Now in our late 20s to early 40s, millennials make up over 35% of the U.S. workforce, but only around 8% of its coaches. One of the reasons why: Many people fundamentally confuse coaching with consulting or mentoring.

• While consultants make recommendations based on their expertise and mentors share their wisdom from years of experience, true coaching is a transformational partnership between the coach and the client, focused on unleashing the client’s potential rather than delivering the coach’s advice.
• You don’t need several decades of leadership experience to participate in this kind of partnership. You just need the right tools, training, and mindset.
• For those interested in becoming a coach, start by working with your own leadership coach to develop your skills and see if you’re interested in the practice.
• Look into your local community to see if there are opportunities to volunteer as a coach for a cause you care about, and conduct informational interviews with a variety of people in the field to explore different business models.
• Finally, if you’re serious about coaching, it’s worth investing in coaching education. Most programs offer at least 60 hours of instruction and typically include an introduction to the ICF core competencies.