It could be argued that life coaching, as an approach, has its roots in ancient Greece and the Socratic method. However, as a profession, it begun very recently, in the beginning of nineties. Thomas Leonard, an American financial advisor is regarded as the father of professional life coaching. He was the one, who in 1991 established the first coaching school and in 1994 the International Coach Federation (ICF), which up to today constitutes the main accreditation body for life coaches.

Various theories and studies of the twentieth century about the human behavior, motivation, personality, learning, consciousness and unconsciousness have led to the birth of professional life coaching. In the section “life coaching influences”, we explore the relationship between various theories and life coaching.

Possibly, the inborn human desire to improve, to go beyond oneself, to comprehend more, has led to the birth of professional life coaching. But why now? Why life coaching has been born in this current stage of human history? Perhaps, because in a time that we are constantly bombarded with all kinds of information, it has become even more essential to discern what really matters to us. And this is exactly what life coaching can offer us: greater awareness in relation to where we are and where we want to be.

But what is the present and what is the future of life coaching? In the latest years, the focus is on research and studies that aim to validate life coaching as a profession. As more and more companies as well as leaders become aware of the importance of personal development, they choose life coaching as an approach to facilitate this development. Another trend is the change in the management style, chosen by professional managers, through the embodiment of life coaching principles.