What Does it Take to Become a Coach?
People are entering into the world of coaching every day, hoping to become successful coaches with an expanding list of clients. But it takes more than just the want to become a coach; you need a specific personality to inspire and make your clients feel safe and heard. You also need a relevant background and have some practical experience that would enable you to have the insights and knowledge to truly help clients.
Personality
No matter the type of professional coach you become, one of the most important personality attributes is the ability to actively listen. Your first task as a coach, along with establishing a safe environment, is to accurately determine what your client needs through asking the correct questions and listening to what is being said—not only vocally, but through body language as well.
As a coach, you need to be able to motive and inspire your clients. To do this, you need to maintain a positive outlook and be non-judgmental while also being challenging and straightforward with your clients. If your client has a goal that is not attainable, you need to be able to be honest with them while also being supportive and not dampening their passion.
Great coaches are compassionate; you must truly care about their struggles and want to help them. A coach certification will help you embody a coaching mindset: open, curious, flexible and client-centred.
Experience
Your life experience may help you determine what kind of coach you would successfully be. The opportunities are endless from a life coach or business coach to a relationship coach or employment coach. As a coach you are not just an advisor. You are an entrepreneur, marketer, and a salesperson for yourself and your services.
Successful business coaches are typically experienced entrepreneurs and business owners, or anyone with middle management or supervisorial experience such as assistant managers, executive assistants, and human resources professionals. You must have the insights to help others achieve their business goals and dreams.
A background in counselling, nursing, social work, teaching, or anything interpersonal would help you excel at being a life coach or relationship coach. Informal experience, such as being the support person to friends and family, would also enable you to be a successful life or relationship coach.
The more unique your background, the more specialized your coaching niche can be. You may have such a unique skillset and qualifications you could be one of the first to target a specific niche.
Training
With the compassionate personality and practical experience, a life coach training is the next step. You will learn the foundational coaching theory, how to put it into practice, and how to successfully launch and grow a coaching practice. Career options from a coach certification course vary and include, but are not limited to:
- Life Coach
- Business Coach
- Relationship Coach
- Team Coach
- Employment Coach
- Career Coach
- Any special niche you create!
Professional coaches empower the world, transform the world, and help others overcome negative thinking and fears. Before you embark on your journey to become a coach, ask yourself: Am I passionate about helping clients pursue their own solutions? Do I have the skills and knowledge to start a coaching business? What do I have that is unique to offer potential clients?
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