enthusiastic business-person in the right direction. You have to have a deep knowledge of how to start a business, along with how to navigate the myriad of practical and emotional issues that come with it. You will help your clients through the various stages of business, such as:
Improving time management to help them stay on task. Improving their leadership style. Identifying supports (family, friends, contacts & investors). Understand marketing techniques and personal branding. Expanding business contacts for greater success. Developing methods for leveraging time and income. Utilizing technology to increase performance and growth. Strategizing the best plan of action in alignment to a persons vision, resources, support system, time, and capital.
20 Coaching Niches
20 Coaching Niches 2013 erickson.edu #"
3. Executive Business Coaching
Typical Clients Executive Business Coaching extends to a very wide market that includes corporate business managers, leaders, and owners in every industry.
What Is Involved You will be working with highly skilled and motivated individuals who hire you to help them reach their business (and personal) goals faster than they would on their own. You will be expected to have a deep understanding of their role with their company and industry. Clients will be looking for insights on overcoming obstacles they have had previous difficulty with, as well as drawing a greater sense of satisfaction from their work.
You may assist Executives in some of the following situations:
Help teams to learn to agree on the right course of action. Motivate employees to adopt an owner mindset. Create ways to increase workers sense of accountability. Decide best ways to recruit and retain top leaders. Form a marketing or business plan. Create more autonomy in workers. Reduce a high turnover rate. Leadership transition. Decide on the organizations priorities. How to delegate appropriately. Attract the bosses attention and receive recognition for achievements and value to the company. 20 Coaching Niches
20 Coaching Niches 2013 erickson.edu ##
4. Leadership Coaching
Typical Clients Leadership Coaching extends to any business leader looking for guidance on ways to improve their communication and relationship with colleagues and team members. They typically include Presidents, CEOs, COOs, CFOs, Managing Directors, and other key decision makers.
What Is Involved Leaders are often high achievers, usually with a very busy schedule. It is the Leadership Coachs role to aid their client in learning the best leadership techniques whilst not getting in the way of day-to-day business. Leadership Coaches should be able to empathize with their clients positive and negative situations and assist them in asking the right questions to reach higher levels of success.
Situations may include coaching on short-term issues such as dealing with a crisis or a severe lack of team motivation.
Leadership issues vary, but common themes include:
Leadership techniques. Handling difficult situations, such as lay-offs. Emotional maturity of leaders. Motivating team members to give 110%. Empowering others to take responsibility& accountability. Improving communication between management and team members. 20 Coaching Niches
20 Coaching Niches 2013 erickson.edu #$
5. Sales Coaching
Typical Clients Sales Coaching extends to individuals who hold the roles of Sales Managers, Sales VPs, CSOs, Sales Team Leaders, Sales Executives, Sales Consultants, Entrepreneurs and even Coaches.
What Is Involved While the people in those roles have specific needs, they also share many similarities. They are concerned with finding new business partners, creating ways to increase sales, grow the stability of the business, and increase their bottom line.
Even though the depth of the above role varies, they also share many strategic similarities. As a Sales Coach you will have significant experience in a variety of sales environments, which you can draw on to help your clients increase sales, reach goals, organize teams, and increase their bottom line. Your Sales Coaching clients may need help with the following issues:
Increase their client base. Learn tools that ensure closing the deal every time. Overcome shyness, fear, or low self-esteem. Grow confidence to meet any challenge and reach all goals. Learn stronger sales methods and techniques. Create solid support systems. Create clear and concise steps to increase sales. Learn the art of negotiation.
20 Coaching Niches
20 Coaching Niches 2013 erickson.edu #%
6. Marketing Coaching
Typical Clients Marketing Coaching extends to individuals who hold the roles of Marketing Managers, Marketing VPs, CMOs, Marketing Team Leaders, Marketing Executives, Marketing Consultants, Entrepreneurs and even Coaches.
What Is Involved Marketers are concerned with creating dynamic strategies that communicate the right messages to the right people at the right time.
As a Marketing Coach you should have a deep knowledge and relevant experience in marketing your clients products and or services. Understanding the consumer behavior of your clients market is essential so that you can ask them the right questions that aid them in adapting communications to influence their target markets perceptions.
Your Marketing Coach clients may need assistance with:
Primary and secondary market research. Understanding their customers attitudes and behaviors. Focusing on a target niche. Deciphering long-term strategy from short-term goals. Implementing new communication channels. Creating compelling marketing messages. Attracting the right customers for their business. Understanding online and digital marketing. 20 Coaching Niches
20 Coaching Niches 2013 erickson.edu #&
About Erickson College
Since 1980 Erickson College International has been pioneering the most effective Coach Training and Business Leadership Programs in the world. Established in over 36 countries and 60 cities, Erickson Coaches integrate the cutting-edge research of founder Dr. Marilyn Atkinson to provide innovative education to our global community.
Our vision is to change the world one conversation at a time.
Our courses combine Masterful Coaching with proven Ericksonian principles and our unique Solution Focused Methodologies. The result is our renowned ICF accredited program The Art and Science of Coaching, the Erickson Business Center, and our Corporate Coach Training Programs. Each of our training programs deliver leading edge material that is proven to enhance your interpersonal communication and effectiveness, in ways that are fun, engaging, and deeply meaningful.
www.erickson.edu
Join in the conversation on social media:
References: Barbara Wainwright (2006) - 52 Coaching Niches That Are Working Miracles Everyday
Running A Coaching Business: Learn How to Make Money Using Your Current Skills - And Help People At The Same Time! Have You Ever Considered Personal Coaching?