In the realm of coaching, emotional intelligence (EI) plays a pivotal role in fostering meaningful and transformative relationships between coaches and their clients. EI involves the ability to recognize, understand, and manage one’s own emotions, as well as the emotions of others. Here’s how emotional intelligence enhances coaching effectiveness:
Building Strong Rapport
A coach with high emotional intelligence can create a trusting and empathetic environment. This rapport is crucial for clients to feel safe, understood, and open to sharing their thoughts and feelings. Understanding and responding to a client’s emotional state helps build a strong foundation for effective coaching.
Enhancing Communication
Effective communication is a cornerstone of successful coaching. Coaches with high EI are adept at listening actively, picking up on non-verbal cues, and responding thoughtfully. This ensures that the coach fully understands the client’s perspective and can provide appropriate feedback and guidance.
Managing Conflict
Conflict is an inevitable part of personal and professional development. Emotionally intelligent coaches can navigate conflicts with empathy and patience, helping clients manage their emotions and find constructive solutions. This skill is vital for maintaining a positive and productive coaching relationship.
Facilitating Self-Awareness
One of the primary goals of coaching is to help clients develop greater self-awareness. Coaches with high EI can guide clients to recognize their own emotional triggers, strengths, and areas for improvement. This self-awareness is essential for personal growth and achieving coaching goals.
Promoting Motivation and Resilience
Emotional intelligence enables coaches to inspire and motivate clients effectively. By understanding and addressing the emotional aspects of goal-setting and achievement, coaches can help clients stay motivated, overcome setbacks, and build resilience. This support is critical for sustained progress and success.
Conclusion
Emotional intelligence is a vital component of effective coaching. It enhances the coach-client relationship, improves communication, aids in conflict resolution, fosters self-awareness, and boosts motivation and resilience. By cultivating emotional intelligence, coaches can provide more profound and impactful support to their clients, leading to transformative outcomes in their personal and professional lives.
The world of coaching is vast and varied, offering numerous specialties tailored to meet the unique needs of different individuals and organizations. Here’s an exploration of some prominent coaching specialties:
Executive Coaching
Executive coaching focuses on enhancing the leadership skills and performance of high-level professionals. It helps executives develop strategic thinking, improve decision-making, and navigate complex business challenges. This type of coaching is often used to prepare leaders for higher roles, manage organizational change, and improve overall corporate performance.
Career Coaching
Career coaching is designed to assist individuals in making informed career decisions. It involves helping clients identify their strengths, set career goals, and develop strategies to achieve them. Career coaches provide guidance on job searches, resume building, interview preparation, and career transitions.
Life Coaching
Life coaching encompasses a broad range of personal development areas, including goal setting, work-life balance, relationship building, and overcoming personal challenges. Life coaches support clients in creating fulfilling lives by helping them clarify their values, set meaningful goals, and take actionable steps toward achieving them.
Health Coaching
Health coaching is aimed at improving clients’ overall health and well-being. Health coaches work with individuals to set and achieve health-related goals, such as weight loss, fitness, nutrition, and stress management. They provide support, motivation, and accountability to help clients adopt healthier lifestyles and maintain long-term wellness.
Business Coaching
Business coaching focuses on improving the performance and efficiency of businesses and entrepreneurs. Business coaches help clients develop business plans, improve management practices, increase productivity, and drive growth. This type of coaching is beneficial for startups, small businesses, and established companies looking to scale their operations.
Relationship Coaching
Relationship coaching addresses issues related to personal and professional relationships. Coaches work with individuals or couples to improve communication, resolve conflicts, and build stronger, healthier relationships. This specialty is beneficial for those seeking to enhance their interpersonal skills and create more fulfilling connections.
Conclusion
Exploring different coaching specialties reveals the diverse ways in which coaching can support personal and professional growth. Whether it’s executive, career, life, health, business, or relationship coaching, each specialty offers unique benefits tailored to specific needs. By choosing the right coaching specialty, clients can receive targeted support to achieve their goals and improve various aspects of their lives.
In the ever-evolving field of life coaching, continuous professional development is not just a recommendation; it’s a necessity. To remain effective and relevant, coaches must commit to ongoing education and skill enhancement. This blog underscores the importance of continuous professional development and highlights various opportunities for advanced training, workshops, and certifications offered by Coach Training Alliance (CTA) to help coaches stay ahead in their field.
The Importance of Ongoing Education in Coaching
Staying Current with Industry Trends
The coaching industry is dynamic, with new methodologies, tools, and best practices emerging regularly. Continuous education ensures that coaches stay informed about the latest trends and advancements, enabling them to provide the best possible service to their clients.
Enhancing Coaching Techniques
As coaches gain more experience and knowledge, their techniques and approaches need to evolve. Advanced training helps coaches refine their skills, adopt new strategies, and enhance their overall effectiveness.
Boosting Credibility and Trust
Clients seek coaches who are knowledgeable and up-to-date. By pursuing ongoing education, coaches demonstrate their commitment to professional growth and excellence, which can enhance their credibility and trustworthiness in the eyes of clients.
Expanding Career Opportunities
Continuous professional development opens up new career opportunities. Advanced certifications and specialized training can position coaches for niche markets or higher-level coaching roles, increasing their marketability and potential earnings.
Opportunities for Advanced Training and Certifications
Certified Coach Program
The Certified Coach Program by CTA is designed to provide a comprehensive foundation in life coaching. This program covers essential coaching skills, business acumen, and practical application through live coaching sessions and mentorship.
Coach Training Accelerator™
This self-paced program offers an extensive multimedia training experience, including 346 pages of online training materials and over 8 hours of audio tutorials. It’s ideal for coaches who prefer to learn at their own pace while accessing a wealth of resources.
Specialized Coaching Certifications
CTA offers various specialized certifications that allow coaches to deepen their expertise in specific areas:
Career Coaching Mastery: Focuses on helping clients navigate career transitions and achieve professional growth.
Wellness Coaching: Equips coaches with the knowledge to guide clients towards better health and well-being.
Executive Coaching: Prepares coaches to work with leaders and executives, enhancing their leadership skills and organizational impact.
Workshops and Seminars
Attending workshops and seminars is an excellent way to gain new insights and practical skills. CTA frequently hosts events that cover a wide range of topics, from advanced coaching techniques to business development strategies.
Webinars and Online Courses
For coaches looking for flexible learning options, webinars and online courses provide a convenient way to stay updated. These sessions often feature industry experts and cover the latest trends and best practices in coaching.
Mentorship and Peer Learning
Engaging in mentorship programs and peer learning opportunities allows coaches to learn from experienced professionals and exchange ideas with peers. CTA offers group mentoring sessions that help coaches deepen their skills and prepare for ICF credentialing.
The Role of Continuous Development in Long-Term Success
Adaptability and Innovation
The ability to adapt to new challenges and innovate is crucial for long-term success. Continuous learning fosters a mindset of growth and adaptability, enabling coaches to thrive in a rapidly changing environment.
Client Satisfaction and Retention
Well-trained coaches are better equipped to meet their clients’ needs, leading to higher satisfaction and retention rates. By continually improving their skills, coaches can deliver more impactful coaching experiences.
Professional Fulfillment
Continuous professional development contributes to a sense of professional fulfillment. Coaches who invest in their growth often feel more confident, competent, and passionate about their work.
Conclusion
Continuous professional development is the cornerstone of a successful coaching career. By staying committed to ongoing education and skill enhancement, coaches can ensure they remain effective, credible, and relevant in their field. Coach Training Alliance offers a variety of programs and resources designed to support coaches in their journey of continuous improvement. Whether through advanced certifications, specialized training, or engaging workshops, there are numerous opportunities to keep your coaching skills sharp and your practice thriving.
Coaching has the power to create profound and lasting changes in individuals’ personal and professional lives. The stories from the Coach Training Alliance (CTA) community illustrate the transformative impact of coaching, highlighting the personal growth and professional achievements that clients and coaches have experienced through these programs. Here, we share some inspiring success stories that showcase the significant differences coaching can make.
John’s Journey to Leadership Excellence
Background: John, a mid-level manager in a tech company, struggled with leadership skills and team management. He often felt overwhelmed by the demands of his role and uncertain about how to inspire and guide his team effectively.
Coaching Experience: John enrolled in the CTA’s Executive Coaching program, seeking to enhance his leadership capabilities. Through the program, he worked with a mentor coach who provided personalized guidance and strategies tailored to his needs.
Transformation: Over the course of several months, John developed a strong leadership style, learning how to communicate more effectively, manage conflicts, and motivate his team. He implemented techniques from his coaching sessions, which led to improved team performance and higher employee satisfaction. John’s confidence in his leadership abilities grew, and he was eventually promoted to a senior management position.
Testimonial: “The Executive Coaching program at CTA transformed my approach to leadership. I learned practical skills that I could apply immediately, and the support from my mentor coach was invaluable. This experience has been a game-changer for my career.”
Emily’s Path to Personal Fulfillment
Background: Emily, a stay-at-home mom, felt unfulfilled and uncertain about her future career path after taking a break from her professional life. She wanted to find a new direction that aligned with her passions and strengths.
Coaching Experience: Emily joined the CTA’s Career Transitions Coaching program, hoping to gain clarity and direction. Her coach helped her explore her interests, values, and skills, guiding her through a comprehensive self-assessment process.
Transformation: Through coaching, Emily discovered a passion for wellness and decided to pursue a career in health coaching. She enrolled in the CTA’s Wellness Coaching program to gain the necessary skills and certification. Today, Emily runs a successful wellness coaching practice, helping others achieve their health goals and finding immense satisfaction in her new career.
Testimonial: “The Career Transitions Coaching program helped me find my true calling. I was able to transition smoothly into a new career that I love, and the Wellness Coaching certification gave me the confidence and skills I needed to succeed. Coaching has truly changed my life.”
Michael’s Entrepreneurial Success
Background: Michael, an aspiring entrepreneur, had a brilliant business idea but lacked the confidence and business acumen to turn his vision into reality. He struggled with self-doubt and the practical aspects of starting a business.
Coaching Experience: Michael participated in CTA’s Certified Coach Program, which included comprehensive training on business development and entrepreneurship. His coach provided him with the tools and strategies needed to launch and grow his business.
Transformation: With the support and guidance from his coach, Michael successfully launched his startup. He learned how to create a business plan, market his services, and manage his time effectively. His business quickly gained traction, and he now runs a thriving company, crediting coaching for his success.
Testimonial: “CTA’s Certified Coach Program gave me the confidence and knowledge I needed to start my business. The practical advice and encouragement from my coach were instrumental in turning my idea into a successful venture. I couldn’t have done it without this program.”
Sara’s Personal Growth and Resilience
Background: Sara, a young professional, faced significant challenges in balancing her demanding job with her personal life. She often felt stressed and struggled with time management and self-care.
Coaching Experience: Sara enrolled in the CTA’s Life Coaching program, seeking to improve her work-life balance and personal well-being. Her coach worked with her to identify areas for improvement and develop strategies to manage stress and prioritize self-care.
Transformation: Through her coaching journey, Sara learned effective time management techniques and stress reduction strategies. She began practicing mindfulness and setting boundaries, which led to a more balanced and fulfilling life. Sara’s productivity at work improved, and she felt more present and engaged in her personal life.
Testimonial: “The Life Coaching program at CTA helped me regain control of my life. I learned how to manage my time better and take care of myself, which has made a huge difference in my overall well-being. Coaching has been a lifesaver.”
Conclusion
These real-life success stories from the Coach Training Alliance community demonstrate the powerful impact of coaching. Whether it’s achieving career success, personal fulfillment, or entrepreneurial goals, coaching provides the support, guidance, and tools needed to make significant and lasting changes. For more information on how coaching can transform your life, visit Coach Training Alliance.
Embark on your journey today and discover the transformative power of coaching.
In today’s fast-paced world, the demand for skilled life coaches is growing exponentially. A life coach certification from a reputable institution like Coach Training Alliance can be a game-changer for both aspiring coaches and their clients. Here’s why:
Credibility and Trust
A certification provides a stamp of credibility, assuring clients that the coach has undergone rigorous training and adheres to professional standards. This trust is crucial in establishing a successful coaching relationship.
Comprehensive Skill Development
Certified programs offer a structured curriculum covering essential coaching skills, ethical guidelines, and effective communication techniques. This comprehensive training equips coaches with the tools they need to address diverse client needs and situations.
Increased Confidence
Completing a certification program boosts a coach’s confidence in their abilities. This confidence translates into more effective coaching sessions, where clients feel supported and understood.
Networking Opportunities
Certification programs often provide opportunities to connect with fellow coaches, mentors, and industry professionals. These connections can lead to collaborations, referrals, and continued professional growth.
Business Growth
A certified life coach is more likely to attract clients and command higher fees. The credibility of a certification can differentiate a coach in a competitive market, leading to increased business opportunities and success.
Personal Growth
Beyond professional benefits, certification also fosters personal growth. Coaches often undergo transformative experiences themselves, gaining insights that enhance their ability to guide others.
Conclusion
Investing in life coach certification is a powerful step toward a fulfilling career that impacts lives positively. By gaining credibility, developing essential skills, and growing both personally and professionally, certified life coaches are well-equipped to make a significant difference in their clients’ lives and their own careers.
In the rapidly expanding field of life coaching, the International Coach Federation (ICF) stands as a global benchmark for coaching excellence. ICF accreditation is not just a mark of credibility; it represents a commitment to upholding the highest standards in the coaching profession. Here’s how ICF accreditation elevates coaching standards:
Rigorous Training and Assessment
ICF-accredited programs undergo a stringent review process, ensuring that the curriculum meets high educational and ethical standards. This rigorous training equips coaches with comprehensive knowledge and practical skills essential for effective coaching. The assessment process evaluates not only the theoretical understanding but also the practical application of coaching techniques.
Ethical Guidelines and Professional Conduct
ICF accreditation emphasizes adherence to a strict code of ethics, fostering integrity and professionalism within the coaching industry. Coaches are trained to maintain confidentiality, respect client autonomy, and practice with honesty and fairness. This ethical foundation builds trust and credibility with clients.
Continuous Professional Development
ICF accreditation requires coaches to engage in ongoing professional development. This commitment to lifelong learning ensures that coaches stay updated with the latest research, methodologies, and best practices in the field. Continuous education helps coaches to refine their skills and provide the highest quality of service to their clients.
Global Recognition and Network
ICF accreditation is recognized worldwide, offering coaches a prestigious credential that enhances their professional reputation. It opens doors to a vast network of certified coaches, providing opportunities for collaboration, mentorship, and support. Being part of a global community enriches the coaching practice through shared experiences and knowledge.
Enhanced Client Confidence
Clients seeking coaching services often look for ICF credentials as a mark of quality and reliability. Knowing that a coach has met the stringent requirements of ICF accreditation reassures clients of the coach’s competence and commitment to professional excellence. This confidence leads to more meaningful and productive coaching relationships.
Conclusion
ICF accreditation significantly elevates coaching standards by ensuring rigorous training, adherence to ethical guidelines, continuous professional development, global recognition, and enhanced client confidence. For both coaches and clients, ICF accreditation represents a commitment to excellence and a guarantee of quality in the coaching profession. By choosing ICF-accredited programs, coaches can enhance their credibility and effectiveness, making a lasting impact on their clients and the industry as a whole.
Embarking on the journey from life coach training to establishing a successful coaching practice can be both exhilarating and daunting. “From Training to Practice: Launching Your Life Coaching Business” is designed to empower aspiring life coaches with the knowledge and tools needed to make this transition smoothly. This comprehensive guide covers everything from solidifying your coaching philosophy to marketing strategies and client engagement, ensuring you are well-prepared to create a thriving coaching business.
Solidifying Your Coaching Philosophy and Identifying Your Niche
Before launching your life coaching business, it’s crucial to establish a clear coaching philosophy and identify your niche. Your philosophy reflects your core beliefs and values, guiding how you approach coaching and interact with clients. Take time to articulate what drives you as a coach and how you aim to impact your clients’ lives.
Identifying your niche is equally important. Whether it’s career coaching, wellness coaching, or executive coaching, having a specialized focus helps differentiate you in a crowded market and attract clients who are seeking your specific expertise. Reflect on your strengths, interests, and experiences to determine the area where you can provide the most value.
Setting Up Your Business: Legal and Branding Essentials
Launching a business involves several foundational steps:
Legal Considerations: Register your business, obtain any necessary licenses, and consider liability insurance. It’s wise to consult with a legal professional to ensure you meet all local and national regulations.
Brand Identity: Your brand is more than just a logo; it’s the essence of your business. Develop a compelling brand identity that reflects your coaching philosophy and appeals to your target audience. This includes your business name, logo, color scheme, and overall aesthetic.
Creating an Online Presence
A strong online presence is critical for attracting clients and establishing credibility:
Professional Website: Your website is often the first impression potential clients will have of your business. Ensure it is professional, easy to navigate, and clearly communicates your services, philosophy, and credentials. Include client testimonials and a blog to showcase your expertise.
Social Media: Utilize social media platforms like LinkedIn, Facebook, and Instagram to connect with potential clients and share valuable content. Regularly posting insights, success stories, and motivational tips can help build your reputation and engage your audience.
Marketing Strategies: Content, Speaking, and Networking
Effective marketing is essential to attract and retain clients:
Content Marketing: Create and share valuable content that addresses the needs and interests of your target audience. Blog posts, podcasts, and videos can position you as an authority in your niche and drive traffic to your website.
Speaking Engagements: Participate in webinars, workshops, and conferences to increase your visibility and establish credibility. Speaking engagements offer a platform to showcase your expertise and connect with potential clients.
Networking: Build relationships within the coaching community and related industries. Join professional associations, attend industry events, and engage in online forums. Networking can lead to referrals, collaborations, and valuable insights into industry trends.
Client Engagement Strategies
Engaging and retaining clients is key to a successful coaching practice:
Personalized Coaching Packages: Offer a variety of coaching packages tailored to different needs and budgets. Personalized packages show clients that you understand their unique challenges and are committed to their success.
