Life Coaching for Men: Transforming Identity, Purpose, and Confidence
Many men reach a point in midlife where the career they’ve built no longer feels quite right, or burnout is taking the shine off day-to-day life.
And that’s exactly where life coaching for men is gaining traction.
Not as a fad or because men are suddenly “into self-improvement”, but because it provides practical support to reset, rebuild and move forward with clarity.
You’ll also see more talk of male-focused coaching in the media - including recent pieces in The Guardian - especially around identity, purpose and men’s mental wellbeing.
But how can you know if coaching is right for you?
This article breaks down what it is, the benefits, and how you can make an informed decision.
Life Coaching for Men: Why It’s Becoming Mainstream
Recent International Coaching Federation (ICF) research and related industry reports show the coaching profession is expanding rapidly.
And in the UK, which lags the US, there is growing recognition of coaching in workplaces and in public discussion.
Coaching has now shifted from a niche offering to a recognised part of workplace development, wellbeing support, and personal growth in both the UK and globally.
People aged 35–54 are among the most frequent recipients of coaching - but they also can still be sceptical or private about seeking help. This makes sense - mid-career is when many people hit inflection points around burnout, purpose, or wanting a more meaningful direction.
But with organisations increasingly adopting coaching in leadership and wellbeing programmes, coaching is becoming “normalised” as a legitimate professional support. The stigma around life coaching is definitely reducing.
Do Men Use Life Coaching Less - and Does It Matter?
About 57% of coaching clients are women - which means men still make up roughly 43% of clients, and the biggest age group served is 35–54.
This counters the common perception that life coaching “is just for women”.
But there is still much room for growth.
What Prevents More Men From Trying Life Coaching?
The term ‘life coaching’ can be off putting - and the phrase is so broad to the extent that it’s pretty much meaningless.
Most people don’t wake up thinking, “I need life coaching” - they think, “I need to sort out this specific problem.”
And coaching is fantastic for help with this.
For example, when someone is feeling “trapped” in their career and can’t see any viable options or path forward, which is resulting in anxiety and a feeling of hopelessness.
Or for someone five years from retirement and not enjoying their work - who is asking “Should I hang on or make changes to enjoy the remainder of my career?”
Or someone working long hours and then struggling to switch off from work afterwards and “be present and available” for their family, which is leading to stress, burnout and challenges with the relationship with their partner.
Other common barriers are fears or reluctance about opening up - although, a good coach will make you feel comfortable and will work at your pace.
The language and positioning of coaching can often put some men off. Coaching still gets lumped together with therapy or generic self-help, which can make it feel irrelevant or “too soft” compared with the practical, career-focused support they actually want.
A lot of men also carry an unspoken pressure to “just get on with it” or to already have the answers by this stage of life. Admitting that you’re stuck, tired, overwhelmed, or unsure what comes next can feel like failure - even when it isn’t.
These are completely normal concerns, and they’re often the exact reason people benefit from coaching once they start.
That’s not just theory - the data around coaching is surprisingly strong.
Does Life Coaching for Men Actually Work? The Evidence
What’s especially relevant for men in their 40s and 50s is that the areas they most commonly struggle with - confidence, performance, relationships and purpose - are exactly the areas where coaching consistently delivers measurable improvement.
The ICF found that 80% of people who receive coaching have increased self-confidence, and over 70% achieve improved work performance and relationships.
88% of people see progress in the integration of positive behavioural change within the first 60 days of starting a coaching programme (Torch)
Reported satisfaction rates with coaching are very high. The Institute of Coaching claims 99% of people are satisfied with coaching and 96% would repeat the process.
These numbers aren’t just generic satisfaction metrics; they reflect the types of shifts that matter in mid-career: clearer decision-making, better stress management, stronger communication, and a renewed sense of direction.
How Life Coaching Works: A Simple Breakdown
At its core, coaching is a structured, future-focused process that helps you think more clearly, make better decisions, and take meaningful action.
It is different from mentoring, which is more prescriptive, and different from therapy, which is typically more backwards looking to resolve personal trauma.
Think of it this way: mentoring gives you advice, therapy helps you heal, and coaching helps you move forward with clarity and confidence.
Coaching is more about the coach supporting you to get to the answer yourself. By having someone on your side that will help you get to the underlying heart of the matter. To help you look at the situation differently. To identify and explore solutions.
One of the biggest benefits is that a coach brings an outside perspective - someone who isn’t caught up in your workplace dynamics or your usual patterns of thinking.
It is also a private and safe space where you can be completely open. This might be the first time someone has had a dedicated space where they can do this and “drop the mask” or to speak uninterrupted.
There will also often be tools and exercises, usually as “homework” between coaching sessions.
Common Focus Areas in Life Coaching for Men
Really, it can be in any area that is important to you - career direction, career performance, relationships, finances, mindset, behaviour - and so on…
Coaching is especially well placed to help with career re-orientation, re-clarifying purpose, and rebuilding resilience after burnout - areas where people in mid-career often seek help.
For men in their forties and fifties, purpose, identity, and confidence come up again and again in coaching because this is the stage where the cracks in the old roadmap finally show.
You’ve already proved you can work hard, carry responsibility, and push through tough periods - often to the point of burnout. But those same strengths can create blind spots.
Purpose becomes a big focus because the career you built in your 20s or 30s doesn’t always fit the person you’ve become, and you need clarity on what’s actually worth pursuing next.
Identity comes into play because midlife often triggers a shift in how you see yourself: your role at work may be changing, your kids might be growing up, and you’re suddenly asking, “Who am I now, and what do I want this next chapter to look like?”
And confidence matters because long-term stress, corporate reshuffles, or simply being stuck in the same track for too long can chip away at your sense of capability.
Coaching gives men a structured way to work through these pieces - not in a vague, self-help way, but in a practical, forward-looking way that leads to real decisions, new habits, and a stronger foundation for whatever comes next.
If you want to explore these themes in more depth, here are some of my most relevant articles:
How to Know If Life Coaching Is Right for You
So how do you actually know if coaching is the right step for you, right now?
A simple way is to ask yourself a few pointed questions that cut through the uncertainty.
What is this issue costing you right now?
What will your life be like in 12 months if nothing changes?
What is the potential upside from coaching? - What would it mean to you if you made a successful change in this area?
How likely is it that you will resolve the situation on your own?
If you answer these questions you are well on your way to knowing if coaching is worth a shot!
Midlife doesn’t have to be a period of drifting or second-guessing - with the right support, it can be the start of a more intentional and rewarding chapter.
Considering Life Coaching for Men? What to Expect
Read more About Me and book a free Discovery Call to explore how my coaching can help you with your current situation.
A Discovery Call isn’t a sales pitch - it’s a chance to talk through your situation, get a sense of what’s possible, and see whether coaching is the right fit for where you are now.
Most men leave the call with at least one piece of clarity they didn’t have before.
It’s also the easiest way to understand whether coaching feels right for you personally - without any commitment or pressure.
About the Author: Tim Storrie
I’m an ICF-accredited career coach with an Oxbridge education, an MBA, and a corporate background. Drawing from my own mid-life experience of burnout and transition to a more fulfilling career, I help men over 40 who feel lost or frustrated to find a career that excites them through clarity and confidence.
My coaching approach is both nurturing and challenging, combining structured, exercise-based reflection with deep personal insight.
Would you like to understand how career coaching can help you get clarity on a more fulfilling future?
Book a free Discovery Call.