I Teach…

coach Over the latest few weeks, we have talked about all the different ways a life coach can help you. This week, I’d like to talk a little about how you can help yourself and become a life coach. This two-part article will lay out a path—a path that you can use to help others.

Step 1

The first step in learning how to become a life coach is to first decide if you truly do want to become a life coach.
Coaching is a process in which a coach works with a client to enhance their quality of life or business. A life coach is not a therapist or adviser. The definition of a Life Coach is someone who works with clients to enhance their quality of life through skilled discussion, goal setting, and action planning. A great life coach is someone who can see past problems and help their client see a way forward without doing it for them.
You must be an individual who likes to help people without imposing your own opinions on individuals. The client speaks for themselves most of the time. This is because the client has the answers inside of them, and a coach simply helps highlight and bring those answers to surface. The client is the real expert in their own lives. You are just the vessel by which they learn.

Step 2

The second step of how to become a life coach is to decide which type of life coach you want to be. There are many different types of life coaching niches such as:

• Weight loss coach
• Relationship coach
• Divorce recovery coach
• Career coach
• Health and wellness coach

The best way to decide the type of life coach to become is to combine your passion with your experience. Take, for example, your own skills. If you have a passion for helping people to thrive in their career and you have experience or education in doing so, then you may consider becoming a career coach.

Step 3

The coaching industry is self-regulated. There aren’t any licensing or certification requirements at this time. In addition, you do not need a coaching degree to become a Life Coach. But you must make sure that you have the right skills and tools to practically apply yourself towards your client’s goals. If you aren’t sure that you have these skills—you may want to take part in a life coach training program and become a certified life coach.
When choosing a training program, keep in mind that there aren’t any federal or state accreditations for life coaching. Therefore, any schools offering certifications are either self-accredited or accredited through a self-accrediting organization, including the International Coach Federation.

Step 4

The forth step of how to become a life coach is to have or learn life coaching skills. Do you have these skills?

• Ability to listen
• Ability to ask powerful questions
• Ability to motivate clients and help them overcome obstacles
• Planning and goal Setting
• Designing action plans
• Neuro Linguistic Programming (how the mind works)
• Ability to understand what’s on the client’s mind
• Experience with life coaching tools
• Life coaching ethics and standards
• Ability to create an awareness in clients

And most importantly…

• Patience

Step 5

After you have received your initial life coach training, you should always be looking to continue your education and expand your skills. Take other life coach classes either online, through books, websites, seminars, workshops, etc. Grow as a life coach and remember that each new client gives you the opportunity to not only help someone fulfil their potential, but help you become a better life coach.

YOUR VISION TORCH Series
Achieve Your Dreams, Ignite Your Vision, & Re-engineer Your Life Purpose