Clear Expectations: Set clear expectations from the outset regarding the coaching process, goals, and outcomes. This helps build trust and ensures both parties are aligned.
Strong Coach-Client Relationship: Foster a supportive and collaborative relationship with your clients. Active listening, empathy, and consistent follow-ups are crucial in building trust and achieving positive outcomes.
Continuous Professional Development
Staying relevant and effective in the coaching industry requires ongoing learning and development:
Professional Development: Attend workshops, obtain advanced certifications, and stay updated with the latest coaching methodologies. Continuous learning enhances your skills and keeps you informed about industry advancements.
Industry Trends: Keep abreast of emerging trends and technologies in the coaching industry. This knowledge allows you to innovate your practice and offer cutting-edge services to your clients.
Motivational Advice for Aspiring Coaches
Launching a life coaching business is challenging, but the rewards are immense. Remember the transformative impact you can have on your clients’ lives. Stay persistent, embrace challenges as learning opportunities, and celebrate your successes, no matter how small.
Conclusion
“From Training to Practice: Launching Your Life Coaching Business” provides a comprehensive roadmap for aspiring life coaches. By solidifying your coaching philosophy, establishing a strong online presence, implementing effective marketing strategies, and continuously developing your skills, you can create a thriving coaching practice. Embrace the journey, and let your passion for helping others guide you towards success.
Life coaching has evolved significantly over the past few decades. Initially, it was a niche service available only to those who could afford the time and money for in-person sessions. However, recent technological advancements have revolutionized the field, making life coaching more accessible and effective. This blog explores the digital transformation of life coaching, the tools enhancing its delivery, the benefits and challenges of integrating technology, and the promising future of this dynamic profession.
The Digital Transformation of Life Coaching
The shift from traditional, in-person coaching to virtual platforms has been underway for some time, but it was significantly accelerated by global events like the COVID-19 pandemic. With social distancing measures and lockdowns in place, remote interactions became a necessity, pushing both coaches and clients to adapt to online methods.
Virtual platforms offer several advantages over traditional coaching. They break down geographical barriers, allowing coaches to reach clients from all over the world. This transition has democratized life coaching, making it more accessible to a broader audience who might not have had the opportunity otherwise.
Tools and Technologies Enhancing Coaching
Virtual Meeting Software
Virtual meeting platforms such as Zoom, Skype, and Microsoft Teams have become essential tools for life coaches. These platforms offer features like video conferencing, screen sharing, and recording capabilities, which facilitate effective online coaching sessions. Coaches can interact with their clients face-to-face in real-time, ensuring that the personal connection and engagement are maintained.
Goal-Tracking Apps
Goal-tracking apps like Trello, Asana, and CoachAccountable help clients set, monitor, and achieve their goals. These apps provide real-time updates, reminders, and motivational features that keep clients on track. They enable coaches to monitor progress and provide timely feedback, enhancing the coaching process’s overall effectiveness.
Digital Resources and Libraries
Access to a wealth of digital resources and libraries is invaluable for both coaches and clients. Platforms like Coursera, Udemy, and specialized coaching resource sites offer a vast array of self-improvement and learning materials. These resources allow clients to continue their personal development journey between sessions and provide coaches with up-to-date information and tools to support their practice.
Benefits of Integrating Technology
Accessibility and Convenience
Technology has made coaching sessions accessible to individuals regardless of their geographical location. Clients can schedule and attend sessions from the comfort of their homes, making life coaching more convenient and flexible. This accessibility is especially beneficial for individuals with busy schedules or those living in remote areas.
Efficiency and Productivity
Digital tools streamline administrative tasks, allowing coaches to focus more on their core function—coaching. Automated scheduling, payment processing, and client management systems reduce the time spent on paperwork and administrative duties. This efficiency enables coaches to dedicate more time and energy to their clients’ growth and development.
Overcoming Challenges
Maintaining Personal Connection
Building and maintaining rapport with clients in a virtual setting can be challenging. Coaches can overcome this by being present and attentive during sessions, using video calls to mimic face-to-face interactions, and engaging in active listening. Regular check-ins and personalized follow-ups can also help strengthen the coach-client relationship.
Ensuring Privacy and Security
Safeguarding client information is crucial in digital communications. Coaches should use secure, encrypted platforms for virtual sessions and ensure that any data shared is protected. Implementing best practices like strong passwords, two-factor authentication, and privacy policies can help maintain confidentiality and trust.
Real-World Examples
Many life coaches have successfully integrated technology into their practice, yielding positive results. For instance, Coach Jane Smith transitioned her entire coaching business online during the pandemic. By leveraging Zoom for sessions and Asana for goal tracking, she was able to maintain high levels of client engagement and satisfaction. Her clients appreciated the flexibility and convenience, leading to increased client retention and business growth.
Future Prospects
The future of life coaching is poised for further technological innovations. AI-driven coaching tools are already emerging, offering personalized insights and support based on data analytics. Virtual reality (VR) sessions could simulate face-to-face interactions, providing an immersive coaching experience that combines the best of both virtual and in-person worlds. These advancements hold the potential to further enhance the effectiveness and reach of life coaching.
Conclusion
Technology has undeniably expanded the reach and effectiveness of life coaching. From virtual meeting software to goal-tracking apps and digital resources, these tools have made coaching more accessible, convenient, and efficient. As the field continues to evolve, embracing technological innovations will be crucial for coaches to better serve their clients and thrive in this dynamic profession. Current and aspiring life coaches are encouraged to integrate these digital tools into their practice, paving the way for greater personal and professional growth.
This is a comprehensive guide aimed at individuals looking to embark on a career in life coaching or seeking to enhance their personal and professional development through life coaching courses. This blog navigates through the critical aspects of selecting an appropriate course, emphasizing the importance of curriculum content, accreditation, and the expertise of instructors.
Understanding Your Goals Start by clarifying your objectives for taking a life coach course. Are you aiming to become a professional life coach, or are you looking to enhance your personal growth? Your goals will significantly influence the type of course best suited to your needs.
Evaluating the Curriculum A thorough examination of the course curriculum is vital. Look for programs that cover a broad range of topics, including communication skills, coaching methodologies, ethical considerations, and business management for aspiring coaches. The depth and breadth of the curriculum can provide insight into the comprehensiveness of the training.
The Importance of Accreditation Accreditation by a reputable body is a hallmark of quality and reliability. It ensures that the course meets specific standards in coaching education. Accreditation can also impact your eligibility for professional certifications and memberships in coaching organizations.
Instructor Expertise and Experience The experience and qualifications of the instructors are paramount. Seasoned instructors bring valuable insights and practical knowledge to their teaching, enhancing the learning experience. Research the instructors’ backgrounds to ensure they have a solid track record in life coaching.
Interactive and Practical Learning Opportunities Seek out courses that offer practical, hands-on coaching opportunities. Real-life coaching practice, feedback sessions, and interactive assignments are crucial for developing effective coaching skills.
Flexibility and Support Consider the course format and support services. For those balancing multiple responsibilities, flexible online courses with access to extensive resources, mentorship, and community support can be particularly beneficial.
Making Your Decision Armed with this information, compare your shortlisted courses. Consider factors such as cost, duration, learning format, and post-completion support. Choosing the right life coach course is a significant step towards achieving your coaching aspirations, offering a pathway to personal fulfillment and professional success.
By methodically assessing your goals, the curriculum, accreditation, instructor expertise, and the practical aspects of the course, you can make an informed decision that aligns with your aspirations and sets the foundation for a rewarding journey in life coaching
Life coach training is more than just an educational endeavor; it’s a profound journey of self-discovery and personal development. This blog explores the transformative effects of life coaching training, focusing on how it fosters self-awareness, goal-setting, and communication skills, ultimately leading to significant personal growth.
Heightened Self-Awareness: The Foundation of Transformation
The journey of life coach training begins with self-awareness. Participants are guided through exercises and reflections that help them uncover their core beliefs, motivations, and behavioral patterns. This deep self-understanding is crucial because it lays the groundwork for meaningful change.
Through heightened self-awareness, individuals learn to identify the underlying causes of their actions and reactions. This insight allows them to make conscious choices rather than being driven by unconscious habits. For instance, someone who realizes they have a fear of failure can work on strategies to overcome this fear, leading to more confident decision-making.
The Art of Goal-Setting: From Vision to Reality
A critical component of life coach training is mastering the art of goal-setting. This skill is not just about creating a list of objectives but about setting clear, achievable goals and developing strategies to overcome challenges along the way.
Participants learn to break down their goals into manageable steps, making the path to success less daunting. They also develop resilience, understanding that setbacks are part of the journey and learning how to navigate them effectively. This proactive mindset emphasizes the power of action and persistence in achieving personal and professional aspirations.
For example, a trainee might set a goal to start a new business. Through life coach training, they would learn to create a detailed business plan, identify potential obstacles, and develop solutions, increasing their chances of success.
Enhanced Communication Skills: Building Stronger Connections
Communication is another pivotal theme in life coach training. Participants refine their ability to listen actively, express thoughts clearly, and engage in meaningful dialogues. These skills are vital for fostering strong relationships, both personally and professionally, and for facilitating effective coaching sessions.
Improved communication skills lead to better understanding and connection with others. This can enhance relationships with family, friends, colleagues, and clients. For instance, learning to listen without judgment can transform how one interacts with others, leading to more supportive and fulfilling relationships.
Real-Life Transformations: Personal Anecdotes and Professional Insights
The transformative power of life coach training is best illustrated through real-life stories and professional insights. Many coaching professionals share how their training not only equipped them to help others but also led to profound changes in their own lives.
For example, a coach who once struggled with low self-esteem might find their confidence soaring after training. This newfound confidence not only enhances their coaching practice but also improves their personal life, leading to more authentic and fulfilling relationships.
Another coach might discover a passion for a specific niche, such as wellness or career coaching, and find their purpose through helping others achieve their goals. This alignment of personal passion and professional work can lead to a deeply satisfying career.
Conclusion: Life Coach Training as a Catalyst for Personal Growth
In conclusion, life coach training is not just about learning to coach others; it’s a catalyst for profound personal transformation. It equips individuals with the tools to understand themselves deeply, pursue their goals with clarity and determination, and communicate effectively, thereby enriching their personal and professional lives.
Through self-awareness, goal-setting, and enhanced communication, life coach training fosters authentic living, continuous growth, and stronger relationships. As you reflect on this transformative journey, consider how such an experience could impact your own path to personal growth. Whether you seek to become a life coach or simply wish to enhance your personal development, life coach training offers invaluable insights and skills that can lead to lasting change.
The journey to becoming a certified life coach is a transformative path that not only enhances your ability to support others but also deepens your understanding of yourself. Certification is a crucial step for anyone looking to pursue life coaching professionally, ensuring that you have the necessary skills, knowledge, and ethical grounding to make a significant impact in the lives of your clients. In this comprehensive guide, we’ll walk you through the certification process, highlight the importance of accreditation, and detail how Coach Training Alliance supports students every step of the way.
Understanding the Importance of Accreditation
Before diving into the certification process, it’s essential to understand the importance of choosing a program that is accredited by a reputable body, such as the International Coach Federation (ICF), the Center for Credentialing & Education (CCE), or the International Association of Coaching (IAC). Accreditation ensures that the program meets high standards for coaching education, including ethical guidelines, coaching competencies, and professional practice. It also provides assurance to clients and employers about the quality and professionalism of your coaching services.
Step 1: Choose the Right Program
The first step on your path to certification is selecting the right training program. Look for programs that offer a comprehensive curriculum covering coaching fundamentals, techniques, and ethics. Coach Training Alliance offers a variety of accredited programs tailored to meet the needs of aspiring coaches, including specialized courses for different coaching niches.
Step 2: Complete Your Training
Once you’ve enrolled in your chosen program, you’ll embark on a journey of learning and practice. Coach Training Alliance programs typically include a mix of theoretical learning, practical exercises, and observed coaching sessions. These components are designed to build your coaching skills, enhance your ability to facilitate change, and prepare you for professional practice.
Step 3: Accumulate Coaching Hours
Most certification bodies require a certain number of coaching hours as part of the certification criteria. These hours are divided between paid and pro bono coaching, allowing you to gain experience with a diverse range of clients. Coach Training Alliance supports students in accumulating these hours by providing opportunities to coach within the training program and offering guidance on securing external coaching clients.
Step 4: Mentor Coaching and Feedback
Mentor coaching is a critical component of the certification process, offering personalized feedback on your coaching practice. This mentorship phase helps you refine your skills, address any areas for improvement, and deepen your understanding of coaching ethics and standards. Coach Training Alliance ensures that students receive mentor coaching from experienced, certified coaches, facilitating growth and development.
Step 5: Pass the Certification Exam
The final step in the certification process is passing a comprehensive exam that tests your knowledge of coaching principles, ethics, and competencies. Preparation for this exam is integrated into Coach Training Alliance’s programs, ensuring that you are well-equipped to succeed.
Step 6: Apply for Certification
Once you’ve completed your training, accumulated the required coaching hours, and passed the certification exam, you can apply for certification through your chosen accrediting body. Coach Training Alliance provides guidance and support throughout this application process, helping you compile your documentation and submit your application.
Conclusion
Becoming a certified life coach is a rewarding journey that opens doors to a fulfilling career dedicated to empowering others. By following this step-by-step guide and choosing an accredited program like those offered by Coach Training Alliance, you’ll be well on your way to achieving professional certification and making a meaningful impact in the coaching world. Remember, the path to certification is not just about meeting requirements; it’s an opportunity for personal and professional growth, preparing you to be an effective, ethical, and transformative life coach.
In a world brimming with challenges and opportunities, life coaching emerges as a powerful force for positive change, influencing not just individuals but extending its impact to communities and organizations worldwide. By empowering people to achieve their personal and professional goals, life coaching initiates a ripple effect of transformation that can indeed change the world, one person at a time. This blog explores the profound societal impact of life coaching and how it contributes to creating a more conscious, focused, and fulfilled society.
Empowering Individual Transformation
At the heart of life coaching is the belief that every individual possesses untapped potential waiting to be discovered and nurtured. Life coaches play a pivotal role in this journey of self-discovery, helping clients identify their goals, overcome obstacles, and make meaningful changes in their lives. This process of transformation begins with the individual but soon transcends them, influencing their interactions with others and their contribution to society.
Building Self-Awareness and Responsibility
Life coaching encourages individuals to take responsibility for their lives, fostering a sense of self-awareness and accountability. This empowerment leads to people who are more conscious of their actions and their impact on others. As individuals become more aligned with their values and purpose, they naturally seek to contribute positively to their surroundings, whether by improving relationships, excelling in their careers, or engaging in community service.
Enhancing Community Well-being
The benefits of life coaching extend beyond individual achievement, significantly affecting the well-being of communities. Coaches help individuals develop empathy, compassion, and emotional intelligence—qualities that are essential for building stronger, more supportive communities. When people learn to navigate their personal and professional challenges more effectively, there is a notable decrease in stress and conflict within communities, leading to healthier, more harmonious relationships.
Fostering Leadership and Collaboration
Life coaching also plays a crucial role in developing leaders who are visionary, empathetic, and inclusive. These leaders inspire positive change within organizations and communities, promoting a culture of collaboration and mutual respect. By empowering individuals to lead by example, life coaching cultivates a generation of changemakers committed to making a difference in the world.
Transforming Organizations
The impact of life coaching is profoundly felt within organizations, where it drives performance, innovation, and resilience. Coaches help individuals align their personal goals with organizational objectives, leading to increased motivation, engagement, and productivity. This alignment is crucial for fostering a positive workplace culture where innovation thrives, and challenges are viewed as opportunities for growth.
Promoting Social Responsibility
Life coaching encourages a mindset of social responsibility, urging individuals and organizations to consider the broader impact of their actions. This perspective leads to businesses that prioritize sustainability, ethical practices, and community involvement, contributing to a more equitable and sustainable world.
Conclusion
Life coaching has the transformative power to change the world, one person at a time. By empowering individuals to unlock their potential and pursue their goals, life coaches ignite a chain reaction of positive change that extends to communities and organizations. This ripple effect fosters a society characterized by conscious living, empathy, and collaboration, where every individual has the opportunity to contribute to a better world. In embracing the principles of life coaching, we can collectively work towards a future that values personal growth, social responsibility, and the power of human potential to enact lasting change.
In the nuanced and impactful world of life coaching, certain core skills and competencies stand out as fundamental to effective practice. These skills are the bedrock upon which successful coaching relationships are built, enabling life coaches to facilitate meaningful change in their clients’ lives. From empathetic listening to powerful questioning and goal-setting strategies, this blog explores the essential skills every life coach needs and how Coach Training Alliance’s courses are designed to equip individuals with these critical capabilities.
Empathetic Listening: The Heart of Connection
At the core of life coaching is the ability to truly listen—not just to the words being said but to the emotions, beliefs, and values that underlie them. Empathetic listening goes beyond mere hearing; it involves understanding the client’s perspective from within their frame of reference. It’s about creating a safe, non-judgmental space where clients feel seen, heard, and understood. This skill is crucial for building trust and rapport, the foundation of any effective coaching relationship. Coach Training Alliance emphasizes the practice of empathetic listening, teaching coaches to tune into subtle cues and respond with empathy and understanding.
Powerful Questioning: Uncovering Insights
Life coaching is an artful dance of inquiry, where powerful questioning leads to powerful insights. Effective coaches master the skill of asking open-ended, thought-provoking questions that challenge clients to think deeply and differently about their situations. These questions are designed to stimulate reflection, uncover underlying beliefs, and catalyze self-discovery. Coach Training Alliance focuses on honing this skill, enabling coaches to craft questions that unlock new perspectives and possibilities for their clients.
Goal-Setting Strategies: Charting the Course
Setting clear, achievable goals is fundamental to the coaching process. It transforms vision into action and dreams into reality. However, effective goal-setting is more than just listing desires; it involves creating specific, measurable, attainable, relevant, and time-bound (SMART) objectives. Coach Training Alliance teaches aspiring coaches how to guide their clients in identifying meaningful goals, breaking them down into actionable steps, and developing strategies to overcome obstacles. This skill ensures that coaching sessions translate into tangible progress and outcomes for clients.
