Personal Coaching is a term generally used in the fields of business, executive, life and career coaching to differentiate the coaching process from the more popular connotation of sports coaching. However, sports and personal coaching have the same origin.

Personal Coaching is a relationship which is designed and defined in a relationship agreement between the client and the coach. It is based on the client's expressed interests, goals, and objectives.

Personal Coaching is a process of learning where the Personal Coach uses inquiry, reflection, requests, and discussion to help the client to identify personal and/or business goals, develop strategies and action plans intended to achieve such goals. The coach provides a place for the client to be held accountable to themself by monitoring the client's progress towards implementation of the action plans. Together they evolve and modify the plan to best suit the client's needs and the environmental relationships. All along the learning journey, the Personal Coach acts as a human mirror for the client by sharing an outside and unbiased perspective on what they are observing about the Client.

The client is responsible for his or her own achievements and success, and the coach cannot and does not promise that the client will take any specific action or attain specific goals.

A Personal Coach does not provide counseling, therapy, or "answers" to the Client. Coaching is distinctly different from therapy, counseling, advising, and consulting. These are different skill sets and approaches to change, and some are regulated by industry and/or government. These can be adjunct skills and professions which a coach may be an expert in, however they are not to be considered coaching.