CINCINNATI – For each of the past six years, coaches and customers have gained new insight into the business of executive coaching. The data’s not coming from a professional pollster or marketing group. The survey comes from the coaching industry itself.

The Sherpa Executive Coaching Survey is the longest-running research in the industry, uniquely positioned to evaluate the evolving world of coaching. Every year, full research reporting is released in January. Tens of thousands see the results at no charge.

What few people see is the effort behind the scenes. Karl Corbett, Managing Partner at Sherpa Coaching, is the survey’s creator. He volunteers six weeks each year collecting data, analyzing it and reporting out to thousands of executives, coaches and clients.

Last year’s survey revealed that new technology makes face-to-face coaching less dependent on geography. “Some top-level coaches already rely on high-end video conferencing, but tools like Skype make technology affordable for just about anyone,” Corbett said.

“We’re barely scratching the surface of human potential. With machines doing a great deal of our manual work, we can sit, think, and realize our potential in ways that build relationships, teams and companies. As coaching becomes more standardized, this profession will become more credible and its results more predictable. We will see more use of coaching in the future. There may come a point at which it will plateau. Then we’ll have to go onto the next frontier, but coaching will be on the upswing for a while,” Corbett explained.

Executive coaching is growing in credibility and scope, according to the 2011 survey. Demand for accurate research and reliable data is higher than ever. What truly unites coaches across continents, beyond trade organizations and social networks is the annual document that gives a voice to the coaches and “power to the people.”

The executive coaching survey collects data through December 15, 2011 at http://qsurvey.net/coach