- Life Coaching
- Becoming a Coach
First Steps to Becoming a Confident Life Coach
Congratulations on deciding to research the steps to becoming a life coach. This independent information will help you understand the coaching profession and make the best choices to make the journey towards a rewarding and a successful career.
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What Is A Professional Life Coach? And What Do They Do?
A well-trained life coach uses careful questioning and feedback to guide a willing client to identify and achieve the goals or the outcomes they want to get from being coached. Simply speaking they take the client from where they are to where they want to be, do or have - their goals.
In what is defined as pure life coaching, no direct advice is given although options may be presented. However, many coaches today combine their coaching with another skill such as mentoring, consulting or therapy depending on their background and qualifications.
I must emphasize that when it comes to combining therapy with coaching, the person needs not only to have trained as a life coach but also be properly qualified in whatever field of therapy they are offering in addition to coaching.
You'll find more about the definition of a life coach in my "What is a Life Coach", as well as comparisons and differences from other professions such as therapy, consulting and mentoring.
Also do read up on The History of Life Coaching as a specific coaching niche. It's interesting and something worth knowing as you delve into the steps to becoming a certified life coach.
Why is Training the First Step To Becoming A Life Coach?
To get started on the path to becoming a life coach, I can't emphasise enough that it is a "must" to have some coach specific training so you understand what life coaching is and how it differs from other associated professions.
A carefully chosen accredited training will give you invaluable skills and credible coaching qualifications even if life coaching simply adds to those qualifications you already have in a related discipline.
However, all coach trainings are not the same. They have different syllabuses and focus. To help you choose the right one for you check out my What to know and ask to find the Best Training For You, whether face-to-face or especially online. There are many traps to avoid so you don't end up disappointed and waste your money.
How Are You Going To Deliver Your Coaching Sessions?
You'll find some clients really insist on face-to-face coaching whilst others are happy to be coached online, which can be just as effective. The more ways you can deliver your coaching, the broader your potential client base can be.
Because of CV 19, more and more coaches are offering their clients the option of online, or remote, coaching via Zoom or even telephone.
Have a look at where I discuss how to be a successful online. I cover the important distinctions and how to master those skills including looking and sounding good online.
What are the Jobs and Opportunities in Life Coaching?
As you will discover, there are many different types of coaching environments and opportunities for you to explore.
Your choice of how, who and how you would like to coach (your niche or specialty) may be based on not only your preference but on the background and experience you bring to the profession.
The choices include being an independent life coach with your own coaching practice, workplace coaching where you are employed and get a salary and working with coaching service providers that contract you out and take a commission. And, of course they can be combined as opportunities arise.
Joining a Life Coaching Association
Once you are serious about becoming a life coach then joining one of the independent life coaching associations (i.e. one that is not part of or promoting a particular training school) is a great way to join the coaching community. Being a member of recognised association such as the International Coaching Federation (ICF) will also offer you many membership benefits to help you on your way.
You can read more on why you should consider joining a life coaching association and a list of independent organisations to check out to find one that offers the benefits you want such as accreditation and a coach referral service.
Try This Coaching Skills Quiz
Take my Coaching Skills Quiz to see if you already have what it takes to be a professional life coach or are there some things you need to work on.
No judgement. Just an opportunity to become aware of the qualities that will add to your chances of success when it comes to coaching.
All my eBooks will help you to enhance your coaching skills, raise your profile as an expert, and attract quality new clients whatever your niche. I wrote them from my 25+ years of coaching experience to pass on what I have learned from working with clients from all walks of life and with a wide range of coaching needs. Check them out below and get a sense of what’s inside.
Secure checkout and 100% satisfaction or your money back
I am sure you will get real value from each of my books. However, if within 30 days of purchase you are not 100% satisfied, you will receive a full refund.
Lots More On Becoming a Life Coach
Finally I do suggest you explore the site map for Life Coaching Professionally. There you can see a full list of the numerous pages of informative articles and useful tools and processes to help you. And all the best for your life coaching career.
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How to Become a Confident Online Life Coach
Online Life Coaching guidance for coaches wanting support to coach well online, present well and build confidence with coaching clients.
