We surveyed 1,530 life coaches to better understand the work environment and required skills of a typical life coach. Here are the results.

How much intelligence is required as a life coach?

Low

High

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

Can I learn to become a life coach?

Intrinsic Talent

Acquired Talent

A career as a life 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 life coach?

Easy

Hard

It’s typically difficult to find a job as a life coach.

Info

Do life coaches work full-time or part-time?

32% of life coaches work in full-time roles while 68% work part-time.

Is being a life coach stressful?

Low

High

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

Is being organized important as a life coach?

Low

High

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

How competitive is the workplace for life coaches?

Low

High

Competition at work is not common for life coaches.

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

Low

High

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

Are life coaches allowed to express themselves creatively?

Low

High

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

Do life coaches have control over the direction of their work?

Low

High

Life 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 life coach physically demanding?

Low

High

Work as a life coaches is not the most physically demanding of careers, falling in the bottom half of all careers.

Are life coaches exposed to a wide variety of work?

Low

High

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

Does being a life coach require attention to detail?

Low

High

Attention to detail isn't necessarily required to be successful as a life coach.

Does being a good life coach require compassion and empathy?

Low

High

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