Creating Awareness: Facilitating Self-Discovery
One of the most powerful aspects of coaching is its ability to foster increased self-awareness in clients. Coaches are trained to help clients recognize patterns of thought and behavior that may be holding them back. This skill involves a delicate balance of observation, feedback, and reflection, encouraging clients to gain insights into their own experiences and how they can move forward more effectively. Coach Training Alliance’s curriculum emphasizes the importance of creating awareness, equipping coaches with the tools to facilitate this critical aspect of personal growth.
Accountability and Encouragement: The Keys to Sustained Progress
While setting goals is crucial, ensuring clients remain motivated and accountable is equally important. Life coaches need the skill to strike the right balance between holding clients accountable for their actions and providing the encouragement and support they need to persevere. Coach Training Alliance prepares coaches to serve as accountability partners, helping clients stay on track towards their goals while fostering a sense of empowerment and self-belief.
Conclusion
The journey to becoming an effective life coach is paved with the development of key skills and competencies. Empathetic listening, powerful questioning, goal-setting strategies, creating awareness, and fostering accountability and encouragement are indispensable tools in a life coach’s toolkit. Coach Training Alliance’s courses are meticulously designed to equip aspiring coaches with these essential skills, ensuring they are well-prepared to make a profound difference in the lives of their clients. By mastering these core competencies, life coaches can unlock the full potential of those they serve, guiding them towards a future of growth, fulfillment, and achievement.
Embarking on the journey to become a life coach is a path filled with personal discovery, professional growth, and the profound ability to make a positive impact on the lives of others. This transformative process not only equips individuals with the skills to empower others but also fosters a deep sense of fulfillment and purpose in their own lives. Through the lens of alumni stories, we delve into the myriad ways life coach training catalyzes growth, overcomes challenges, and leads to remarkable success stories.
Discovering a Calling
The journey often begins with a calling—a desire to help others coupled with a passion for personal development. Many aspiring life coaches are drawn to the profession after experiencing pivotal moments in their own lives, whether through overcoming personal challenges or the profound impact of a coach or mentor. This initial spark of inspiration is the first step on a path that promises growth, self-discovery, and the opportunity to transform lives.
Navigating the Training Process
Life coach training is more than just learning techniques and methodologies; it’s a process of profound personal growth. Trainees embark on a journey of self-reflection, where they are encouraged to confront their own beliefs, biases, and limitations. This introspective process is challenging but essential, as it lays the foundation for authentic coaching. By understanding themselves deeply, aspiring coaches are better equipped to understand and empathize with their clients, fostering a genuine connection that is at the heart of effective coaching.
Transforming Challenges into Opportunities
Throughout their training, aspiring life coaches face various challenges, from mastering coaching techniques to developing their own coaching style. However, it is through these challenges that growth occurs. Alumni stories often highlight the transformative power of overcoming obstacles, whether it’s the struggle to build confidence as a coach or the challenge of establishing a coaching business. These experiences are not just hurdles but stepping stones to becoming more resilient, knowledgeable, and compassionate coaches.
Celebrating Successes
The successes of life coach training alumni are as diverse as their backgrounds. For some, success is measured by the number of lives they’ve touched or the depth of change they’ve facilitated in their clients. For others, it’s about achieving personal goals, such as launching a successful coaching practice or achieving financial independence. These success stories serve as powerful testimonials to the impact of life coach training, not just on the lives of clients but on the coaches themselves.
One inspiring example is that of an alum who transitioned from a high-stress corporate job to a fulfilling career as a life coach, finding not only professional satisfaction but also a healthier work-life balance. Another alum’s story might highlight the journey from feeling lost and uncertain to becoming a confident, sought-after coach who now helps others navigate their paths to self-discovery and fulfillment.
The Ongoing Journey
The journey of becoming a life coach doesn’t end with certification. It’s a continuous path of learning, growth, and adaptation. Life coaches remain committed to their own development, constantly seeking new knowledge, skills, and experiences to better serve their clients. This commitment to lifelong learning is a testament to the dynamic and evolving nature of the coaching profession.
Conclusion
The journey to becoming a life coach is transformative, marked by personal and professional growth, challenges turned into opportunities, and the profound joy of making a difference. It’s a path that requires dedication, empathy, and a relentless pursuit of personal excellence. For those who embark on this journey, the rewards are immeasurable—not just in the successes achieved but in the lives touched and transformed along the way. Through their dedication, life coaches continue to inspire, motivate, and guide individuals towards their fullest potential, one coaching session at a time.
In the fast-paced world we live in, finding balance amidst the demands of work, relationships, personal growth, and self-care can feel like a daunting task. However, this equilibrium is crucial for our overall well-being and success. This is where coaching steps in as a guiding light, illuminating the path towards a harmonious life.
Coaching is more than just a conversation; it’s a structured approach aimed at helping individuals achieve their desired goals and find balance in every aspect of their lives. Let’s explore how coaching can be a compass, directing you towards a more balanced and fulfilling life.
Identifying Priorities and Values
Coaching is a powerful tool to help individuals identify their core values and priorities. By delving into what truly matters, a coach assists in aligning actions with these values, leading to a more balanced and purpose-driven life.
Goal Setting for Harmonious Living
Coaches guide individuals in setting realistic and achievable goals across various life domains. By establishing a clear roadmap and breaking down these objectives, clients can create a well-rounded approach to life, striking a balance between work, relationships, health, and personal growth.
Time Management and Boundaries
Effective time management is key to achieving balance. Coaches equip clients with strategies to prioritize tasks and set healthy boundaries. Learning to say no and managing time efficiently leads to reduced stress and an enhanced equilibrium between personal and professional life.
Mindfulness and Stress Reduction
Coaching often integrates mindfulness practices, aiding individuals in staying present and reducing stress. Through mindfulness, one can manage anxiety, enhance focus, and gain clarity, all essential elements for a well-balanced life.
Life balance is a dynamic and ongoing process. Coaching empowers individuals to take charge, make informed decisions, and cultivate a sense of equilibrium in their lives. Embrace coaching as a transformative tool to harmonize the various aspects of your life, paving the way for fulfillment, happiness, and holistic success.
Positive affirmations are potent tools that shape the mindset of individuals. As a coach, encouraging your clients to affirm their goals and abilities helps instill a positive belief system, fostering confidence and resilience.
Cultivating Self-Confidence:
Repetition of positive affirmations ingrains empowering beliefs. By affirming one’s capabilities, self-doubt diminishes, and self-confidence blossoms. Coaches can guide clients in crafting affirmations that boost self-esteem and nurture a can-do attitude.
Fueling Motivation and Persistence:
Positive affirmations act as motivational fuel. When faced with challenges, recalling affirmations can reignite determination and persistence. Coaches can leverage affirmations to keep their clients focused and driven towards their objectives.
Amplifying Goal Achievement:
Affirmations align thoughts with goals. By reinforcing the vision of success, affirmations steer actions in the desired direction. Coaches play a vital role in fine-tuning affirmations to resonate with specific objectives, propelling clients towards successful outcomes.
Harnessing the power of positive affirmations is a game-changer in coaching. It’s about imbuing hope, confidence, and determination. As a coach, integrating affirmations into your practice can significantly impact your clients’ journeys, leading them to a path of triumph and self-fulfillment.
Active listening is more than just hearing; it’s about grasping emotions, intentions, and nuances. As a coach, being fully present and comprehending your client’s thoughts and feelings is paramount.
Demonstrating Empathy and Compassion: Being present in the conversation allows you to offer genuine empathy and compassion. Understand your client’s perspective and respond with care. Empathy forms the foundation of active listening.
Effective Clarification and Validation: Active listening involves reiterating and validating what you’ve heard, affirming your understanding. Resist the urge to interrupt and allow the speaker to finish. Clarification assures accuracy and reinforces your client’s value.
Reading Beyond the Words: Beyond verbal communication, active listening encompasses interpreting non-verbal cues and emotions. Pay attention to body language, tone, and unsaid thoughts. Mastery of this skill builds trust and enhances coaching relationships.
In the world of coaching, mastering the art of active listening is transformative. It strengthens the coach-client relationship, propelling you towards collaborative goal achievement. Cultivate this skill diligently, and witness how it elevates your coaching practice to new heights, making you an even more effective and empathetic coach.
Life is a beautiful journey, often marked by transitions that bring both excitement and challenges. As a coach, you play a vital role during these pivotal moments. Here’s how you can effectively guide and support your clients through their important life shifts:
Illuminating the Path in Uncertain Times:
Life transitions can be daunting and unclear for your clients. Your role as a coach is to act as a beacon, illuminating the path and helping them find clarity amidst the unknowns.
Collaboratively Setting Achievable Goals:
Life transitions can leave clients feeling lost. Work closely with them to set achievable, meaningful goals that provide direction and purpose even during the most transformative times.
Cultivating Resilience and Strength:
Change is never easy. Equip your clients with the tools to build resilience, enabling them to bounce back from setbacks during life transitions and emerge stronger than before.
Holding Clients Accountable for Progress:
Amidst life transitions, it’s easy for clients to lose sight of their objectives. As a coach, provide the necessary accountability, ensuring they remain focused on their goals and continue making steady progress.
Nurturing Overall Well-being:
Transitions impact multiple facets of life. Guide your clients in finding balance and maintaining overall well-being during these shifts, fostering their long-term happiness and success.
Encourage your clients to embrace life transitions as opportunities for growth and self-discovery. Your coaching expertise will help them navigate these shifts gracefully and turn them into stepping stones towards a brighter, more fulfilling future. Coach Training Alliance is here to support you in harnessing the transformative power of coaching during life changes. Your journey to becoming an exceptional transition coach begins here.
In today’s fast-paced and ever-changing world, resilience has become a vital skill. It’s the ability to bounce back from setbacks, adapt to change, and thrive in the face of adversity. As a life coach, you have the unique opportunity to help individuals cultivate resilience and transform their lives. Let’s explore how coaching can be a powerful tool in this endeavor.
Understanding and Building Resilience: Resilience is not an innate trait; it’s a skill that can be developed and strengthened over time. As a life coach, you can guide your clients in understanding what resilience means to them personally. By exploring their experiences and challenges, you can help them identify areas where resilience can make a significant impact. This understanding forms the foundation of resilience development.
Self-Awareness and Positive Mindset: Self-awareness is a cornerstone of resilience and is closely linked to having a positive mindset. Through coaching conversations, you can help your clients become more self-aware. They can gain insight into their thought patterns, emotional responses, and coping mechanisms. This self-awareness not only lays the foundation for growth and adaptability but also encourages a positive perspective on setbacks and challenges.
Goal Setting and Adversity Navigation: Resilience often involves setting and working toward meaningful goals. As a coach, you can assist your clients in setting realistic and achievable goals that align with their values and aspirations. By breaking down larger objectives into manageable steps, you empower your clients to build resilience incrementally. Additionally, coaching equips individuals with the tools and strategies to navigate adversity effectively, including problem-solving skills, emotional regulation techniques, and seeking support when needed.
Accountability, Support, and Celebrating Progress: Coaches serve as accountability partners, providing essential support to clients in their resilience-building journey. Regular coaching sessions offer a safe space for reflection, exploration, and goal tracking. Your guidance and encouragement are instrumental in keeping your clients on the path to resilience. Additionally, recognizing and celebrating small wins along the way is essential for reinforcing resilience. As a coach, you can help your clients acknowledge their progress, boosting their confidence and motivation.
Cultivating resilience is a transformative journey that can positively impact every aspect of an individual’s life. As a life coach, you have the privilege of guiding clients through this process. By helping them understand and build resilience, develop self-awareness and a positive mindset, set and achieve goals while navigating adversity, and providing accountability, support, and celebrations, you empower them to thrive in the face of life’s challenges.
At Coach Training Alliance, we believe in equipping coaches with the skills and knowledge needed to make a real difference in the lives of their clients. If you’re interested in becoming a certified life coach or expanding your coaching expertise, explore our programs and courses. Together, we can change lives through coaching and create a more resilient world.
The modern workplace is more diverse than ever, with multiple generations working side by side. Each generation, from Baby Boomers to Gen Z, brings its unique perspective, work habits, and expectations to the table. While this diversity can be a source of strength, it can also lead to misunderstandings and conflicts. That’s where coaching comes in, offering a valuable tool for bridging generation gaps in the workplace.
Before delving into how coaching can help, it’s essential to acknowledge the generational differences that exist:
Traditionalists (Born before 1946): These individuals often value hierarchy, stability, and hard work. They may have a more traditional approach to work.
Baby Boomers (Born 1946-1964): Baby Boomers value teamwork and may prioritize face-to-face communication. They often appreciate structured work environments.
Generation X (Born 1965-1980): Gen Xers are known for their independence and adaptability. They may prefer a work-life balance and opportunities for skill development.
Millennials (Born 1981-1996): Millennials seek meaning and purpose in their work. They value flexibility, technology, and collaboration.
Generation Z (Born 1997-Present): Gen Zers are digital natives who value diversity, personalization, and social responsibility. They are the newest additions to the workforce.
Coaching can play a pivotal role in bridging these generation gaps by fostering understanding, empathy, and effective communication:
Building Awareness: Through coaching, employees of different generations can gain awareness of their own biases, assumptions, and stereotypes about other age groups. This self-awareness is the first step toward breaking down barriers.
Improved Communication: Coaching equips individuals with tools to communicate more effectively across generations. Coaches help employees develop active listening skills and adapt their communication styles to connect with colleagues of all ages.
Conflict Resolution: When generational conflicts arise, coaches can facilitate constructive conversations to resolve misunderstandings and find common ground. This process promotes harmony and collaboration in the workplace.
Mentoring and Reverse Mentoring: Coaching can support mentoring programs where more experienced employees share their knowledge with younger colleagues and vice versa. This cross-generational exchange of skills and insights benefits everyone involved.
Leadership Development: Coaching helps individuals develop leadership skills that are effective across generations. This includes learning to lead diverse teams and adapt leadership styles to meet the needs of different age groups.
In today’s multigenerational workplace, coaching is a powerful tool for fostering understanding, empathy, and collaboration among employees of all ages. By addressing generational differences head-on and providing individuals with the skills to navigate them, coaching helps create a more harmonious and productive work environment. It’s a win-win for both employees and organizations, contributing to a culture of inclusivity and innovation.
The world of coaching and training is ever-evolving, adapting to new technologies and insights that enhance personal and professional growth. Here are four key trends shaping the landscape:
Virtual Learning and Remote Coaching: Advancements in technology have opened the doors to virtual coaching and training, allowing individuals to connect with experts and resources globally. Online platforms facilitate personalized learning experiences, regardless of geographical location.
Personalized and Data-Driven Approaches: Tailoring coaching and training to individual needs is gaining prominence. Customized content, informed by data analytics and assessments, ensures that learning is targeted, effective, and aligned with specific goals.
Mindfulness and Wellness Integration: The integration of mindfulness and wellness practices into coaching and training recognizes the importance of holistic well-being. Techniques that enhance mental clarity, stress management, and work-life balance are being incorporated for comprehensive growth.
Hybrid Learning and Flexibility: Hybrid coaching models, blending in-person and virtual interactions, provide flexibility without sacrificing the benefits of face-to-face engagement. This approach caters to diverse preferences while offering convenience.
By staying attuned to these trends, individuals and organizations can make informed choices that align with their growth objectives. At Coach Training Alliance, we’re committed to equipping coaches with the tools needed to excel in this dynamic landscape. Join our programs to be part of the evolving world of coaching and training.
In the realm of professional coaching, specialization opens doors to impactful journeys tailored to specific needs. These unique paths allow coaches to excel in distinct areas and industries, creating a profound influence.
Executive Coaching Mastery:Elevating leadership skills, executive coaching focuses on guiding leaders to drive transformative change within their organizations.
Career and Transition Guidance:For navigating career shifts and decisions, career coaches empower individuals to make informed choices and set actionable career plans.
Wellness and Balance Empowerment: Specializing in holistic wellness, coaches help clients achieve overall well-being, addressing health, work-life balance, and fulfillment.
Business and Entrepreneurial Growth:Business coaches specialize in aiding entrepreneurs with strategic scaling, team management, and sustainable growth.
Communication and Relationship Enhancement:Coaches specializing in communication and relationships empower clients to foster healthy interactions and navigate conflicts.
Creativity and Innovation Cultivation:Creativity coaches unlock creative potential, guiding clients to overcome blocks and translate ideas into action.
Financial and Wealth Coaching:Guiding financial well-being, wealth coaches help clients set goals, manage budgets, and make informed financial decisions.
Performance and Sports Excellence:Performance coaches aid athletes in mental conditioning, goal setting, and reaching peak performance levels.
These specialized coaching paths empower individuals and teams to thrive in their chosen domains. At Coach Training Alliance, we offer programs that cater to various coaching specializations, enabling you to embark on a journey that aligns with your passions. Explore our offerings today to find your path to specialized coaching success.
As our world transforms, so do the needs, challenges, and aspirations of individuals seeking guidance. Lifelong learning acknowledges this dynamic landscape and equips coaches with the tools needed to address evolving concerns. Through Coach Training Alliance’s comprehensive programs, coaches are empowered to stay ahead of the curve, delivering relevant and valuable insights to their clients.
A Journey of Growth
Lifelong learning is not just about staying current; it’s about personal and professional growth. Coach Training Alliance recognizes that a coach’s journey is a continuous process of self-discovery, skill enhancement, and expanded horizons. Through interactive learning experiences, real-world application, and engaging mentorship, coaches undergo transformation themselves, becoming even more effective guides.
Creating Lasting Impact
Lifelong learning isn’t just a checkbox; it’s a philosophy that leads to lasting impact. By constantly updating their knowledge and refining their skills, coaches can guide clients through various life stages, challenges, and aspirations. This sustainable approach ensures that coaches foster real, meaningful change, leaving a positive mark on the lives they touch.
