A corporate wellness coach helps individuals in the workplace develop healthier habits to improve their health and wellbeing. As companies focus on employee wellness to reduce healthcare costs and create a healthy workplace culture, this niche is rapidly growing.
Unlike a one-on-one health coach, who works with clients on their own, a corporate wellness coach works in a group setting. They are responsible for designing and implementing a worksite wellness program that includes educational workshops, group fitness classes, nutritional coaching, and individualized wellness plans. They also have access to a private wellness platform that allows them to track and monitor biometric data, communicate with employees, and provide personalized one-on-one support to help their clients get healthy.
There are many paths to becoming a corporate wellness coach, depending on your experience and qualifications. For example, if you are an existing health or nutrition coach, the first step is to position yourself as an expert in this niche by updating your website and social media pages with a UVP that clearly states your expertise in corporate wellness. You can also network with local businesses, join community and professional networking groups, and share relevant articles on LinkedIn.
After positioning yourself as an expert in the field, you can then begin reaching out to potential businesses and asking if they are interested in working with a wellness coach. Keep in mind that it may take several attempts to land a corporate wellness coaching job, so be persistent and don’t give up! Once you find a company, it is important to have all your materials in order so that you can hit the ground running once they say yes. This includes having wellness assessments, educational materials, and workshop topics ready to go. Depending on the size of the business, you may be asked to deliver a workshop or offer a coaching program for free or at a cost.
Many of the corporate wellness coaches we interviewed for this article were employed by either a health or wellness program management company or worked as independent contractors. Others owned their own wellness coaching businesses. Some of the most common qualifications included a health coach certification and a bachelor’s degree in a field like public health, human resources, or communications.
Some of the most common skills and strengths that wellness coaches possess include strong communication, attention to detail, ability to think on their feet, and a high level of professionalism. They also tend to have excellent customer service skills and the ability to create and implement successful programs.
The bottom line is that the opportunity to help people in a group setting is what draws many health and wellness coaches to the corporate space. Whether you are interested in working for a wellness company like US Corporate Wellness or following the footsteps of Erin Foushee and Alison Brehme and starting your own wellness business, there is an ever-growing demand for this niche. As healthcare costs continue to rise, this industry is here to stay.