Previously, people associated the word “coach” with someone who works guiding sports teams. However, at present, more people are learning about “life coaches,” which are people who work with various individuals in reaching their goals.
Coaching can provide people with a number of benefits. And life coaches ensure that people achieve their objectives and that they do not stray from their strategies. Life coaches also motivate their clients and help them become more confident.
A number of people may be more adequate as life coaches, especially when they are very concerned with helping people in achieving their goals. Personally, life coaches can apply their resourcefulness and other life coaching skills to make their lives more satisfactory.
In the last decade, more people chosen life coaching as their profession. As estimated by International Coach Federation, 47,500 coaches were estimated to be employed worldwide and a third of them could be found in the US.
Thus, for those who are considering to become life coach themselves, they must first learn about the important qualities that they must possess or develop first:
WILLINGNESS TO HELP
DEEP CARE AND CONCERN FOR OTHERS
HIGH-LEVELS OF SELF-AWARENESS, EMPATHY AND INTUITION
STRONG EMOTIONAL INTELLIGENCE
TRUSTWORTHINESS AND INTEGRITY
SUPERIOR VERBAL AND WRITTEN COMMUNICATION SKILLS
DESIRE FOR PERSONAL GROWTH
ACTIVE LISTENING SKILLS
THE PATH TO BEING A LIFE COACH
Life coaching is not a regulated industry. Thus, there are no clear standards on pursuing such a career. In short, people with enough willingness can become a life coach should they want to.
However, some important things are still considered when pursuing such kind of career. For instance, people may want to undergo training and earn legitimate certificates for life coaching. They can undergo coach training programs from organizations that are accredited by the International Coach Federation.
Though the job may seem simple to some, life coaching does not end in helping people determine their goals and give them the necessary advice to achieve their objectives. This job involves other competencies, such those outlined by the ICF. These competencies are as follows;
ESTABLISHING A FOUNDATION
Complying with ethical guidelines and professional standards
Creating a coaching agreement
CO-CREATION OF RELATIONSHIP
Earning the trust of and being intimate with clients
Coaching presence
EFFECTIVE COMMUNICATION
Active listening
Powerful questioning
Communicating directly with client
MODERATING LEARNING AND RESULTS
Raising awareness
Planning necessary actions
Planning and setting up goals
Managing progress and accountability
On the other hand, the journey toward being a life coach can be accomplished through the following procedure.
SEARCH FOR COACH TRAINING PROGRAMS
The website of ICF provides information of some accredited training schools. People may choose an institution based on their interests, language, financial capacities, and mode of learning. However, some programs may be offered in online format only or in-person.
On the other hand, people can also search the internet for training programs that are offered near their area. However, if they are not accredited, the quality of training that they may receive may not be that satisfactory. Moreover, some companies may prefer hiring people who had their training in accredited institutions.
Accredited Coach Training Programs should offer the following;
Coach Skills Training
Competency and Code of Ethics Training
Observation by mentor while coaching clients
Observed-coaching sessions with experienced coach
Comprehensive exam
Credentialed Trainers by the ICF
For non-accredited programs, people should ensure the quality of the training that will be given to them. They should also check whether all the necessary skills needed to succeed in being a life coach will be imbibed in them. As a tip, people should check whether such programs cover the core competencies outlined in their curriculum. Moreover, during the training, they should assess whether they are learning something.
IDENTIFY YOUR SPECIALTY
People who aspire to be life coaches should focus on specialization. Knowing their niche or specialty aids life coaches in attracting more clients and demonstrating their value. Moreover, life coaches can focus more on their clients as they are already familiar with the types of problems or issues that clients may have.
Coaching schools also offer programs for various niches, such as business, small business, marketing, real estate, corporate, management, sales, career transition, school admission, personal relations, divorce, parenting, grief, assertiveness, writing, interview, job search, retirement, and other numerous fields where the work of life coach is valuable.
ALLOT THE NECESSARY FUNDS
Coach training programs are offered at varying prices depending on the school that offer them. People should be careful in choosing a school. Paying higher fees does not mean that they will receive quality training. However, people should also be careful when considering programs that are offered at lower prices.
For those who want to start their own life-coaching business, they must also be financially prepared for legal obligations such as taxes and permits as well as office space and necessary equipment, including computers and phones.
PLAN
Before people can undergo any coach training program, they must be fully aware of their long-term goals. Thus, it is necessary to prepare a plan on how they can succeed in their chosen career. Moreover, there some important things that must accomplished first:
Their target market
Their business plans along with their mission, vision, goals, and revenue streams
Business name
Coaching packages and agreement
Business bank accounts
Office hours
Accounting system
Business website