The Coach Training Alliance Difference
Coach Training Alliance stands out as a beacon of lifelong learning for coaches. With a commitment to excellence, an array of specialized programs, and a community of like-minded mentors and peers, it offers an environment that nurtures continuous growth. By embracing Coach Training Alliance’s offerings, coaches embark on a journey that not only elevates their careers but also enhances their ability to make a difference.
In a world where change is the norm and empowerment is paramount, embracing lifelong learning becomes more than an option – it’s a necessity. Coach Training Alliance provides the platform for coaches to continually evolve, adapt, and thrive in their coaching journey. So, if you’re a coach seeking sustainable success and an enduring impact, consider the transformative power of lifelong learning with Coach Training Alliance. Your journey to making a difference begins here.
In a world where personal growth and empowerment are valued more than ever, the role of a life coach has become increasingly significant. With this growing demand, the importance of formal training and certification for life coaches has come to the forefront.
Elevating Your Expertise
Life coach certifications are more than just a piece of paper; they represent a commitment to excellence and a dedication to honing your coaching skills. Through structured training programs, aspiring coaches acquire a deep understanding of coaching principles, techniques, and ethical practices. This education not only refines your ability to guide others but also enhances your credibility as a trusted professional.
Guiding Transformation
A certified life coach possesses the knowledge and tools to facilitate transformative change in their clients’ lives. With a solid foundation in coaching methodologies, you can help individuals set meaningful goals, overcome challenges, and tap into their fullest potential. As a certified coach, you become a catalyst for personal growth, providing the guidance and support needed to achieve life-altering outcomes.
Building Trust and Confidence
Earning a life coach certification demonstrates your commitment to upholding industry standards and ethical conduct. This commitment fosters trust between you and your clients, as they can feel confident in your expertise and approach. Certified coaches adhere to a code of ethics that prioritizes the well-being and confidentiality of their clients, further solidifying the trusting coach-client relationship.
Expanding Opportunities
Life coach certifications open doors to a multitude of opportunities. Whether you aspire to establish your private practice, work within organizations, or contribute to personal development programs, certification equips you with the versatility and recognition needed to excel in various settings. Moreover, many institutions and clients prioritize certified coaches, increasing your chances of securing fulfilling and impactful coaching engagements.
As you explore the impact of life coach certifications, consider the profound influence you could have on individuals’ lives. Becoming a certified life coach isn’t just about acquiring skills; it’s about becoming a positive force for change and empowerment. If you’re passionate about guiding others towards their goals and witnessing their transformation, embarking on the journey of life coach certification could be your next step toward a fulfilling and impactful career.
Co-Creative Coaching is revolutionizing how people achieve their goals and tap into their potential. This method focuses on empowerment and transformation through collaborative efforts and self-discovery.
Unlike traditional coaching, Co-Creative Coaching doesn’t offer solutions; it guides coachees to discover their own answers. It’s rooted in the belief that individuals inherently possess the wisdom to overcome challenges and reach their aspirations. This approach emphasizes a partnership between coach and coachee, driving meaningful progress.
How Co-Creative Coaching Works
Guiding, Not Telling: Coaches facilitate self-discovery by asking thought-provoking questions, allowing coachees to tap into their insights.
Empowering Reflection: Coachees reflect on goals, values, and strengths, gaining a deeper understanding of aspirations and barriers.
Uncovering Solutions: Through skilled questioning and active listening, coaches help coachees reveal their own solutions and action plans, empowering them to take ownership.
Impact of Co-Creative Coaching
Empowerment: Coachees actively shape strategies, fostering self-confidence and ownership.
Lasting Change: Solutions lead to profound, enduring behavioral changes and personal growth.
Insightful Transformation: Co-Creative Coaching prompts introspection, providing insights into motivations, values, and desires.
Coach Training Alliance offers a comprehensive platform to master the art of Co-Creative Coaching. Connect with Coach Training Alliance to explore this innovative approach further and embark on a journey that not only transforms the lives of others but your own as well.
Organizational coaching is rapidly becoming a cornerstone of business success, driving growth, employee engagement, and enhanced performance. Here’s a glimpse into how this transformative approach can propel your business forward:
Cultivating Leadership Excellence: Organizational coaching empowers leaders to hone their skills, adapt to change, and inspire their teams. Through personalized guidance, leaders develop strategic thinking, communication prowess, and the ability to navigate complex challenges.
Fostering Collaborative Dynamics: Effective teamwork is crucial for any business. Organizational coaching facilitates cohesive collaboration by promoting open communication, conflict resolution, and a shared sense of purpose among team members.
Maximizing Employee Potential: Unlocking the full potential of employees is a surefire way to elevate your business. Organizational coaching nurtures individual talents, boosts confidence, and fosters a growth mindset, resulting in increased productivity and job satisfaction.
Navigating Change with Resilience: In today’s rapidly evolving landscape, businesses must adapt swiftly. Organizational coaching equips teams with the tools to embrace change, enhance resilience, and drive innovation, ensuring your business stays competitive.
Aligning Goals and Strategy: Coaches assist in aligning individual and team objectives with overarching business strategies. This alignment ensures a clear path towards organizational goals, reducing ambiguity and enhancing overall performance.
Organizational coaching isn’t just a buzzword – it’s a dynamic force that propels businesses to new heights. By investing in this invaluable resource, you’re fostering a culture of continuous improvement, unlocking untapped potential, and driving sustainable success for your business.
Life coaching is a transformative journey that empowers individuals to achieve their fullest potential. However, like any pursuit, it is not without challenges. As a life coach, recognizing and embracing these obstacles as opportunities for growth is vital to your success. In this blog, we will explore three key points to help you overcome challenges in life coaching and turn them into stepping stones towards excellence.
Embracing Resistance and Uncertainty: As a life coach, you will encounter clients who resist change or face uncertainty in their journey. Instead of being discouraged, view these challenges as chances to cultivate trust and understanding. Acknowledge that resistance is a natural part of personal growth and offer a safe space for clients to explore their fears and concerns. By embracing resistance, you can guide your clients towards breakthroughs and help them uncover valuable insights that pave the way for progress.
Turning Setbacks into Learning Opportunities: No coaching journey is without setbacks. Clients may experience disappointments, and progress may stall at times. However, it’s essential to reframe setbacks as learning opportunities. Encourage your clients to reflect on their experiences, identify lessons, and extract wisdom from failures. By doing so, they can develop resilience, refine their goals, and chart a clearer path to success. As a life coach, be a supportive guide during these challenging moments, empowering your clients to rise stronger from adversity.
Cultivating Continuous Self-Improvement: As you navigate the world of life coaching, it’s crucial to remember that your journey is ever-evolving. Commit to continuous self-improvement, seek feedback from clients and peers, and invest in your professional development. Embrace challenges as catalysts for growth in your own coaching skills and approaches. By continually learning and adapting, you become a more effective and empathetic life coach, better equipped to inspire transformation in your clients.
In the realm of life coaching, challenges are not roadblocks but opportunities for progress. Embrace resistance and uncertainty as chances to deepen your connection with clients. Encourage them to view setbacks as stepping stones towards growth, and foster a culture of continuous self-improvement within yourself. By turning obstacles into opportunities, you will not only thrive as a life coach but also empower your clients to embrace their own challenges and achieve lasting transformation. With dedication and resilience, you can create a profound impact on the lives of those you coach, and the journey towards greatness will be a shared and rewarding one.
Are you passionate about empowering others to reach their fullest potential and achieve their goals? Becoming a life coach might just be the perfect career path for you! At Coach Training Alliance, we believe that coaching is not just a profession; it’s a life-changing opportunity to make a positive impact on people’s lives. Here are three compelling reasons why YOU should consider becoming a life coach:
Empowering Transformation: As a life coach, you have the privilege of guiding individuals through transformative journeys. You’ll help your clients uncover their strengths, identify their limiting beliefs, and develop actionable strategies to overcome challenges. Witnessing their growth and witnessing them blossom into their best selves can be an incredibly rewarding experience.
Flexibility and Fulfillment: Life coaching offers unparalleled flexibility in work hours and location. Whether you want to establish your practice independently or work with established coaching firms like Coach Training Alliance, you can create a schedule that suits your lifestyle. Moreover, the satisfaction derived from assisting others in realizing their dreams and creating a positive impact will bring you a profound sense of fulfillment.
Continuous Personal Development: Becoming a life coach is not only about assisting others but also about continuous personal growth. As you support your clients in their journeys, you’ll gain valuable insights into human behavior, communication, and problem-solving. This newfound knowledge will not only enrich your coaching skills but also positively impact various aspects of your life.
In conclusion, becoming a life coach offers a unique opportunity to make a significant difference in people’s lives, while also experiencing personal growth and fulfillment. At Coach Training Alliance, we are committed to providing you with the best tools and resources to embark on this transformative career journey. So, if you are passionate about helping others succeed, don’t hesitate – take the leap and become a life coach today!
As a life coach, your clients rely on you to help them navigate life’s challenges and achieve their goals. Burnout is a common issue many individuals face, and it’s crucial for coaches to be equipped with strategies to support their clients through this difficult phase. In this blog, we’ll explore three key points to help you effectively guide your life coach clients through burnout.
Recognizing the Signs of Burnout The first step in assisting your clients with burnout is to recognize its signs and symptoms. Burnout often manifests as emotional and physical exhaustion, feelings of detachment, reduced performance, and increased cynicism or negativity. Encourage your clients to be honest about their feelings and experiences, and be attuned to changes in their behavior and energy levels during your sessions. By identifying burnout early on, you can help prevent it from escalating into a more serious issue.
Promoting Self-Care and Boundaries Burnout is often the result of prolonged stress and neglecting self-care. As a life coach, emphasize the importance of setting healthy boundaries and prioritizing self-care activities. Encourage your clients to schedule regular breaks, engage in hobbies they enjoy, practice mindfulness or meditation, and get enough rest. Empower them to say “no” to excessive commitments and focus on activities that rejuvenate their mind, body, and spirit.
Reframing Goals and Expectations During burnout, clients may feel overwhelmed and defeated by their inability to achieve their desired outcomes. As a life coach, help them reframe their goals and expectations to be more realistic and achievable. Encourage them to celebrate progress, no matter how small, and remind them that setbacks are a natural part of any journey. By shifting the focus from perfection to personal growth, you can help your clients regain motivation and confidence in their abilities.
As a life coach, guiding your clients through burnout requires a compassionate and proactive approach. By recognizing burnout, promoting self-care and boundaries, and reframing goals and expectations, you can support your clients in overcoming this challenging phase and fostering a healthier, more balanced life. Your clients will not only emerge stronger but also equipped with the tools to prevent burnout in the future, making their coaching journey with you even more rewarding.
As a life coach, your ultimate goal is to empower your clients to achieve their fullest potential and lead fulfilling lives. One crucial aspect of this journey is assisting them in developing healthy habits. By guiding your clients towards sustainable and positive lifestyle changes, you can facilitate lasting transformations. Here are three essential points to consider when helping your life coach clients create healthy habits.
Establishing Clear and Attainable Goals: Before embarking on any habit-changing journey, it’s essential to set clear and realistic goals with your clients. Help them identify the specific habits they wish to cultivate or modify. Encourage them to be specific, measurable, and time-bound in their goal setting. For example, instead of saying, “I want to eat healthier,” guide them to set a goal like, “I will include a serving of vegetables in every meal for the next 30 days.” By creating well-defined objectives, your clients will have a clear direction and sense of accomplishment as they progress.
Encouraging Small Steps and Incremental Progress: Changing habits can be overwhelming, and clients may feel discouraged if they attempt to make drastic changes all at once. Encourage your clients to focus on small, manageable steps that lead to gradual progress. By breaking down larger goals into smaller tasks, clients can build momentum and increase their chances of long-term success. For example, if a client wants to start an exercise routine, advise them to start with short daily walks before progressing to longer or more intense workouts. This approach fosters a sense of achievement and builds confidence along the way.
Providing Accountability and Support: Accountability is a powerful tool when it comes to habit formation. Support your clients by implementing accountability mechanisms into their routines. Regular check-ins, journaling, or utilizing habit-tracking apps can help clients stay on track and monitor their progress. Additionally, provide a supportive environment where clients feel comfortable sharing their challenges and celebrating their victories. As their life coach, your encouragement and guidance can make a significant difference in their journey towards healthier habits.
Conclusion: Helping your life coach clients create healthy habits is a transformative process that requires clear goal setting, small steps, and a supportive environment. By emphasizing these points, you can empower your clients to make sustainable lifestyle changes and unlock their true potential. Remember, as a life coach, your guidance and support play a vital role in their journey towards a healthier and more fulfilling life.
Becoming an ACC ICF Coach is an exciting and rewarding journey to Coaching Excellence.
Welcome, aspiring coaches! Are you looking to become a life coach or executive coach and need help navigating the process to get certified with ICF? If so, you’ve come to the right place. In this article, we’ll explore the process of becoming an ICF Associate Certified Coach (ACC) with the International Coaching Federation (ICF) via the Level 1 Pathway or Portfolio Pathway.
Before embarking on your path to becoming an ACC ICF coach, it’s important to understand that the International Coaching Federation (ICF) is one of several professional associations for coaches. ICF ACC Credentialing is not required to coach professionally; however, many aspiring coaches consider ICF as the gold standard in professional coaching and seek credentialing from ICF because they offer third party validation, credibility, recognition, and a solid foundation for your coaching practice. Many organizations want a coach training program that is approved by ICF. Getting your ACC coach credentials is a meaningful accomplishment and a major milestone during your career in coaching, So, let’s dive in and discover the exciting journey that awaits you!
Understanding ICF and what they do International Coaching Federation (ICF) provides both membership and independent accreditation for coaches. Part of their mission is to advance the field of professional coaching by setting standards, ethical guidelines and a code of conduct for coaches. Aspiring coaches who wish to receive credentials from ICF as evidence that they have completed a comprehensive training and professional development can apply to become credentialed at the ACC, PCC or MCC level. Note: You do not have to join ICF to become credentialed; however, if you would like to join ICF as a member, you must hold (or be in pursuit of) an ICF credential at the ACC, PCC or MCC level. Information on the mission and value of ICF here.
What is an ACC Coach? ICF offers three levels of accreditation: ACC, PCC and MCC. All ICF credentialing levels have the same general requirements: Education Hours, Mentoring Hours, Experience Hours and a Final Performance Evaluation. The Associate Certified Coach (ACC) level has the lowest threshold requirements which include 60 hours of initial education, 10 hours of mentoring, 100 hours of experience and a Final Performance Evaluation where you demonstrate your ability to coach at the ACC level. If you want to become an ICF Associate Certified Coach, you have to complete all the requirements and pass the ICF Credentialing Exam.
Selecting the Right Coach Training Program While there are many reputable training organizations, selecting one that will help you satisfy the ACC requirements is crucial. Naturally, you want an initial coach training program that will provide you with the necessary skills and training to be a great coach, but you also want to consider if that program will that make is easy (or difficult) when it comes time for you to submit your application to ICF. “Level 1 Programs” make it simple and straightforward to apply to ICF (see Level 1 Pathway below). Other programs may provide excellent training, but can be cumbersome and confusing when it comes time to submit your application. Coach Training Alliance is an accredited Level 1 Provider.
How do I Apply to ICF? When applying to ICF, aspiring coaches must document successful completion of the ACC requirements. There are a few options for how an applicant can provide documentation:
Level 1 Pathway – This is the easiest and least complicated way to apply to ICF. Level 1 Programs are comprehensive and include all the ACC required activities (initial coach training, mentoring and final performance evaluation). Candidates who successfully complete a Level 1 Program with an Accredited Coach Training Organization will receive documentation from that organization certifying successful completion of all requirements. These applicants only need to submit this one document when they apply to ICF which makes the process simple and straightforward.
Portfolio Pathway – Candidates can choose to complete their training in an a-la-cart manner with a variety of coach training programs from a variety of schools. Please keep in mind the following:
Documenting 60 hours of education via the Portfolio Path: Not all training programs are eligible. Courses that are ICF approved for CCEs in Core Competencies are eligible. Non-ICF approved programs may or may not be accepted. For non-ICF approved programs, ICF requires applicants to submit robust documentation about course syllabus, materials and other details to determine if the training meets the ICF criteria for Core Competencies.Documenting.
Mentoring: Not all coaches are qualified to provide mentor coaching. ICF posts criteria and guidelines for mentor coaching. When using the portfolio path, it will be the applicant’s burden to verify that their mentor coach is a coach in good standing, qualified to conduct mentor coaching for the ACC level and conducted according to ICF timeline and definition of mentor coaching.
Documenting Final Performance Evaluation: When applying for ACC via the Portfolio Path, applicants will need to submit recordings demonstrating their ability to coach at the ACC level as part of the final performance evaluation. Applicants will also need to provide corresponding transcriptions of their coaching demonstrations. ICF will conduct the final performance evaluation; this may take up to 12-18 weeks. If all coursework, mentoring and final performance evaluations provided by the candidate are accepted by ICF, the application will be considered ‘submitted’. As you can see, the application process for “Level 1 Pathway” is fast-tracked, streamlined and far less confusing. Note: For coaches who started their coach training in July 2022 or earlier, please visit ICF pathway for additional options on how to apply for ACC.
Passing the ICF Credentialing Exam: Congratulations! You’ve submitted your application; you are almost done. Once your application has been accepted, all ICF Credentialing applicants must pass the ICF Credentialing Exam. The written exam is designed to test your understanding of the ICF definition of coaching, core competencies and code of ethics. For more information about the exam visit ICF. Applicants who pay the application fee and receive a passing score on the exam will receive their credentials as an ACC Coach ICF.
Choosing an accredited “Level 1 Training Organization” is critical to your success. Many aspiring coaches want to make sure their training is approved by ICF because they want the assurance to know that their training is high quality and they want the option to become ACC Credentialed should they choose to do so. Rest assured, with Coach Training Alliance, you can begin your initial coach training now and decide later whether you wish to advance and complete your ICF Associate Certified Coach credentialing in a simple straightforward manner.
