Whether to stay in the same company, change their job description or even switch careers are all questions which confront the entrepreneur and employee alike.

But it is also possible to make a living advising people who find themselves in such situations.

The concept of life and business coaching has been established for some time in the US where businesses and individuals use it to help make the right choices.

But recent years have seen the industry also begin to establish itself in Ireland. So what does it entail – and how do life and business coaching actually make money ?

Surveys have revealed that 70 per cent of people are unhappy with their careers.

Life Coaching which has been up and running for the past four years, aims to help such people to understand what it is they do best, and then to apply this to a career which suits their attributes.

While there can be an element of counselling involved in life and business coaching, coaches tend to place more of an emphasis on the individual psychology of the person in question, in order not to focus simply on the past but to emphasise concrete steps which can be taken to change his or her future.

Mr Seann Farrell of Mindstream, which runs a diploma in life and business coaching in UCD, says that between 75 to 100 people enrol on its course every year. Those involved can range from 19 to 72 years of age, he says.

About a third of students are already involved in human resources, and seeking a further qualification in life coaching. But another significant proportion are counsellors or people who are interested in getting further training.
Among the key attributes necessary to be a good life coach are good listening, questioning and communication skills, Mr. Farrell says.

About 60 per cent of the work revolves around business coaching and dealing with the usual issues that emerge from working life. This might include bullying in the workplace or difficulties with the boss.

The remaining 40 per cent involves life coaching, which entails looking at an individual career and personal issues.

“Many companies are now looking at using coaches on a one-to-one basis with their staff” Mr. Farrell says.There are businesses anxious to retain staff in a job which may better suit their personality.

In a world where the so-called “job for life” is rapidly disappearing, areas such as life and business coaching seem set to continue to grow. Faced with an ever-widening range of choices and opportunities, people are turning to coaches to help them make the right decisions for them – or simply to get them out of a rut.

Interestingly, this growth area may also provide fresh opportunities for individuals to generate new income from the coaching process.