Coaching Statistics
During the first quarter of 1998, the International Coach Federation surveyed 210 coaching clients for demographic data and feedback opinions about the value and use of coaching.
Of these respondents, 197 were employed professionals. All had a formal, on-going relationship with an ICF coach with an average duration of 9 months.
Over 80% of the respondents had undergraduate degrees and over a third had Master's degrees or higher.
Highlights of the Survey Results
Value of the coaching investment:
- 70% — "very valuable"
- 28.5% — "valuable"
Level of confidence in the coach:
- 50% — confidence in their coach
(as much as their best friend, spouse or therapist ) - 12% — confidence in their coach (more than anyone else).
Main role of the coach:
- 84.8% — sounding board - to listen to them and give honest feedback
- 50.5% — mentor
- 78.1% — motivator
- 46.7% — business consultant
- 56.7% — friend
- 41% — teacher
Typical issues:
- 80.5% — time management
- 45.2% — personal issues
- 74.3% — career guidance
- 39.5% — goal - setting
- 73.8% — business advice
- 38.1% — financial guidance
- 58.6% — relationship / family issues
- 11% — creativity
- 51.9% — physical / wellness issues
Outcomes attributed to coaching:
- 67.6% — higher level of self-awareness
- 33.3% — better relationship with boss or co-workers
- 62.4% — smarter goal setting
- 33.3% — better family relationships
- 60.5% — more balanced life
- 31.9% — increased energy
- 57.1% — lower stress levels
- 31.9% — more fun
- 52.9% — self-discovery
- 25.7% — more income
- 43.3% — improvement in quality of life
- 25.7% — stopped a bad habit
- 39.5% — enhanced communication skills
- 24.3% — change in career
- 35.7% — project completion
- 22.9% — more free time
- 33.8% — health or fitness improvement
*The survey was conducted by Amy Watson, Principal, PRO fusion Public Relations, with survey design assistance by Jackie Rieves Watson, Ph.D., professor of Management and Statistics, Amber University.