A person who assists and teaches you to progress in your life and achieve your goals is known as a life coach. Coaching is a demanding profession, and one needs to understand psychology and attain teaching skills to be a professional coach. Though it is a tough profession, it is more fulfilling for many as a job. For some, it is their passion to make someone’s life more focused and help them succeed.
The demand for life coaches is increasing day by day as many people live a life of loneliness and despair in the age of social media. People are more separate from their loved ones than ever before, especially after the pandemic; the social gathering and festive events are not as wholesome as before. This coaching profession is a necessity in society right now, and some compare it to a type of psychological and health treatment. These all changes in society indicate the importance of this profession.
So, after deciding to become a life/personal coach, the next step is to learn about the profession and do a certified course to become a certified professional whom people can depend on. It is necessary to get a certificate for a job like a life coach unless you are a well-known personality.
There are six ways you can identify a top-class coaching training program.
This profession is a new one and has fewer governing bodies worldwide—it is easy for people to fool you in the name of training. One of the governing bodies is the International Coach Federation (ICF), which is like a moral centre of this industry. This authority does accredit the schools which meet their standards. You can also look for central or state level schools accredited or affiliated to this (ICF) or a governing body similar to ICF.
The tips are:
- Choose a program that teaches genuine coaching
The word coaching is interpreted differently by different people. A professional coach must have these sets: a coaching mindset, a coaching skill set, and a coaching toolset.
If the school and faculty possess these qualities, you can sign in to their program. Just make sure there are enough staff and facilities.
- Approval of coaching association(s)
It is better if the school has multiple accreditation and affiliation with different associations around the world. These associations can be state or national level too. One without accreditation or affiliation is a definite “No,” and you must strike out the school’s name from your shortlist.
- Choose the coaching program that aligns or are similar to your values/ethics
The coaching techniques may differ, but if the coaching centre/school has some values or practices that don’t fit your own, you may look for other programs. You have to do this because there is a chance of clashing of both values and rules in future.
- Get foundational coaching training before niche (coaching) training
You can learn and discover niche areas of coaching, i.e., one which focuses on certain categories of coaching styles and techniques for specific people. But, as an amateur, you must focus on learning the basics first before jumping into advanced niche coaching training.
- Join where they train you to coach and market yourself
Coaching skills are essential, but marketing yourself is of more importance nowadays. Your coaching could be the best, and you may have helped hundreds of people, but the other players in the field are very consistent and creative in marketing themself. Join where they teach you to market you and your coaching programs.
- Certificate is a must
Only join the programs that provide a valuable certificate, i.e., value and recognition in the market. Even if you are a well trained, successful coach, the certificate plays a vital role in your career, especially if you plan to go abroad.
