Coaching Overview

Coaching is a popular side-gig or second career choice for physicians. It offers flexibility, autonomy, remote work options, and an opportunity to use your gifts and experience to help others.

There are many niches for coaches: life, health and wellness, career, leadership, business, financial, relationship, book-writing, sports, and more.

Coaching might be a good fit if you:

• Enjoy connecting with others.
• Love to facilitate the development of others.
• Have experienced the benefits of coaching and you want to do the same for others.
• Are a clinical leader and would like to help others develop leadership skills and get promoted to leadership positions.
• Like to help people to help themselves.
• Would like to pivot from helping in a doctor-patient relationship model to a coach-client relationship model.

A day in the life of a coach.

You get to decide what your day looks like! It will depend on the type of coaching you do and your employment situation.

The day could consist of 1:1 client appointments, group coaching, or workplace team appointments.

Coaching can be done by phone, videoconference, or in-person.

Most coaches also spend part of their day writing (e.g., blogging, creating online courses) and speaking (e.g., seminars, podcasting).

Qualifications required.

Physicians make excellent coaches. They are experienced listeners, effective connectors, and enjoy helping people.

The bar to enter coaching is low and the bar to become a successful coach is high.

Because the coaching profession is still unregulated, anyone can start their own coaching business and call themselves a coach. However, most coaches choose to get coach-specific training and become certified.

To become an executive/leadership coach within an organization, or to work for a coaching company, an International Coaching Federation (ICF) credential is typically required.

For health and wellness coaching, a National Board for Health and Wellness approved training program training and certification is often required.

Training and certification.

There are many different training programs, each with their own philosophy on coaching.

When considering where to train, I recommend the following to guide your decision:

1. Is the training program accredited with the ICF?

One of the largest global accreditation bodies is called the International Coaching Federation (ICF). “An ICF Credential is a professional certification indicating that you have met specific standards and requirements designed to develop and refine your coaching skills. It is an indication that you are dedicated to upholding strong principles of ethical behavior in coaching.”

If the training program you’re interested in is not ICF-accredited, you can still obtain the ICF credential. The pathways to become credentialed by the ICF are outlined HERE.

2. What is the philosophy of the school?

Does it resonate with your values?

3. Is there a robust experiential component?

Will you receive feedback on your skills and are there opportunities for peer-coaching?

4. Is the evaluation process robust?

Is there mentor coaching to give you feedback on your progress?

5. Cost.

Most programs offer both training and certification. The cost ranges from ~USD 10,000.00 to ~USD 20,000.00.

6. Consider a “taster” before choosing your training program.

Many programs will offer free informational webinars and/or a 3-day foundation coaching training. They will also connect you with alums to help guide your choice.

Sampling of coaching programs where physicians have trained.

NCSU Leadership Coaching For Organizational Performance
This is an example of a university based training program and is ideal if you are interested in leadership coaching within an organization.
Fees are USD 10,950.00.

Co-Active Training Institute
This is the largest experiential coach training and leadership development program in the world.
Fees for training and certification are ~USD 14,000.00. A 3-day fundamentals training experience is offered.

The Life Coach School
This coaching certification program has trained many physicians who are life and leadership coaches. This program is not ICF certified.
Fees are not on the website, estimate ~USD 20,000.

Institute for Professional Excellence in Coaching
Offers certification in several niche coaching areas (life, executive, health and wellness, sports and performance).
Fees are USD 13,995.00. A 3-day fundamentals training experience is offered.

For approved health and wellness coaching training programs, check out the National Board for health and wellness coaching.

Employment opportunities and income*.

There are a few ways to make a living from coaching.

1. Start your own coaching business.

It takes time to build your own coaching business. The estimated annual income for coaches in the US ranges from USD 20,000 to 7 figures (with most earning USD 46,000.00-USD 99,000.00).

2. Become an “internal” coach.

Many healthcare institutions are offering coaching for physicians. As an internal coach, you continue to be employed as a physician and part of your time is dedicated to coaching colleagues. Compensation estimates range from USD 95/hr to USD 175/hr/ for leadership coaching.

For a full-time health and wellness coach employee, estimated salary is USD 40.00- USD 60.00/hour.

3. Become a contract employee at a coaching company.

There are many coaching companies that offer coaching services to organizations (e.g., Google, Microsoft). This is a great way to get income without having to find your own clients. Most require an ICF credential, an interview, and a coaching demo. Compensation estimates vary from USD 45/hr to USD 350/hr.

Examples of coaching companies:

Noomii
offers life, executive, career, business, relationship, and wellness coaching for individuals and corporate client employees.

BetterUp
Offers executive, leadership, career development coaching.

Bravely
offers leadership, career development, and life coaching.

* income data obtained from google, Indeed.com, Ziprecruiter.com, job postings, and personal communication.

Summary

If you are interested in becoming a coach, explore the different coaching training programs. Sign up for a foundational coaching training taster and talk to physicians who are coaches.

When you invest in coaching training, you embark on your own journey of transformation, one you will most likely want to share with others.