The great advantage of coaching as a developmental process is that it provides the opportunity for one-on-one training, guiding, instructing, observing, modeling, evaluating performance, and providing corrective action. All of this can be done on the job or even by phone. It occurs through regular sessions as the person is performing and applying the principles and ideas discussed in the coaching sessions, with immediate feedback from the coach. At work, coaching can be provided by a consultant, a training professional specializing in coaching, or the person's own supervisor if versed in coaching techniques and equipped with its tools.

The advantages of coaching over other developmental processes can be summarized in the following points:

1. It provides one-on-one interaction
2. It focuses totally on the person being coached and his or her developmental needs
3. It provides hands-on, real-life guiding of the person being coached, not preaching or teaching.
4. It provides modeling by the coach of the desired behavior in its best form.
5. The coaching process is modeled after sports, the most common experience people have of developing their skills at an early age in an enjoyable activity.