The ACC Coach ICF Credentialing options can be confusing! But we hope this post has provided you with valuable insights and guidance to embark on your journey. If you have additional questions, join Coach Training Alliance’s free becoming a coach workshop. We’ll guide you through the process of selecting the right coach training program and you can ask questions about the education and process to become an ACC Coach. If you choose to pursue ACC Credentialing with ICF, Coach Training Alliance will place you into our Level 1 Training Program and assist you with reciprocal peer coaching to acquire and log coaching hours and help you complete your mentor coaching. We help you stay on track and complete of each requirement. We will connect you with support to develop your capability and learn what it means to coach at the ACC level and you will have access to tools and resources to prepare for the ICF Credentialing Exam.
You don’t have to do this on your own. Coach Training Alliance will partner with you to pursue you ICF ACC Credentialing.
Remember, becoming an ACC coach at ICF is not only about acquiring a prestigious credential but also about continuously honing your skills and making a positive impact on the lives of your clients. Embrace the path ahead, and may your coaching journey be filled with growth, fulfillment, and endless possibilities!
As a life coach, your primary goal is to inspire and empower your clients, helping them navigate life’s challenges and achieve personal growth. However, it is essential to recognize the potential pitfalls of toxic positivity in your coaching practice. While positivity can be beneficial, it is important to strike a balance that allows for genuine emotions and authentic experiences. Let’s explore three crucial points to help you avoid toxic positivity as a life coach.
Avoiding Toxic Positivity as a Life Coach
Acknowledge and Validate Emotions: Toxic positivity often dismisses or trivializes negative emotions, promoting a “just be positive” mentality. However, as a life coach, it is essential to recognize that all emotions have value and serve a purpose. Instead of suppressing or disregarding negative feelings, encourage your clients to acknowledge and explore them. By creating a safe space for emotional expression, you can help clients gain a deeper understanding of their emotions and work towards healthier coping mechanisms.
Cultivate Empathy and Active Listening: Toxic positivity often stems from an inability to truly empathize with others’ experiences. As a life coach, it is vital to cultivate empathy and actively listen to your clients without judgment or the need to fix their problems immediately. Allow your clients to share their stories and emotions without interruption, providing them with validation and understanding. By actively listening, you can guide your clients towards self-reflection and personal growth.
Foster a Balanced Perspective: Positivity has its merits, but it should not overshadow reality or dismiss genuine struggles. Encourage your clients to develop a balanced perspective that embraces both positive and negative aspects of their experiences. Help them identify realistic goals, navigate challenges, and develop resilience. By acknowledging both the ups and downs of life, you can support your clients in building a healthy mindset and pursuing sustainable personal growth.
As a life coach, your role is to guide individuals towards self-discovery, personal growth, and a more fulfilling life. Avoiding toxic positivity requires acknowledging and validating emotions, cultivating empathy and active listening, and fostering a balanced perspective. By incorporating these three points into your coaching practice, you can create a safe and supportive environment where clients can embrace their authentic experiences and work towards meaningful change.
As a life coach, your primary goal is to empower your clients and guide them towards a fulfilling and purpose-driven life. One of the most powerful transformations you can facilitate is helping individuals discover their true calling. By assisting them in uncovering their passions and aligning them with their unique skills and values, you can empower them to live a life of purpose and satisfaction. In this blog post, we will explore three key points to help your life coach clients find their calling.
Helping Your Life Coach Clients Find Their Calling
Encourage Self-Exploration Encouraging your clients to embark on a journey of self-exploration is essential in helping them find their calling. By asking thought-provoking questions and engaging in deep conversations, you can guide them to reflect on their interests, values, and strengths. Encourage them to explore new experiences, hobbies, and even consider past experiences that brought them joy or a sense of fulfillment. Self-reflection and exploration are vital tools in unlocking their true passions and uncovering their calling.
Identify Core Values Understanding and aligning with one’s core values is crucial when seeking a calling. Help your clients identify their core values by engaging in discussions that delve into what truly matters to them. These values act as guiding principles and decision-making tools, ensuring that their calling aligns with their authentic self. Encourage them to live in accordance with their values, as this will lead to a greater sense of fulfillment and purpose.
Leverage Strengths and Skills Every individual possesses a unique set of strengths and skills that can contribute to their calling. As a life coach, help your clients identify their inherent talents and capabilities. Guide them in recognizing how their strengths and skills can be applied to their passion and purpose. Encourage them to develop these talents further and seek opportunities that allow them to utilize them. By leveraging their strengths and skills, they can create a fulfilling path towards their calling.
As a life coach, you have the power to assist your clients in discovering their true calling and living a purpose-driven life. By encouraging self-exploration, identifying core values, and leveraging strengths and skills, you can guide them on a transformative journey towards finding their calling. Remember, each individual’s journey is unique, and your role as a life coach is to provide guidance and support throughout their quest for purpose and fulfillment.
Life coaching is a profession that revolves around guiding and supporting individuals in their personal and professional growth. As life coaches, we dedicate ourselves to helping others navigate challenges, achieve goals, and unlock their true potential. However, in the pursuit of assisting others, it’s easy to neglect our own well-being. Let’s explore the crucial role of self-care in the life of a life coach and why prioritizing it is essential for success.
The Importance of Self-Care for Life Coaches
Replenishing Your Energy: As life coaches, we give a significant amount of our time and energy to our clients. Listening attentively, providing guidance, and maintaining a positive outlook can be emotionally draining. To continue offering our best selves to those we serve, we must prioritize self-care and replenish our energy reserves. Engaging in activities that recharge us, such as exercise, meditation, or spending time in nature, helps to restore balance and prevent burnout. By nourishing ourselves, we can maintain the motivation and enthusiasm needed to support our clients effectively.
Setting a Positive Example: Life coaches are not just teachers or mentors; we also serve as role models for our clients. They look up to us, observing not only our words but also our actions. By practicing self-care, we demonstrate the importance of self-nurturing and show that it is possible to prioritize one’s well-being while pursuing personal and professional goals. When we embody self-care principles, we inspire our clients to adopt similar practices in their own lives. Leading by example strengthens the coaching relationship and reinforces the transformative power of self-care.
Enhancing Personal Growth: Self-care isn’t solely about avoiding burnout or setting an example; it is an essential component of personal growth for life coaches. Engaging in self-care practices allows us to deepen our self-awareness, cultivate self-compassion, and foster personal development. Through introspection and reflection, we can uncover our own limiting beliefs, work through them, and continue evolving as individuals. By taking care of ourselves, we gain valuable insights that positively impact our coaching abilities, enabling us to connect more deeply with our clients and guide them towards their desired outcomes.
While life coaches dedicate themselves to empowering others, it’s vital to remember that self-care is not an indulgence but a necessity. By prioritizing our own well-being, we recharge our energy, set a positive example, and enhance our personal growth. In doing so, we create a solid foundation for impactful coaching and ensure that we can continue to make a meaningful difference in the lives of our clients. Remember, as a life coach, investing in yourself is an investment in your ability to empower others.
In today’s fast-paced and demanding world, many individuals find themselves grappling with personal and professional challenges that hinder their growth and happiness. Fortunately, the realm of life coaching has emerged as a powerful tool for personal transformation. This blog post explores the real-life impact of life coaching, highlighting three key points that showcase its potential to empower individuals and facilitate positive change.
The Real Life Impact of Life Coaching
Clarity and Goal Setting: Life coaching serves as a guiding light, helping individuals gain clarity about their goals and aspirations. Through thought-provoking conversations and targeted exercises, life coaches assist clients in identifying their core values, passions, and strengths. By articulating a clear vision for their future, individuals become better equipped to navigate obstacles and make purposeful decisions. The impact of this process is profound, as it enables clients to align their actions with their true desires, leading to a more fulfilling and meaningful life.
Overcoming Limiting Beliefs and Obstacles One of the greatest hurdles in personal growth is the presence of limiting beliefs and self-imposed barriers. Life coaches excel at identifying and challenging these obstacles, helping clients reframe their perspectives and develop a more empowering mindset. By offering support, encouragement, and accountability, life coaching empowers individuals to break free from their self-imposed limitations and step into their true potential. The transformative impact of shedding limiting beliefs is evident as clients gain confidence, resilience, and the ability to overcome challenges that previously seemed insurmountable.
Enhancing Personal and Professional Performance Life coaching isn’t just about addressing personal struggles; it also has a tangible impact on professional success. Life coaches help clients set and achieve specific goals related to career advancement, entrepreneurship, leadership development, and work-life balance. By providing tailored strategies, feedback, and accountability, life coaching empowers individuals to unleash their full potential in their chosen field. Through improved self-awareness, effective communication skills, and enhanced decision-making abilities, clients witness a significant positive impact on their professional performance and overall satisfaction.
Life coaching goes beyond merely providing advice or motivation. It is a collaborative process that facilitates self-discovery, growth, and transformation. The real-life impact of life coaching is visible in the lives of countless individuals who have experienced newfound clarity, confidence, and success. Whether it’s clarifying goals, overcoming obstacles, or enhancing personal and professional performance, life coaching empowers individuals to unlock their full potential and live a life of purpose and fulfillment.
Trust is the cornerstone of any successful coaching relationship. As a life coach, your clients rely on you to guide them through personal growth and transformation. Establishing trust creates a solid foundation for this journey, enabling open communication, collaboration, and meaningful progress. We will explore three key points on how to build trust with your life coach clients.
How to Build Trust with Your Life Coach Clients
Active Listening and Empathy: One of the most crucial aspects of building trust is actively listening to your clients. Take the time to understand their needs, concerns, and aspirations. Show genuine empathy and create a safe space for them to share their thoughts and emotions without judgment. By demonstrating that you truly hear and understand them, you establish a strong sense of trust and validation. This fosters an environment where clients feel comfortable exploring their vulnerabilities and working towards their goals.
Confidentiality and Professionalism: Confidentiality is paramount in building trust with your clients. Clearly communicate your commitment to confidentiality, assuring them that their personal information and discussions will remain strictly private. Upholding professional standards reinforces trust and allows clients to open up more freely. Respect their privacy by keeping all client-related information secure and maintaining confidentiality even after the coaching relationship ends. This unwavering commitment to professionalism helps clients feel safe and reassured throughout their coaching journey.
Transparent and Collaborative Approach: Transparency and collaboration are key factors in cultivating trust. Be honest and transparent about your coaching methods, goals, and the expected outcomes. Clearly define the coaching process, including session schedules, progress evaluation, and any potential limitations. Encourage open dialogue and involve clients in decision-making processes. By fostering a collaborative environment, you demonstrate respect for their autonomy and contribute to a sense of shared responsibility. When clients feel involved and valued, they are more likely to trust your guidance and actively engage in the coaching process.
Building trust with your life coach clients is essential for creating a supportive and transformative coaching experience. By actively listening with empathy, maintaining confidentiality and professionalism, and fostering transparency and collaboration, you establish a strong foundation of trust. Remember, trust is earned over time through consistent actions and genuine care. By prioritizing these key points, you can forge meaningful connections and empower your clients to achieve their personal and professional goals.
Life coaching is an invaluable tool for personal growth and development, helping individuals unlock their potential and achieve their goals. As a life coach, incorporating visualization techniques into your sessions can greatly enhance the effectiveness and impact of your coaching. Visualization allows clients to tap into the power of their imagination, fostering clarity, motivation, and a deeper connection with their desires. We will explore three powerful visualization techniques that can elevate your life coaching sessions to new heights.
Using Visualization Techniques to Enhance Life Coaching Sessions
Creating a Vivid Vision: One of the fundamental visualization techniques is guiding clients to create a vivid vision of their desired future. Encourage them to close their eyes and imagine their ideal life, as if it were already a reality. Ask thought-provoking questions to help them paint a detailed picture in their minds. What does their environment look like? Who are they surrounded by? What accomplishments have they achieved? By engaging their senses and emotions, clients can strengthen their motivation and develop a clear direction towards their goals.
Anchoring Positive Emotions: Visualization techniques are not only about imagining scenarios; they also involves harnessing the power of emotions. During life coaching sessions, encourage clients to recall past successes and moments of happiness. As they vividly remember these experiences, instruct them to focus on the positive emotions associated with those memories. By anchoring these positive emotions, clients can access them at any time, boosting their confidence, resilience, and overall well-being. This technique is particularly helpful when clients face challenges or need a quick confidence boost.
Guided Imagery for Problem Solving: Visualization techniques can be instrumental in helping clients overcome obstacles and find solutions to their problems. Use guided imagery exercises to encourage clients to visualize themselves successfully navigating challenging situations. Prompt them to visualize a positive outcome, paying attention to the steps they take, the resources they utilize, and the emotions they experience. By visualizing success, clients can gain a fresh perspective, tap into their creativity, and develop effective strategies to overcome obstacles in their lives.
Incorporating visualization techniques into your life coaching sessions can have a profound impact on your clients’ progress and results. Through creating a vivid vision, anchoring positive emotions, and using guided imagery for problem-solving, you can help clients unlock their full potential and achieve their goals with greater clarity and confidence. As a life coach, mastering these visualization techniques will elevate your coaching practice and provide your clients with powerful tools for personal transformation. Embrace the power of specialized visualization techniques and watch as your clients flourish on their journey of self-discovery and growth.
Setting and achieving goals is a fundamental aspect of personal growth and success. As a life coach, your role is to guide and support clients in their journey towards achieving their desired outcomes. Effective goal-setting strategies not only provide direction but also empower clients to take ownership of their actions and choices. In this blog post, we will explore three key points on how to use goal-setting strategies to help clients unlock their potential and achieve remarkable success.
Using Goal-Setting Strategies to Help Clients Achieve Success
Encourage Specific and Measurable Goals: When working with clients, it’s crucial to emphasize the importance of setting specific and measurable goals. Vague aspirations like “be more successful” or “find happiness” lack clarity and make it challenging to track progress. Encourage clients to define clear objectives that are measurable, such as “increase monthly sales by 20%” or “meditate for 15 minutes daily.” Specific goals provide a tangible target to strive for, enabling clients to focus their efforts and measure their progress effectively. Being specific and measurable with your goals are the first step to create better goal setting strategies
Break Goals Down into Manageable Steps: Large and complex goals can often feel overwhelming, leading to procrastination or discouragement. To prevent this, help clients break their goals down into manageable steps. By dividing goals into smaller, actionable tasks, clients can approach them with confidence and build momentum along the way. Each milestone achieved reinforces their motivation and belief in their ability to accomplish the larger goal. As a coach, your guidance in creating an effective action plan will provide structure and support during this process.
Foster Accountability and Regular Check-Ins: Accountability plays a vital role in achieving goals. Regular check-ins with clients provide an opportunity to review progress, discuss challenges, and celebrate successes. Establish a system that holds clients accountable for their commitments, whether it’s through scheduled calls, progress reports, or goal-tracking tools. By consistently reinforcing accountability, you help clients stay motivated and stay on track. Additionally, these check-ins offer a platform to reassess goals, make adjustments as necessary, and celebrate milestones together.
As a life coach, you possess the ability to guide your clients toward a better work-life balance. By assisting them in setting boundaries, identifying priorities, and cultivating mindfulness, you empower them to create a life that is more fulfilling and harmonious by helping them create new goal setting strategies for their life. Remember, achieving work-life balance is a journey, and your guidance can make a significant impact on the lives of your clients. Together, you can help them find joy, fulfillment, and success in all areas of their lives.
In today’s fast-paced world, achieving a healthy work-life balance has become increasingly challenging. As a life coach, you have the unique opportunity to guide your clients toward a more harmonious and fulfilling existence. By helping them prioritize their personal and professional lives, you can support them in creating a better work-life balance. We will explore three essential points to assist your clients on this transformative journey.
How You Can Help Your Life Coach Clients Create a Better Work-Life Balance
Setting Boundaries: One of the first steps toward achieving a better work-life balance is establishing clear boundaries. Encourage your clients to define their personal limits and communicate them effectively with their employers, colleagues, and loved ones. Encourage them to prioritize self-care and create dedicated time for activities they enjoy outside of work. By helping them set boundaries, you empower your clients to protect their personal time and prevent work from encroaching on their personal lives.
Identifying Priorities: Assisting your clients in identifying their priorities is crucial for achieving a balanced life. Guide them through an exploration of their core values and aspirations. Encourage them to align their actions and commitments with these values to ensure they are investing their time and energy in what truly matters. Help them evaluate their current commitments and obligations, identifying areas where adjustments can be made to foster a healthier balance between work and personal life.
Cultivating Mindfulness: Mindfulness is a powerful tool for creating a better work-life balance. Teach your clients techniques to bring greater awareness and presence to their daily activities. Encourage them to engage in mindfulness practices, such as meditation or journaling, to reduce stress and increase overall well-being. By cultivating mindfulness, your clients can better manage their time, increase focus, and make conscious choices that support their work-life balance goals.
As a life coach, you possess the ability to guide your clients toward a better work-life balance. By assisting them in setting boundaries, identifying priorities, and cultivating mindfulness, you empower them to create a life that is more fulfilling and harmonious. Remember, achieving work-life balance is a journey, and your guidance can make a significant impact on the lives of your clients. Together, you can help them find joy, fulfillment, and success in all areas of their lives.
As a life coach, the main part of your job is helping others. For many life coaches, being able to help others every day is rewarding in itself, but, there are even more ways you can find joy in your life coaching career.
How a life coach career can be rewarding
When it comes to life coaching, we talk a lot about helping our clients reach their goals. We help them make plans and we hope that they stick to their plans as they work towards their ultimate goal, whether that is a career change or a spiritual journey. One highly rewarding moment in your life coaching career will be when your client reaches their goal. While all goals are cause for celebration, the harder goals are even more rewarding. There is nothing like seeing a happy, satisfied smile on your client’s face.
Another way a life coach career is rewarding is the fact that you never stop learning. As a life coach, you will learn from your clients, but you will also learn from your colleagues. In fact, the day you feel like you have learned enough is the day you stop being such a good life coach. Being humble is important, and nothing is as humble as realizing that you can learn from any and everyone.
Finally, another great part about being a life coach is knowing that you are touching so many lives. Just the knowledge of providing support and advice to your client may fill you with happiness. Many people forget just how intimate life coaching can be, but when someone comes to you to talk about their lives and feels like you are truly seeing and understanding them, there are few things more rewarding than that.
