Life Coaching Industry Trends 2022 - Part 1

The Everything Life Coaching Podcast, featuring Lumia Coaching founders John Kim and Noelle Cordeaux, is a deep dive into the experience and business of being a life coach. Subscribe to get new episodes weekly!

2022 Life Coaching Industry Trends

In part one of this series, we're taking a look at societal factors and industry updates that are impacting the business of life coaching. In Part 2, we'll be niching down into the particular coaching specialities that are hot right now.

‍Trend #1: Wellness is shifting from a “feel-good” luxury to a survival essential as people seek tools for resilience 

As we emerge from the backdrop of the pandemic, one of the biggest collective shifts that has taken place is the idea that “Wellness” isn’t optional, it’s an essential survival skill. Individuals will increasingly be focusing on services that help them connect to peace, health, and meaning. This trend heralds a busy future for all different types of transformational coaches: from relationships, to fitness, to career. 

Source: Global Wellness Summit 2022

There are two main areas where we're seeing the immediate impact for coaches of this shifting perspective on wellness:

1.) Wellness is the newest metric that organizations use to measure, retain, and entice employees 

A 2020 Gartner survey found that 94% of companies made significant recent investments in their wellness programs. For coaches, this means an influx of new opportunities at the organizational level. 

Wellness isn’t just about how you feel anymore. In order to more accurately predict employee performance and retention, organizations are now seeking new tracking measures to capture the financial health, mental health, and physical health of their employees. Coaching in these key areas spells big business.

Source: Kropp and McRae

2.) Partnerships and collaboration signal a shift in the way that values are aligned with consumerism. This offers big opportunities for the entrepreneurial coach.

Brands and coach practitioners are teaming up to show their audiences that they care, are committed to certain values, and represent new ideals. From on-demand meditation apps collaborating with airlines for a wellbeing-oriented inflight experience, to major shoe and apparel companies teaming up to create sustainable products for consumers, the power of collaboration is infinite and visible. 

For coaches everywhere, this can be mirrored on the local scale. Look to connect with others in your community who share your values or could offer services to your niche population. Creative partnerships and collaborations increase visibility for everyone involved.

Trend #2: Credentialing counts 

The Global Wellness Summit published their predictions for 2022, and coach credentialing was listed as a major trend. This is the first time we have ever seen this published, and it’s a big deal.

What this means for coaches is that folks with legitimate credentials in evidence-based models are highly in demand. 

Coach training is providing the missing link in our industry between sector and service. For example, most of the businesses that are hiring coaches right now are looking for candidates who hold an ICF credential. 

Coaches with visible and recognizable credentials are on the forefront of elevating the field of coaching, and will see a surge of job openings, especially as insurance is now starting to cover coaching as a validated modality that bookends other health interventions.

If you haven’t gained your credential as a coach yet, we highly recommend it. As the coaching industry gains momentum and credibility, reputable training is becoming increasingly important to consumers.

“Coaches trained in the art and science of motivating people … have been the missing link in both healthcare and wellness. Change is here: Training programs and standards are growing fast, new medical models are making the coach as central as the doctor, an explosion of digital health platforms are putting behavioral coaching at the center, and the wellness world may be slowly waking up to their power.” - Global Wellness Summit 2022

PRO TIP: If you’ve been trained, but haven’t completed ICF accredited training and credentialing, now’s the time to consider making that investment. Doing so is likely to pay dividends, opening up even more career opportunities in the years to come.

Trend #3: The shakeup of society isn’t over

Social indicators such as the “Great Resignation,” record retirements, and global nomadism reveal profound commitments to work/life balance and personal growth and happiness. As the search for meaning continues to expand, coaches who are able to serve as socio-emotional guides have a space to fill.

Source: Global Wellness Summit 2022

Bottom line? People want a lot more joy in their lives

When it comes to feeling more vibrant and joyful, the reality is that many people don’t know exactly where to begin. Coaches can help these individuals overcome beginner’s imposter syndrome to fully embrace joyful self expression. 

Source: Global Wellness Summit 2022

“I have a personal relationship with joy, and it’s something you have an ability to produce - it doesn’t just fall in your lap. Half of my life was miserable because I didn’t have that ability. Having a coach that can help you produce more joy - just that in itself - I think it can be a game changer.” - John Kim

Ready to see how these trends relate to YOUR coaching practice?

Don’t miss Part 2 of this series, where John and Noelle highlight coaching niches and speciality areas that are currently on the rise! Subscribe now to get the episode when it drops.

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