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Value, purpose and meaning are common buzzwords in the career coaching industry. We also need to add energy to this list. Gone are the days of working just to pay our bills. We have now recognized that when we are satisfied at work, our health improves. In the words of BetterUp CEO Alexi Robichaux, whose organization is pioneering on-demand business coaching and investing more than $15 million in research over the next five years, career coaching is going through a “great awakening”. Let’s review history before taking a look at the possible future.
The pivotal moments of history
In the first half of the 20th century (1936), Dale Carnegie began the quest for mutual aid by publishing a timeless bestseller, How to Win Friends and Influence People. This book remains an essential text for networking and professional development. Three years later, the Directory of Occupational Titles (DOT) with 17,500 job titles was published. The DOT serves as a resource for US labor market information. Fast forward a few years, and in the 1940s we began to study trait and type theories with Myers-Briggs type theory. In the early 1960s, many books on employment and careers were published, particularly on job search techniques and salary negotiations. John Holland published his work, The Psychology of Career Choice: A Theory of Personality Types and Model Environmentsin 1966 starting the conversation around personalities and types of jobs.
In the later part of the 20th century, the famous job search book, What color is your parachute? by Richard Nelson Bolles has been freed. Twenty-five years later, in 1995, the International Coach Federation was created and is today the largest and most renowned coaching federation in the world. LinkedIn was launched several years later in 2003, giving professional development a place in social media, and a new generation in the workplace gave birth to The Muse in 2011.
Key reminders as we head into the future
- Although advancements in technology have given job seekers and employers the Applicant Tracking System and online job platforms, the most effective way to find a job is still through human connection.
- As in the past, economics and culture will continue to shape information, advice and direction in the coaching industry.
- Most of the industry’s past meets at least one element of Maslow’s physiological hierarchy of needs. We want to feel safe, to belong, to be fulfilled, to be loved, and to live a meaningful life. These needs will remain with us in the future.
Future trends
- Josh Bersin, an expert in human resources, learning and development, is known to say that “the learning curve is the winning curve”. Expert career coaches have a solid understanding of career professions and industries. We will see more collaboration between career coaches, HR, and learning and development to give employees new opportunities for learning and growth. Josh’s Last research with LinkedIn shows that learning is number one for inspiration, harder work and job happiness.
- A science specific to career coaching based on positive psychology and organizational development will emerge.
- Our global economy and labor market will be more transparent with LinkedIn’s “economic graph” including global job listings, the skills required to get those jobs, and a talent pool of skilled professionals.
- Intelligent systems and coach assessment platforms give individuals and organizations public access to a coach’s performance metrics and the intangible benefits of their work. This will help protect the industry and weed out people who aren’t equipped to deliver.
- As we move towards pairing the coaching industry with science and research in addition to preserving its reputation, standardized training and credentials will become the norm for individuals and companies hiring career coaches. professionals.
- we will see something new career theories that incorporate burnout inventories and work-life harmony temperaments as well as personality types is a dominant theory in career coaching.
Coaching in the corporate world and filling the void
I asked Adam Grant, one of the world’s top ten thought leaders, what his wish is for the career coaching industry, and here’s what he wanted to share with you, “my wish is that anyone with a job has access to evidence-based learning and development coaching. BetterUp, a one-stop-shop for employee learning and development, fills this corporate void. Their platform identifies and provides guidance on new behaviors and mindsets that enable high performance in the midst of change Coaching Lead Dr Jacinta believes that “by not incorporating science, the coaching industry has lost opportunities for change of behavior and measurement of the career development process”. A recent report, by BetterUp, estimates that highly meaningful work generates an additional $9,078 per worker per year. It’s a chunk of income when you add it up. For someone to find meaningful work, they need to be in the right position, industry, and organizational culture. The responsibility does not lie solely with the employer. Career coaches are also accountable, our work helps individuals discover and land fulfilling work.
Tips for Applying Coaching Trends in Your Organization
- Take advantage of the psychological and practical benefits of games. When Deloitte introduced gamification it has seen a surge in engagement. The Society of Human Resource Managers believes visual communication will reflect the consumer apps we use every day.
- Make time to learn on a daily, monthly, and quarterly basis and, if possible, make it a collaborative group activity. You will want to make sure that learning and development are also addressed in your coaching interactions. Gartner research shows that 37% of the skills employees use today were learned in the past year and 57% develop new skills through interactions with co-workers.
- The risks of burnout decrease when employees feel a sense of belonging. Don’t overlook new parents who need family-friendly work environments to stay engaged and productive at work given their significant sleep loss.
Aren’t you excited about the future of career coaching? I know I am. I have been in the industry for nine years and my heart is thrilled to see where we are headed. Anything that helps us to live our professional life with meaning and joy deserves to be known and celebrated. Let’s move forward together.