Your life coaching career will be full of joyous moments, from the first day you open your business to the first thousand dollars you make. However, there are many more rewarding parts of this job. If you are interested in becoming a life coach, you should take a certified life coaching course. Coach Training Alliance’s Certified Coach Program will help you hone your life coaching skills while receiving a certification and developing a thriving practice.
Life coaches are experts at helping other people solve their problems. They know how to brainstorm ideas and come up with potential solutions to life’s challenges. However, life coaches have challenges of their own. Here are three lesser-known challenges of being a life coach.
Lesser-Known Challenges of Being a life coach
The first few years can be hard. First, the first few years of your life coaching career may be difficult. Life coaching is rewarding, but starting your own practice can be hard. It can take five years before you see your hard work start to pay off, and that can feel like a very long time. You also may go through many ups and downs as your business develops, which can be hard on your finances and your confidence.
Clients will move on whether you want them to or not. Next, an uncomfortable truth of being a life coach is that your clients will leave. Whether you are ready for it or not, your clients will eventually decide that they are done with coaching. Unfortunately, they can decide this even if they have not reached their goals. Clients may have to end their sessions with you for many reasons, including finances, career changes, or personal limitations.
Your friends and family won’t be your audience. Finally, one of the worst realizations you will have to come to terms with is that your friends and family will not be your clients. It is tempting to believe that you have a good foundation if you have a large family or network of friends and coworkers. Unfortunately, they may not take you seriously. This can be detrimental to your confidence, but once you look outside of your circle, you will be able to develop an audience interested in your expertise and skills.
If you are passionate about helping other people solve their problems and reach their highest selves, then you may be interested in becoming a life coach. A certified life coaching course, such as Coach Training Alliance’s Certified Coach Program, can help you hone your skills and develop a practice in just six months.
As a life coach, you will work closely with your clients, and your clients will tell you intimate details about their lives. They will tell you what they struggle with, things they want to work on, and sometimes their deepest and darkest secrets. Because of this, being an ethical person is important. Let’s talk about the importance of life coach ethics.
The Importance of Ethics in Life Coaching
Ethics are defined as moral principles that govern a person’s behavior or the conduct of an activity. For example, ethics are not stealing, not cheating, and keeping promises. Many people learn their ethics from their parents or their religion, but no matter where you learned them from, ethics are important to your success as a life coach.
One major way ethics are important to being a successful life coach is because your clients will tell you intimate and personal details of their lives. They will entrust you to keep that information between you and them and refrain from using that information in inappropriate ways.
Your clients will also expect openness and honesty from you, which is also an ethical decision. Because your clients trust you to give them advice, giving advice that is in the best interest of your client is the ethical thing to do. Especially when someone trusts you, it can be easy to abuse that trust, but an ethical person would refrain from hurting somebody for their own gain.
The life coaching field is unregulated, which means there is no universal governing body that regulates it. Because of this, holding onto ethics is even more important. Another part of being an ethical life coach is making sure that you have properly educated yourself so you can best help your clients. You can do this by taking a certified life coaching course, such as the one offered by Coach Training Alliance. This course will help you hone your life coaching skills and ensure that you are helping your clients.
Becoming a life coach can be very rewarding if you enjoy helping people form solutions to their problems. Life coaches aren’t therapists because they do not focus on uncovering past trauma. Instead, they are focused on the future. They are focused on helping people create the life they have always dreamed of. Two major components to be a successful life coach are empathy and objectivity.
Balancing Empathy and Objectivity as a life coach
As a life coach, it is important to be empathetic and objective when talking to your clients. Empathy is defined as the ability to understand and share the feelings someone else is going through. For example, empathy means that you can intimately understand how someone feels. Being empathetic helps you connect with your clients. It also helps you tailor your feedback to them.
Objectivity is also important as a life coach. It is important for you to be able to hear and assess the problem without getting emotional and be able to provide feedback without being influenced by your opinions, views, or interests. While empathy is where you connect with your client, objectivity is where you find the answers to your client’s problems. Your job as a life coach is to be able to go into a situation with an open mind and help brainstorm solutions. If you lack objectivity, then you may miss some potential solutions.
Not everyone is cut out for being a life coach, but people who enjoy listening to other people’s problems and helping them find creative and logical solutions may be cut out for it. If you are interested in becoming a life coach, your first step is to see if the field is right for you. You can take our life coaching quiz to see if you are interested in becoming a life coach. Next, even if you are a natural at listening and connecting to others, you should still hone your skills. A certified life coaching course, such as Coach Training Alliance’s Certified Coach Program can help you further develop all the skills you need to be successful.
At first mention, the idea of hiring a life coach may seem like a frivolous expense. On top of other expenses, including groceries and utilities, life coaching may seem unnecessary. However, life coaches can be very beneficial in helping you reach your goals and achieve your highest self. Let’s talk about why life coaches are so important.
Why are life coaches so important
It’s tempting to compare life coaches to therapists, but they are two different professions with two different goals. Therapists are interested in unpacking past traumas and working through those problems, while life coaches are more interested in looking towards the future. They are not interchangeable with one another.
No matter what stage of life you’re in, a life coach can be beneficial. In fact, just like therapists are required to have a therapist, life coaches should be required to have a life coach, too.
A quality life coach can help you work through your problems, set goals, and get the most out of your life. Life coaches are skilled listeners, and they are excellent problem solvers as well. Whether you are having a problem in your personal life, your working life, or your spiritual life, there is a life coach that can help you.
While helping others comes naturally to some people, becoming a life coach is a position that requires skill and education. Life coaches who are interested in helping their clients take their careers seriously and invest in a quality life coaching program to hone their skills. If you enjoy helping others and are interested in becoming a life coach, you should invest in a certified coaching course, such Coach Training Alliance’s Certified Coach Program, that can give you all the skills you need to be a successful life coach.
Your first session with your client is incredibly important. In fact, it may be the most important session you ever have. Your first session sets the foundation for your relationship with your client, so it is important to make sure you get the most out of it. Let’s talk about three tips for getting the most out of your first life coaching session with a client.
3 Tips to get the most out of your first life coach session with a client
Have questions prepared. First, you should have your questions prepared. Instead of winging it when you get face-to-face with your client, you should have a list of questions you would like to get through. These questions do not have to be asked in any particular order, and they are just a guide for you to remember what you want to learn about your client.
Take notes. Next, you should take notes. Taking notes on your session will allow you to create new questions as you go along. You can also review the notes before your second session. At the end of your first session, you can ask your client if there’s anything else they want you to know about them. This will not only make them feel seen and validated, but it will also give you necessary information to use for future sessions.
Let your client do the talking. Finally, to really maximize your first client session, you should let them do most of the talking. Even if you and your client seemed to click naturally, it’s important to still let them speak. After all, the session is for them, and you want to make sure that their questions and concerns are getting addressed.
The first session with a new client can be nerve-wracking and overwhelming because you want to do what’s best for your client. To get the most out of your first session with your client, you should have questions prepared, take notes, and let your client do the majority of the talking. Even if you’ve been a life coach for a while, you can still expand on your skills. Coach Training Alliance has life coaching courses for any part of your coaching journey.
Whether you have recently graduated from a life coaching program or you have been a life coach for a while, getting clients is one of the most difficult parts of being a life coach. There are many so-called ways to market your life coaching services, but not all of them are successful. Let’s talk about the best way to market your services.
How should you market your life coach services
If you search for marketing ideas, you will come up with lots of results. Many people will suggest investing in social media, a good website, or building a community surrounding your services. All of these ideas are good ways to start building your brand, but they may not yield the best results when it comes to marketing.
While a solid social media presence and a good website will not hurt your business, the best way to use life coach marketing is by offering a free life coaching session and letting your skills do the talking. Offering a free coaching session allows your client to see how it feels to work with you. When they are impressed by your skills, they are not only more likely to continue working with you but they will also tell their friends about you.
When you focus on something tangible, like providing your clients with a good experience for their investment, you are strengthening your brand. Websites and social media accounts are great, but there’s no trade-off for meeting one-on-one with your potential new client. Seeing them face-to-face allows you to connect with them and allow your life coach skills to shine.
If you’re new to the life coach industry and you’re interested in becoming a life coach, you first must decide if the profession is right for you by taking this life coaching quiz. If you find that you’re interested in becoming a life coach, you should enroll in a certified life coaching course, such as Coach Training Alliance’s Certified Coach Program, so you can hone your coaching skills and learn all the ins and outs of running a life coaching business.
Being a good listener is a skill that many people struggle with. However, it is an important skill, especially for a life coach. In fact, being an active listener is integral to being a successful life coach. Here are three tips for becoming a better listener.
How to be a better listener as a life coach
Be okay with silences. First, it’s important to be okay with silence. When you are having a conversation with somebody, especially if they’re talking about themselves, there may be lapses in the conversation. It is tempting to try to fill the lapses with words, but sometimes the best way to allow someone to open up further is to let the silences happen.
Ask open-ended questions. Next, a good way to get a difficult client to speak more about themselves is to ask open-ended questions. Questions that only require a yes or no answer do not prompt further conversation or deepening of the subject. For example, instead of asking how your clients’ day was, you can ask what their favorite part of their day was or what they’re looking forward to.
Don’t interrupt. Finally, when a conversation is flowing well, you may find yourself interrupting your client to add tidbits of information. However, if your goal is to be a better listener, you should try to refrain from doing this. The occasional interruption is unavoidable, but if you make a habit of it, the client may not feel like they can be open with you.
It can take years to develop good listening skills, especially if being a good listener isn’t something that comes naturally to you. Developing your listening skills is an important part of being a good life coach. After all, if your clients don’t feel like they can confide in you, how are you going to help them reach their highest selves? If you are interested in improving your life coaching skills, you should invest in a certified life coaching program.
When you thought of becoming a life coach, you may not have realized that the life coaching industry has many specializations. For example, you can specialize in fitness life coaching, spiritual life coaching, and executive coaching to name a few. Let’s talk about how to find your calling as a life coach.
The Secret to Finding your Calling as a Life Coach
Life coaches are the types of people who have been helping their friends solve problems since they were little. They have likely always been the mediator in the friend group, too. They have a passion for helping others solve their problems and reach their goals. The calling to be a life coach can be present from a very young age, but deciding what kind of life coach to be is a lot harder.
The first step to getting into the life coaching industry is to do your research. You must make sure that life coaching is the right career for you. You can do this by taking our free life coaching quiz. If you have decided to become a life coach, you should invest in a quality life coaching program to hone your coaching skills and prepare you to enter this fast-growing field. It will also give you the opportunity to learn about different types of coaches as well.
Finally, some people may know their calling very quickly, but others may take longer to find theirs. Either method is okay. If you are one of the people that don’t immediately know their calling, you may want to take a few clients first. See which clients gravitate to you and which ones you connect with the most. After a while, you will discover your calling.
Life coaching is the perfect industry for someone who loves helping others reach their highest selves and achieve their goals. However, there are many types of life coaches, including executive coaches and career coaches. If you’re unsure of what kind of life coach you want to be, these tips will help you figure it out.
One of the main jobs of a life coach is to instill confidence and trust in our clients. We need our clients to trust us, so they can open up about their hopes and dreams and make a plan to reach them. For this reason, the first sessions are incredibly important. Let’s talk about what to expect from your first session with a new client.
What to Expect During your First Session with a Life-Coaching Client
Initial Coaching Questions: The Gateway to Client Connection
It’s crucial to acknowledge the purpose of the first session, which primarily revolves around connecting with the client and delving into their needs and aspirations in coaching. The manner in which you extract this information can vary, showcasing your unique personality. If a casual setting resonates with you, consider meeting your client at a coffee shop to facilitate a relaxed conversation. Conversely, if a structured approach appeals to you, preparing an initial questionnaire can guide your first session.
Navigating the Client’s Story: A Dive into Their Vision and Goals
Whether through a thoughtfully crafted questionnaire or a thoughtful conversation, the objective remains the same—to truly understand the client. In the initial coaching session, aim to comprehend your client on a personal level, decipher their primary goals, and ascertain the motivations that led them to seek a life coach. Additionally, inquire about their preferred communication style and offer them an opportunity to seek clarification or ask any questions they might have.
Unveiling the Client’s Path: The Significance of the Initial Coaching Questions
The initial coaching session offers a unique chance to gather comprehensive insights about your new client, insights that will shape your collaborative journey in the coming weeks or months. Whether you are embarking on your coaching career or seeking to refine your coaching skills, Coach Training Alliance provides a wealth of resources. From certified coaching courses to enlightening blog entries, we offer a vast array of tools to support your growth as a coach.
Initial coaching sessions are an opportunity for you to learn as much as you can about your new client, especially since they’ll be working with you for several weeks or months. If you are a new life coach or an experienced life coach looking to better hone your coaching skills, Coach Training Alliance has a plethora of coaching resources, from certified coaching courses to informative blog entries and everything in between.
Whether you are looking for a career change or life coaching has always been on your career radar, becoming a life coach can be a rewarding job transition. Especially if you like helping people reach their goals and become their highest selves, becoming a life coach could be for you. Here are three reasons you should consider life coaching as a career.
Top 3 Reasons You Should Consider a Life Coaching Career
You have job flexibility. First, you have job flexibility. Life coaching isn’t a 9-to-5 job, meaning it can be very flexible and accommodating to different lifestyles. This means you can work whenever it is convenient for you. If you are a night owl, then you can have your hours start in the afternoon and at night, and if you are an early bird, you can see your first clients right after your morning walk.
You will be your own boss. Next, you get to work for yourself. This may not be everyone’s dream, but for those who do want to work for themselves, life coaching can give you that opportunity. Being an entrepreneur isn’t for everybody, but for those who are allergic to the idea of having a boss, life coaching allows you to be your own boss.
You get to help people every day. Finally, as a life coach, you get to help people every day. Life coaches have a passion for helping others, or we wouldn’t do this job, and being able to wake up and help people develop solutions to their problems and set goals for themselves is rewarding.
A life coaching career is a flexible job that allows you to set your own hours and prices. It is a great profession for those who can’t stick to typical working hours. Besides helping others, you should consider being a life coach if you love helping others, want to be your own boss, and need a flexible schedule. If you’re ready to take the next step in your journey, you should enroll in a certified coaching course.
Life coaching is all about helping people, but there is more to it than simply listening to the client’s problems and sending them home. A life coach helps clients develop actionable plans for their problems and their goals. You are having trouble developing a plan for your sessions, Let’s talk about five steps to design the perfect life coaching session.
How to Design a GREAT Life Coaching Session
Set the mood. First, it is important to Set the mood. To have a successful life coaching session, your client must be in the right frame of mind to be open and receptive focusing on their goals. A quick journalling session, breathing exercise, or meditation moments can help them get in the right frame of mind.
Have an accountability recap. Next, you should inquire about your client’s week. Especially if you discussed making changes in their life, it is the time to see if they followed through. This also gives them a chance to reflect on their week and see what they want to focus the current session on.
Pick goals for the current session. After the weekly recap, it is common to pick a goal for the current session. The goal can come from the weekly recap or from somewhere else. In this stage, it is important for the client to give a full scope of the situation at hand.
Brainstorm strategies. In this stage of the life coaching session, you want the client to think of all possible solutions to their problem. This can be done as a writing exercise or as a conversation. You should also encourage the client to write down everything they think.
Make and commit to a plan. Finally, it is time to commit to a plan. For example, if your client is trying to develop a better workout routine, this is the time for them to commit to next week’s plan. This step includes making actionable and tangible goals, such as journaling each day or marking information on a calendar
Whether you are interested in becoming a life coach or already working as one, certification is important. Coach Training Alliance’s Certified Coach Program is a six-month program that’ll take you through everything you need to know to become a successful life coach.
If you love helping people make plans to reach their goals, then you may have considered becoming a life coach. While life coaches have been around for several decades, the industry is still unregulated. This means that there are no professional colleges or universities that can give a degree and this industry. However, there are still credentials you can get.
What does it mean to get your ACC Credentials
Even though the life coaching industry is unregulated, there are still credentials you can receive. The International Coaching Federation, or ICF, offers a credential called the Associate Certified Coach, or ACC. The ACC isn’t available for everyone, however. To be eligible for this credential, you must have over 60 hours of coaching education and over 100 hours of coaching experience. You must also have 10 hours of mentor coaching.
If you fit these requirements, you must take a performance evaluation and an ICF credentialing exam. If you pass both of these, then you will be an Associate Certified Coach. The best way to make sure you are prepared for the ACC credentials is to enroll in a training program that is already accredited by the ICF. These training programs, such as Coach Training Alliance’s Certified Coach Program, can make sure you are completely prepared for everything you will see on the ICF’s ACC credentials.
The hardest part about getting your ACC credentials may be getting your experience. You must have over 100 hours of coaching experience with more than eight clients. Twenty-five of those hours must have occurred within the 18 months before submitting your application. Additionally, at least 75 of your 100 hours must be paid. Yes, that means you will be working as a life coach before you receive your credentials.
If you are interested in taking a coaching program to hone your coaching skills and work towards ICF credentials, we have a course for you. Our course can prepare you for the credentialing exam, and we will help you develop your practice so you can get your 100 hours of experience as fast as possible.
If you love working with people and you want to work with the public, you may have considered being a life coach. Being a life coach is different from being a therapist because, unlike the latter, there is no regulation in the life coaching industry. This means we have to regulate ourselves. That is why the International Coaching Federation is so important.
What is the International Coach Federation
The International Coach Federation, or ICF, was founded in 1995 to start giving credibility to the coaching industry. Now, this organization is the largest organization for professionally trained coaches, and it is a leading voice in the community.
There are many parts of the ICF. The ICF started as a membership organization for trained professional coaches, but it has since branched out to be so much more. There is now a credentials and standards component that focuses on the credentials of individual coaches. There is a coaching education department that is all about managing and approving coaching education providers.
The ICF even has a nonprofit section of its ecosystem and an organization devoted to working with businesses that hire coaches on their teams. Finally, the final part of the ecosystem is the Thought Leadership Institute. This is the part of the organization that works towards a better future of coaching.
