Is it possible to get “Career Coaching” for free?

At first it didn't seem fair. Most of my career coaching clients were paying out of pocket while, increasingly, others weren't paying a dime.

*I* was getting paid the same amount, but as the pandemic wore on, I noticed payments shifting toward a new source: clients' employers.

What was going on? How were some savvy clients making this happen? Why were they in the know about this possibility while other people (including me!) were not? Why was I noticing nonprofits - including tiny ones - paying for coaching most often? And did my other clients even know employer-based funding of coaching might be an option, regardless of the size of their organization?

Coaching has been found to aid career engagement, productivity, and overall well-being, among other outcomes, but it can be so expensive that it's out of reach for many. Coaches certainly deserve to be paid for their time and expertise, but I'd love it if clients weren't the ones footing the bill!

How to shift billing of coaching toward employers is the topic of my new series for Forbes and a stimulating podcast interview with my friend and colleague, Lisa Miller of The Career Clarity Show.

Have you thought to use professional development funds for coaching?