Executive, Workplace and Life Coaching: Findings from a Large-Scale Survey of International Coach Federation Members

The knowledge base of coach-specific research detailing theories, techniques and outcomes of coaching is growing annually. However, little is known about coaches themselves. This paper reports on a large scale survey of coaches. A total of 2,529 coaches responded to an online survey conducted in 2003 amongst International Coach Federation (ICF) members. Data on credentialing, prior professional background, and current coach practice were collected. The coaches in this study had overwhelmingly graduated from or have been enrolled in a coach training program and virtually all had come to professional coaching from a prior professional background. In addition, data on coach demographics, coaching process and demographics were collected. This paper reports in detail on these findings, and makes suggestions for future research directions.