The International Coaching Federation is an organization that has devoted itself to providing the best education and community to the life coaching industry. If you are looking to get into the life coaching field, you will work closely with the ICF and institutions that have been approved by them. If you are looking for a life coaching course that prepares you for being ICF accredited, Coach Training Alliance’s Certified Coach Program does just that. In only six months, you can be on your way to having a thriving practice and preparing to become an Associate Certified Coach.
If you enjoy helping people but you are not interested in becoming a therapist, you may have considered becoming a life coach. A life coach is a person who enjoys helping other people reach their highest selves. The life coaching field is unregulated, so it means anybody can become a life coach, but many people who choose to become a life coach take a life coaching training program.
What does ICF Level One Mean?
There are many life coach training programs out there, but they are all not created equally. If you are looking for a quality life coaching program, you should look for one that has accreditation from the International Coaching Federation. The ICF is an organization that seeks to try to regulate the industry and ensure that people who highlight features are getting someone with experience and knowledge of the field.
ICF Level I accreditation is designed for life coach education providers who want their organization accredited. This accreditation is for organizations that have at least 60-124 contact learning hours. When you are looking for a program to better hone your life coaching skills, looking for an organization that has accreditation through the ICF can ensure you will get the information you need to pass the ICF’s Associate Certified Coach (ACC) credentials.
Because the life coaching industry is federally unregulated, there are no specific rules or regulations for the field. However, this doesn’t mean you shouldn’t seek out programs to further your education. Coach Training Alliance’s Certified Coach Program is a Level I ICF-certified program, designed to help you pass the ACC and launch a thriving practice.
If you have been curious about becoming a life coach, you may have noticed that the life coaching industry is unregulated. An unregulated industry is an industry That is not regulated by rules or laws. Even though life coaching has been around for over two decades, it is still an unregulated field. This means that anyone can decide that they are a life coach, but the question is, should they?
What life coach accreditation means for your career
One of the advantages and disadvantages of an unregulated field is that the barrier to entry is low. On the one hand, you do not need 4+ years of higher education to start working as a life coach. On the other hand, because there is no agreed-upon governing body or rules, there is no way to ensure standards.
One way the life coaching industry has solved this problem is by creating and supporting internal industry regulations. One of these companies is the International Coaching Federation, or the ICF. The ICF works with life coaching programs and individual practitioners to develop a code of ethics and expectations for those who wish to work in the industry. They also offer accreditation.
Because the industry is unregulated, there is no requirement for life coach accreditation. However, without accreditation, you may have trouble finding clients. Clients want to know that you have done the work, inside and outside of class, to provide them with a quality coaching experience. Accreditation also gives you something to show for all of your hard work.
The ICF’s Associate Certified Coach (ACC) credential has eligibility and requirements. To even be eligible for the performance evaluation and credentialing exam, you must have 60+ hours of coaching education and 100+ hours of coaching experience. To get this education, you must attend an accredited coaching program, such as Coach Training Alliance’s Certified Coach Program. This program will teach you everything you need to know to pass the credentialing exam and give you hands-on practice with coaching so you can pass the performance evaluation. In just six months, you can also be on your way to a thriving practice to start gaining the hours of coaching experience you need to apply for your credentials.
Are you the person everyone comes to for advice? Are you skilled at helping people work through their problems and set manageable goals to grow mentally and emotionally? If those are right for you, you may be interested in becoming a life coach.
How to improve your credibility as a life coach
Life coaching is a job where you get to connect with your clients and help them develop actionable plans to reach their goals. Unfortunately, the life coaching industry is unregulated, meaning there are no specific certifications or degrees that are needed to work in this field. Because of this, there are a lot of life coaches who are untrustworthy and do not have their client’s best interests at heart.
To have a successful life coaching business, you must detach yourself from these narratives. One way you can detach yourself from these narratives and up your level of credibility is to take a certified life coaching course. While not a requirement, it can be highly beneficial when it comes to honing your skills and building a practice.
Another way to boost your credibility as a life coach is to get results. The proof is in the pudding, so to speak, and this can be your best way of attaining new clients. If you can improve your current clients’ lives, then they will spread things by word-of-mouth. Hearing things from someone else is the most trustworthy form of advertising, so it is important to make sure you are getting results with your clients.
If you are interested in becoming a life coach or you already work in this field, credibility is important. In fact, credibility is a virtue and if you have a hard time being truthful and honest with people, then you may not be right for this industry. Additionally, quality life coaches enjoy learning as much as they can about their craft. Coach Training Alliance has programs for all types of students, whether they are just starting or they have already completed the basics and are looking for ways to continue their education.
A life coach is a person who enjoys helping others set goals to achieve their highest selves. Life coaches aren’t therapists and they do not focus on the past. Instead, they focus on the future and helping their clients become their best selves. If this is you and you have started a life coaching practice, you may be wondering if you should do virtual life coach sessions.
Should you do virtual life coach sessions
As humans, we are hardwired to want to connect with people, and the traditional way we have done this is through face-to-face contact. However as the world changes, virtual connections grow more popular, and some people prefer it over meeting face-to-face. There are benefits to being a virtual life coach. Virtual coaching is more flexible, affordable, and Convenient for both you and your clients.
First, virtual coaching is more flexible because you can use an online platform such as Skype, zoom, or discord, and you can work anytime you want. You can work outside normal business hours or business days, and you can even schedule sessions at the last minute if you have the availability.
Virtual coaching can also be more affordable for your client. You do not have to lower your price for virtual coaching, but many people choose to take off a few dollars because they do not have to commute or meet in a public place.
Finally, being a virtual life coach is incredibly convenient. Between being able to work flexible hours and omit a time-consuming commute, it allows you to reach the most clients with the least barriers. Being able to work from anywhere means you never have to turn down a client, even if they do not live in your town.
Traditionally, coaching has been done mostly face-to-face. However, as the world changes, virtual coaching grows more popular. Virtual coaching has many benefits, including being more flexible, affordable, and convenient for your clients. If you want to make sure that you are giving your best skills to your clients, you should invest in a certified life coaching course, such as Coach Training Alliance’s Certified Coach Program, so you can hone your skills and better help your clients whether they meet with you face-to-face or virtually.
For many people, setting goals is a natural part of life. We are encouraged to set goals in work settings, education, and even in the new year. However, many people who set goals aren’t successful in achieving them. As a life coach, it is your job to help your clients set goals that they can achieve. Let’s talk about how to help your clients set attainable goals.
Helping your Clients set goals for 2023
When it comes to setting attainable goals, there are some tips to remember. The first thing to remember about goal setting is that it is important to stay accountable by writing down the goal. Writing your goal down makes it physically real and much more difficult for your client to change their mind.
Next, when creating a goal it’s important to be specific. This is why many people go by the S.M.A.R.T acronym. This acronym is an easy way to remember how to create good goals. The best goals are specific, measurable, attainable, relevant, and timely. Following this acronym, your client will be able to set a goal they have a good chance of attaining.
Finally, you should help your client set short-term milestones for the goal. It’s no secret that positive reinforcement keeps people motivated and invested, so working with your client to set milestones and reward themselves for small progress will help them stay invested and achieve their goals.
While you are helping your client set attainable goals, you should set goals for yourself as well. Whether you are just starting as a life coach or have been working for a while, you should always seek to continue your education. You can always better yourself and what you can offer your clients. Coach Training Alliance has many coaching courses for new and continuing students.
Most people become a life coach because they enjoy helping others. For the most part, being a life coach and helping clients can be very rewarding. However, there are some people you don’t want to have as clients. Here are three types of people you should not have as your life coach clients.
Who you should NOT have as your life coach clients
The excuse-maker. First, there is the excuse maker. The excuse maker is a person who always has an excuse for everything that happens. They may commit to making changes when they are in a coaching session, but once they leave the coaching session they will not follow through with what has been discussed.
The energy vampire. Next, the energy vampire is a client who takes a lot of energy to work with. This client may have bad boundaries and try to connect with you outside of coaching sessions, or they may be a drain on your emotional state while you are in a session with them. Either way, this is a type of client to avoid for your mental health.
The cheapskate. Finally, the last type of client you should avoid is the cheapskate. The cheapskate is a person who is not going to want to pay the actual price for your services and will always feel like they’re paying too much for what you are giving them. This type of client will never be happy, even if you give them a discount.
When it comes to working with clients, you cannot be afraid to set up a boundary and only take clients that you will enjoy working with. It’s okay to admit that you may not click with certain clients or that you do not want certain people as your clients. Don’t be afraid to set up these boundaries because when you get rid of clients that don’t work for you, you make more room for the clients that do.
Patience is an important life skill, but it often doesn’t come naturally. As a life coach, patience is one of the most important skills you must have. You can’t expect your clients to come to the same conclusions as fast as you might, so you have to be able to give them the space to work through their problems at their own pace. Let’s talk about how to be patient as a life coach.
How to be patient as a life coach
Patience is truly an art form and can be practiced throughout many facets of your life. Not only should you have patience with yourself, but you should also extend patience to your clients. One way to start building your patience is to get comfortable with being uncomfortable. Sometimes having patience with your clients looks like taking the time to let them work out their problems at their own pace. This may be frustrating for you as it may not be as fast as you would like, but this is all about building up your stamina and ability to be patient.
Another way to work on your patience is to change your mindset. Impatience is the sign of a closed mindset, and it can ultimately add to your stress level. It creates a scarcity mindset and makes you feel that if you don’t have something immediately, you may never get it. If you adopt a growth mindset, you can be more content with the process of developing and waiting. You will understand that slow and steady wins the race just as well as moving faster.
When you start building up your patience, you can extend that to your clients. It may seem like a small thing, but once you get used to being patient, your clients will start to build the same stamina. Your good example will encourage them to take the time to think questions through and evaluate their ideas and goals.
Patience isn’t the only hallmark of a good life coach. Good life coaches also have great communication skills and a thirst for constant improvement. Life coaches invest in their skills and their business, and if you are interested in becoming a life coach, you should invest in a quality life coaching course that can help you develop and hone all the skills you need.
Life coaching can be a rewarding career path if you enjoy helping people. Life coaches are all about helping people make plans to achieve their goals and reach their highest selves. Many people talk about the best qualities of a life coach, but here are three qualities that would make you an inefficient life coach.
Three qualities you should NOT have as a life coach
Using negative reinforcement. First, you shouldn’t rely on negative reinforcements when it comes to your clients. We have a society that heavily favors negative reinforcement, but we also have a society that has little intrinsic motivation. The thing about negative reinforcement is that it doesn’t encourage people to do things because they want to or because they enjoy it. It encourages them to do things to avoid punishment. This is no way to motivate your clients or create lasting and effective change. If you heavily rely on negative reinforcement to create changes in your client’s life, you will not be an effective life coach.
Thinking your way is the only way. Next, becoming a life coach isn’t about pushing your ideas and opinions on others. It is about helping others think through their problems and develop their own opinions and decisions on different things. If you feel the need to push your opinion on your clients without letting them work up to their own methods of solving problems, you may be failing your clients and yourself. Learning how to let others work through their problems can be a difficult thing to learn, but it will serve you very well once you do.
Interrupting without listening to the client. Finally, a life coach’s job is primarily to listen, so if you spend more time talking than listening to your client, you are not doing your job properly. The same goes for interrupting your client when they’re trying to speak or cutting in for them and not letting them finish their thoughts. When you cut your client off, it doesn’t allow them to adequately express their own opinions or feel like you are open to listening to them. This doesn’t create a listening and learning environment and can even sever a healthy coaching relationship.
Being a good life coach is all about listening to your clients and helping them work through their problems and come to effective solutions. Life coaches do not give their clients the answer to their problems, nor do they focus on why the problem was created. Life coaches are all about moving forward, not backward. If helping people overcome their problems is your passion, you should consider taking a certified life coaching course, such as Coach Training Alliance’s Certified Coach Program, to become a life coach.
Do you often find yourself canceling your friends on what they should do with their lives? How often have you found yourself in the middle of an impromptu counseling session with a close friend or relative where you will walk them through how to define their purpose and get the most out of their life? If you have done these things, you may be a natural life coach. Even if you have this natural ability, it is still important to hone your skills with a life coaching course. Let’s take a look at how long it might take you to complete life coach training.
How long does a life coach training course take to complete?
If you have a thirst for helping people and you find yourself interested in becoming a life coach, you may be wondering how long it takes to complete a life coach training course. There are many life coach training courses, but they are not one-size-fits-all. The best life coach training course fits your ideals, philosophy, and lifestyle.
Most of us are busy with obligations, such as existing career choices and families, so we cannot go to school full time as we may have been able to as our younger selves. Because of this, a life coaching course that can be completed quickly is a necessity. Coach Training Alliance’s Certified Coach Program is a six-month course that takes you through all the ins and outs of becoming a life coach. Not only that, but you will graduate with a coach training certificate and a growing practice.
Even though the life coaching industry is unregulated, it doesn’t mean organizations aren’t striving for the best. One of those organizations is the International Coach Federation. Our Certified Coach Program is an ICF-approved program, and we are all about offering our students the best. We utilize a LearnMore System™ that incorporates the Four Pillars of Wisdom™ approach and the Circle of Learning™ methodology. We believe that learning does not occur just in a classroom but in real-world contexts that are out of the box.
If you are interested in taking life coach training courses, you should first take our life coaching quiz and then consider signing up for our Certified Coach Program. With this program, you will be on your way to a thriving practice in just six months.
There are many types of life coaches, from executive coaches to relationship coaches, and they all have a place in the coaching world. One type of coach that is becoming increasingly popular is the holistic life coach. Holistic has become the favorite buzzword of the new decade, but holistic life coaches can be great for people looking to transform every aspect of their life.
What is a holistic life coach?
A holistic life coach is committed to helping their clients in every aspect of their life, truly helping to transform the mind, body, and spirit. While many other life coaches focus on careers or health individually, holistic life coaches tackle them all together.
A holistic life coach is someone who will empower their clients, encourage them, and motivate them. They will help their clients unlock their true potential and awaken their body and mind to endless possibilities. Finally, they will also help their clients remove blocks that stop them from moving forward.
Holistic life coaches help their clients become clear about what they want out of their life, helping them simplify their life and focus on moving forward with their goals. They also help with emotional healing. Because they take a robust approach, they will delve into how their clients’ childhood experiences affect how they are today. Through these methods, a holistic life coach will help clients achieve an abundance of wealth, manage their stress, and achieve any goal they desire.
Some additional info:
These coaches differ from other types of life coaches by not just concentrating on specific areas like career or health but integrating all aspects into a unified approach. These coaches empower, motivate, and assist clients in unlocking their potential, facilitating both personal and emotional healing. They delve into various aspects of a person’s life, including the impact of childhood experiences, to help clients achieve their goals, manage stress, and attain overall well-being.
To expand on this:
Personalized Approach: Holistic life coaches often employ a highly individualized approach. They recognize that each person’s journey is unique, and as such, they tailor their coaching strategies to meet the specific needs, goals, and circumstances of each client. This personalized approach ensures that the coaching is relevant and effective for each individual.
Integration of Various Techniques: Holistic life coaches may integrate a variety of techniques and methodologies in their practice. This can include traditional life coaching methods, mindfulness practices, nutritional advice, physical fitness regimes, and even elements of spiritual counseling. The integration of these diverse techniques allows for a more comprehensive approach to personal development and wellness.
Emphasis on Self-Discovery and Awareness: A significant focus of holistic life coaching is on self-discovery and increasing self-awareness. Coaches guide their clients in introspective processes to uncover deeper truths about themselves, their values, beliefs, and life vision. This heightened awareness is pivotal for personal growth and making meaningful changes.
Long-Term Life Transformation: The ultimate goal of holistic life coaching is to facilitate long-term transformation. This is not just about achieving specific short-term goals but about fostering a sustainable change that permeates all areas of life. This transformation is often deep-seated, impacting the client’s outlook, behavior, and overall approach to life.
Ongoing Support and Accountability: Holistic life coaches provide ongoing support and accountability, which is crucial in maintaining motivation and ensuring progress towards goals. This support system helps clients navigate challenges, stay on track, and make consistent, incremental steps towards their desired change.
Holistic coaches have been around for a while, and if you are looking to help people fully transform their lives, you may be interested in becoming a holistic life coach. Unlike other life coaching fields, being a holistic life coach requires you to expertly hone your life coaching skills. Whether you are just jumping into the life coaching field or you have been working for a while, Coach Training Alliance has courses for any part of your life coaching journey.
Working as a life coach is all about the connection you make with your clients, and that connection extends past just being face-to-face with them. Let’s talk about the best ways to keep in touch with your life coach clients.
How should you keep in touch with your life coach clients?
We have dozens of ways to keep in touch with clients, but some methods work much better than others. A couple of the most common ways to keep in touch with people are through phone calls, text messages, emails, and social media. However, when it comes to current clients, there should be a level of professionalism that is maintained. When communicating with current clients, it is best to ask them how they prefer to be contacted, but generally, you should stick to text messaging and talking with them on the phone.
Sometimes clients can be weird about communicating over the phone, but communicating over the phone makes clients feel special and appreciated. Unlike social media and email, phone communication is much more intentional and personal.
For past clients or clients that are no longer working with you, you can contact them in a less invasive way. For past clients, it is best to consider emailing them to check in with them so they do not feel like you are pressuring them to answer. This also works for clients you haven’t heard from in a while.
Communication is a key part of being a successful life coach, and it is important to communicate regularly with your clients. Whether your client is a current client or one who has graduated from your services, keeping in touch is a great way to remind them that they are valued and appreciated. If you find that you struggle with keeping in touch with your clients, you may need more life coaching training. A certified life coaching course, such as Coach Training Alliance’s Certified Coach Program, can help you hone your coaching skills and become an expert in communication.
Asking questions is an integral part of being a life coach. In fact, where would a life coach be without asking questions? However, there is a wrong way in a right way to ask questions. If you ask the wrong question to your client, you will have a hard time getting the information you need from them. Let’s discuss three questions you should avoid asking your life coach clients.
