We surveyed 11,676 coaches to better understand the work environment and required skills of a typical coach. Here are the results.

How much intelligence is required as a coach?

Low

High

Working as a coach typically doesn’t require the use of high levels of intelligence in daily tasks.

Can I learn to become a coach?

Intrinsic Talent

Acquired Talent

A career as a coach typically depends predominantly on qualities you can gain through experience, with a small aspect of skills you are born with.

Is it easy to get a job as a coach?

Easy

Hard

It’s typically difficult to find a job as a coach. If you’re curious about the numbers, check out the job market for coaches.

Info

Do coaches work full-time or part-time?

20% of coaches work in full-time roles while 80% work part-time.

Is being a coach stressful?

Low

High

Coaches tend not to find their jobs stressful, which likely contributes positively to career satisfaction.

Is being organized important as a coach?

Low

High

Some level of organization is generally required to be a coach.

How competitive is the workplace for coaches?

Low

High

Coaches see mild competition in their workplace.

Does being a coach require frequent time pressure to complete tasks?

Low

High

Time pressure tends not to be a major contributor of stress for coaches.

Are coaches allowed to express themselves creatively?

Low

High

Creativity is intrinsic to being a coach, and a highly valuable part of the career.

Do coaches have control over the direction of their work?

Low

High

Coaches have high flexibility in the direction of their work, allowing them a lot of freedom in how they accomplish their goals.

Is being a coach physically demanding?

Low

High

Being a coach may occasionally require demanding physical activity, which may make it not a suitable career choice for everyone.

Are coaches exposed to a wide variety of work?

Low

High

While sometimes repetitive, coaches tend to have opportunities for variety in their work.

Does being a coach require attention to detail?

Low

High

As in many careers, attention to detail is quite helpful for coaches.

Does being a good coach require compassion and empathy?

Low

High

Strong compassion and empathy are critical to success as a coach.