Performance is a controversial topic in our culture: top athletes, leading musicians, or star chefs are admired by many, yet in everyday life, the darker sides (health, family, etc.) often take center stage. However, the working world demands higher performance year after year. How is this possible? After a brief overview of various definitions of performance, models for performance optimization will be discussed, addressing aspects such as mindset, recovery, and environment. Subsequently, the current approaches to performance optimization in sports and business will be examined. Then, the expected contributions of performance coaching to performance optimization will be more closely defined. In the final section, specific performance coaching tools will be listed, considering both tools for working with individuals and those for groups.