What questions should you avoid asking your life coach clients?
“Why” questions. First, you should avoid asking why questions. This may seem counterintuitive because why questions are the building blocks of any explanation. Still, the thing about these questions is that they can feel intimidating and overwhelming to your clients. If you are thinking about asking a why question, you would be better off phrasing it another way
Rhetorical questions. Next, you should avoid asking rhetorical questions. Rhetorical questions are questions you ask but don’t expect an answer to. Rhetorical questions are more like statements for effect, but these questions can seem like judgments and leave your client feeling overwhelmed.
Close-ended questions. Finally, close-ended questions should also be avoided. There is nothing intrinsically wrong with close-ended questions, but they do not foster an environment of openness to help your client blossom. Close-ended questions are all about yes or no answers, and while they can be very useful in certain situations, in a life coaching setting, they are not.
You can’t be an effective life coach without asking questions, but it is important to know the best type of questions to ask. If you ask the wrong type of questions, your client can quickly get overwhelmed and miss an opportunity to better themselves. If you struggle with what kind of questions to ask your clients, you may consider a coach training program. Coach Training Alliance has a variety of courses that can help you at any point in your life coaching journey.
Life coaching can be a highly rewarding career path, especially if you enjoy helping others. You get to spend all day talking to your clients and helping them reach their goals and become the person they truly want to be. However, once you complete a certified coach training course, it’s time to start getting clients.
Let’s talk about the best ways to advertise your coaching services.
How to advertise your life coaching business
In-person networking. First, starting out, you may not have testimonials from past clients. While testimonials are great for bringing in new clients, you do not need them. One of the best ways to market your new life coaching business is through in-person networking. When marketing in person, you should make sure you have plenty of business cards and a good elevator pitch to offer potential clients.
Free first sessions. Once you have pitched your services to your client, a free first session is a great way to show your skills and show them the value life coaching can bring to their lives. Especially in an unregulated field, it is imperative to show people exactly how great life coaching can be.
Word of mouth. Finally, you can advertise through word-of-mouth. Word-of-mouth is one of the easiest and best ways to advertise because you allow your clients to advertise for you. Once you give your clients good value, they will sing your praises to anyone they think could benefit from them.
Getting clients can seem daunting, but your clients will come as long as you focus on honing your craft and building the practice you want. While you are waiting for your first client, don’t hesitate to continue learning all about the life coaching field. You can continue learning how to hone your skills by taking a certified life coaching course, such as the one offered by Coach Training Alliance. This course covers all the basics of becoming a life coach and even helps you develop your own practice. By the time you graduate in just six months, you will have a certified coach training certificate and a growing practice.
There are people in this world who love giving advice, and if you’re one of them, you may have considered a career as a life coach or a mentor. On the surface, life coaching and mentoring seem quite similar, but they have their differences. Let’s talk what the differences between a life coach and a mentor and if you can be both at the same time.
Can you be both a mentor and a life coach?
Let’s start with the basics. A life coach is a person who enjoys helping others make plans to reach their future goals. Often, clients will work with life coaches for three, six, or even 12 months. And while certain healthcare professionals focus on past traumas and experiences, life coaches focus on the future.
Mentors are a little different from life coaches because they are highly focused on the present. You can work alongside a mentor for a very long time, whether that is one year or one decade. Mentors often meet with their mentees in public places, unlike life coaches, who prefer to meet in private locations. Mentors are usually focused on the present, and unlike life coaches, most of the conversation will be focused on things the mentee is experiencing.
It is possible to be a mentor and a life coach at the same time, but your mentor clients may not want the same thing that your life coach clients want. It is important to understand that, even though the life coach industry is not regulated, it is still important to seek out programs and certifications that help you help your clients. Mentoring, on the other hand, needs little expertise or experience.
If you enjoy connecting with people and helping them make plans to reach their goals, you may have considered a career as a life coach. While life coaching and mentorship sound similar on the surface, they are quite different. While a mentor often talks about current events, life coaches focus more on the future. You can be a life coach and mentor, but it is important to hone your skills as a life coach through a certified life coaching course.
Life coaching can be rewarding because you get to help many different people better their lives, reach their goals, and obtain spiritual peace. However, your clients may not stay with you forever. Let’s talk about what to do when your client is ready to stop seeing you.
What to do when your life coach client wants to stop seeing you
The reality of offering a service means you will not be able to please everyone. There will be clients that you do not connect with who do not continue using your services after one or two sessions.
You will also get clients who stay with you for a long time and eventually become ready to move on. Especially once you have established a connection with the client, it can be difficult to accept. If your client is ready to move on, it is important to set aside your feelings about it and be happy for them.
Because this should be a joyous moment in your relationship with your client, you should both celebrate and enjoy the relationship you have built and the growth your client has experienced. A session that focuses solely on what the client has learned and recaps what you guys have been through over the months or years can be a nice way to close the relationship. It is also important to let your client know you are always available for them to restart sessions or have periodic individual sessions if necessary.
Moving on is part of life, so no matter how great your client is and how much you help them, they will eventually be ready to move on. This isn’t a reflection on you, and it doesn’t mean that you have not provided them with a valuable service. However, if you feel you are having a problem finding long-term clients, you may need to brush up on your coaching skills. A certified coach training course, such as Coach Training Alliance’s Certified Coach Program, can help you further develop your skills in this industry.
As a life coach, you will talk to your clients about their personal, professional, and spiritual lives. To ensure you provide value to your clients, it is important to ask them questions that prompt them to think deeper about their beliefs and decisions. However, how can you be sure you are asking your clients good questions?
Three tips for asking your life coaching clients GOOD questions
Start with some basics. Before you can ask in-depth questions, you must cover the basics. Some of the first questions you will ask your clients may seem simple, but they are a setup for later. Don’t be afraid to ask basic questions, even if they seem pointless.
Listen to their responses. Next, and most importantly, it is important to listen to their responses. It is tempting to start planning your more in-depth questions as they are answering your first set but to ask better questions, you must listen to their responses. No matter how many clients you see and how many years you work as a life coach, you will never know exactly what your client is thinking. This is why it is important to listen to their responses.
Ask questions based on their responses. Finally, once they have answered some basic, open-ended questions, you can start asking questions that are crafted based on their responses. This is where you get to really delve into their thoughts, push them to think deeper and challenge themselves.
No matter what kind of life coach you become, it is important to know how to ask your clients good questions. Good questions are questions that force the client to think deeper about their beliefs and behaviors because these are the questions that will help them grow. These three tips will help you ask better questions, but if you are still honing your life coaching skills, you may want to invest in a life coaching course. A life coaching course, such as Coach Training Alliance’s Certified Coach Program, will help you hone your life coaching skills so you can offer more to your clients.
If you love helping people achieve their highest selves and reach their goals, you may be interested in becoming a life coach. A life coach is not a therapist. They do not focus on the past. Instead, they focus on the future and helping their clients learn more about themselves and what they want out of life. If you are interested in becoming a life coach, it’s important to hone your skills with a life coach course. However, it can be difficult to find a quality training agency.
How to See if a life coach training institute is good or not
For someone who loves helping others, life coaching can be a rewarding field, but it is important to invest in a life coaching course to hone your skills and learn the best practices of the industry. All life coach training agencies are not created equally, though, so when selecting one to help you become a life coach, it is important to make sure they have credentials and experience.
The life coaching industry is unregulated, meaning there are no strict regulations on what kind of certification you need to become a life coach. This means technically anyone can become a life coach. Of course, it doesn’t mean they should.
The International Coach Federation (ICF) offers a life coaching certification that ensures your clients that you have the knowledge to help them with their life and career. When looking for a life coaching program and a training agency, it is important to ensure that the program agency can offer you this certification.
A certified life coaching program, such as Coach Training Alliance’s Certified Coach Program, provides you with a life coaching certification and the knowledge and skills to start your own coaching practice by the time you graduate in six months.
If you love helping others become their best selves and reach their goals, you may be interested in becoming a life coach. A life coach is a person who enjoys helping others make plans to better their lives and reach their personal and professional goals. Life coaches are not therapists and do not focus on the past. They focus on the future and what lies ahead. To become a life coach, you should invest in a life coaching class. Here’s why.
Benefits of life coaching classes: What they give you
The life coaching industry is unregulated, meaning there are no accreditation requirements to work in this industry. This means anyone can become a life coach, whether they have the knowledge or not. If you are interested in becoming a life coach, the most logical thing to do is to take a life coach certification course to hone your skills and make sure you can offer the best to your clients.
It may seem like a certified coaching program is a waste of time and money, but there are many benefits to taking coaching classes. The major benefit to taking coaching classes is being able to hone your skills and learn from industry experts about the best practices when helping clients. Rather than rely on just your personal experience, you will be able to access the experience of dozens of other people who have been working in the industry for years.
Another benefit to taking a life coaching course is being able to develop a life coaching business while you are working on your certification. Not every course offers this, but Coach Training Alliance’s Certified Coach Program offers a six-month program that allows you to polish your coaching skills while developing a practice. By the time you graduate from the program, you will be on your way to having a thriving practice and a coaching certification.
If you love helping others make plans to achieve their goals, then you may be interested in becoming a life coach. While the life coaching industry is unregulated, it’s important to invest in a quality life coaching program to ensure you’re offering your clients the best of yourself.
If you enjoy helping people reach their highest selves and achieve their goals, you may be interested in the life coaching field. Life coaches are not therapists, and they do not focus on the past. Instead, they focus on helping their clients create actionable steps to reach their goals. Life coaching is a flexible career, but it still requires insurance.
Do Life Coaches Need Insurance?
While life coaches do not have to be licensed, they should be insured. Licenses and insurance are two different things. A license is usually a certification that recognizes someone’s expertise in a given field. It usually requires coursework created by industry experts. Insurance provides financial protection against claims. Insurance isn’t a requirement, but it can be quite helpful despite that.
In general, life coaching isn’t a dangerous profession, but some situations can benefit from having insurance. Because you are coaching others and encouraging them to take control of their lives, somebody who is unhappy with the results of their newfound boldness could consider suing their life coach for financial compensation.
That is one example of why a life coach can benefit from insurance. Another example would be if a life coach failed to address a client’s mental health needs or did not understand the severity of them. This would be unfortunate for any life coach to have to experience, but it could be a reality because of the limited time you spend with your clients. Despite it being an honest mistake, a client could seek financial compensation for the error.
The best type of insurance for a life coach to get is personal liability insurance because it will protect against these types of claims. You may also choose to invest in business personal property coverage and data security coverage, as well as general liability coverage. This bundle of coverage will protect you from almost any situation.
As a life coach, you will work intimately with your clients to discover what is holding them back in their lives and help them move forward despite those things. Because of this, you will form deep bonds with your clients, and your clients will trust you with some of their most intimate thoughts.
Despite this, it is important for you to have boundaries. Without boundaries, you can easily find the line between coach and client blurred. Let’s talk about how to set proper boundaries as a life coach.
How to Set Boundaries as a Life Coach
In ideal circumstances, boundaries would always be respected, so you would have no need to enforce them, but in reality, there may be a time when you will have to enforce your boundaries.
However, before you can enforce your life coaching boundaries, you must set them. The boundaries you set are largely up to you and what you would prefer. Some common boundaries include having clearly articulated policies, confidentiality, practicing nonjudgment for your clients, and sustainable business practices.
These boundaries can look like only answering text messages and calls during business hours, limiting the number of text messages and calls your clients can send you outside of appointments, having a payment, refund, and no-show policy, and agreeing to be neutral and nonjudgmental no matter what your client tells you.
Boundaries may feel awkward to set, but they can actually improve your working relationship with your clients and improve your mental health. It is important to take care of yourself as well as your clients. Besides setting boundaries, another way to take care of yourself and your practice is to continue learning as much as you can about the life coaching industry. Coach Training Alliance has dozens of continuing education courses that can help you further hone all of your life coaching skills.
Life coaches connect with many different clients, and help their clients through many different issues. Many of the issues they work on with their clients may be job-related or related to their personal relationships. However, as a life coach, you may also have to help your clients through unique situations. Here are three unique issues you may help your life coach clients with.
THREE Unique Issues you May have to Help your Life Coach Clients with
Their diet and health. Whether your client has been diagnosed with an illness that requires a diet change or they want to lose a few pounds, you may have to help them navigate the nutrition and health world. You may also have to help them develop a workout plan or talk them through new medication.
Their negative mindset. Next, while most of your clients may come to you with a positive attitude, some clients may see the glass as half empty. This kind of mindset is difficult for success, so before you start working towards success, you may have to improve your client’s mindset.
Their confidence. Finally, you may have to help your clients with their confidence. If you have to help someone through their low self-confidence, it is important to understand what builds self-esteem and long-term empowerment. You will have to confront your client’s negative thoughts and criticism to help them make a change.
Being a life coach can be rewarding because it allows you to be incredibly intimate and close with your clients. You will work alongside your clients and help them become their best selves and achieve their goals. Because your clients will give you so much, you want to be able to give the best of yourself back.
To do this most effectively, it’s important to hone your life coaching skills through experience and coursework. Taking a certified life coaching course, such as those offered by Coach Training Alliance, is a great way to polish your communication skills to ensure you’re giving value to your clients.
Life coaches have been around for several decades, but in most recent years, the profession has become much more popular. Life coaches are people who enjoy helping others reach their highest selves and have the life they’ve only dreamed of. If you are interested in becoming a life coach, you have probably looked into certification courses.
What makes Coach Training Alliance’s Education Different
Even though the life coaching industry is unregulated, if you are serious about helping others reach their goals, you should invest in a life coaching certification course. There are many certification courses out there, and it is important to look into what each course offers before settling on one.
If you are looking for a flexible course that will allow you to graduate in just six months with a growing practice and paying clients, you may be interested in Coach Training Alliance’s Certified Coach Program. Our program is approved by the International Coach Federation (ICF).
We focus on having a class size of a maximum of 12 participants. This allows for a thriving group dynamic and provides the opportunity for meaningful involvement for all of the participants.
Unlike other courses, we use the LearnMore™ system, which enables you to fully experience your knowledge. We also incorporate the Four Pillars of Wisdom™ approach and the Circle of Learning™ methodology because we believe that learning does not take place in a classroom or a hotel conference room. We believe that learning is best done in an environment where you can be actively involved, such as in real-world situations.
Once you have received your coaching certification, you can continue learning through our other continuing education courses. Just because you have received your certification does not mean that you have learned all there is to know about coaching. If you are looking for a training program and community to connect with and grow your skills, you should take a look at our Certified Coach Program and see if it is the right fit for you.
Adults aren’t the only ones who can benefit from a life coach. Teenagers can go through a lot, with body changes, school changes, and a keen awareness of their future. All this can cause anxieties they may want to discuss with someone other than their parents. If you are passionate about helping teenagers, you may want to become a life coach for them. Let’s discuss how you can be a good life coach for teenagers.
Being a life coach for a teenager
Being a life coach for teenagers is different from being a life coach to adults because teens have different problems and focuses. While an adult may need counseling on navigating a tumultuous marriage or change career paths, a teen is more focused on navigating new relationships and friendships and deciding on their initial career choice.
The main purpose of a teen life coach is to help the teenager overcome the challenges of school, improve their personal lives and relationships, gain tools and research they might need for their professional career, help them gain confidence and believe in themselves, and navigate their lives by focusing on their passions and their strengths.
Because teenagers are still growing and their brains are still developing, there will be a focus on communication, decision-making, and emotional management. While teenagers do grow older and get better at these things naturally with age, having coping mechanisms while they’re young can be highly beneficial.
If you are interested in centering your life coaching practice around helping teenagers, it is important to be in touch with what they most struggle with. It is also important to get a life coaching certification. Coach Training Alliance’s Certified Coach Program can help you hone your life coaching skills and start your practice. In just six months, you can be on your way to having a thriving life coaching practice and a coaching certification.
Becoming a life coach is a huge career decision, and it shouldn’t be taken lightly. If you have taken the time to invest in a quality life coaching course to help you hone your skills and learn how to give your client a rewarding experience, once you graduate, it’s time to start working in your new field. Here are some things you can do once you have obtained your life coach certification.
What to do after you get your life coach certification
Start and grow your personal practice. First, many people who obtain a life coach certification choose to start their own practice. Having a private practice can be incredibly rewarding, especially if it was your goal. Starting a private practice takes a lot of time and effort, but with a life coaching certification, you know you have the skills.
Connect with a business or organization. Next, if you are not interested in having your own practice, you can apply for jobs that may fit your new skill set. Many organizations have a career space for life coaches or counselors who can talk to and advise their employees. These companies favor growth, so life coaches are a very popular and coveted addition to the team.
Continue honing your life coaching skills. Finally, just because you have received your certification does not mean the learning has to stop. There are many continuing education classes that can help you further polish your life coaching skills. Coach training alliance has several continuing education courses, including an executive coaching course and a niche coaching course.
Even though the life coaching industry is unregulated, it is important to invest in a quality coaching program to refine your skills and ensure that you offer the best to your clients. Once you have taken a training course and received your certification, there are many paths that you can take. Many people start their own practice, while others elect to work with an existing company. No matter what path you choose, it is important to continuously take time to invest in yourself.
As a life coach, your job is to help your clients make plans to meet their goals. For some clients, these can be work goals, and for others, they can be personal goals. Regardless of your client’s goals, homework can be highly beneficial. Here are three types of homework you can give your coaching clients.
Homework you can give your life coach clients
Journal. The first type of homework is an obvious one, but you can request that your coaching client start journaling every day. Journaling can range from writing down a simple one-liner about how your day went to cataloging every significant event that happened to you for the week. There is no wrong way to journal, but keeping a log can be a great way to decompress after a long day.
Focus on your positive attributes. Next, people are highly critical of themselves and don’t spend much time celebrating what they like about themselves. Another homework assignment you can give your client is to focus on the positive attributes. The best way to assign this homework is to have your client list up to 10 things about themselves that they like and then have them recite it like a mantra every day for a week or a month.
Compliment others. Finally, there is a great joy in noticing the world around you, and one good way to get into this habit is to compliment others. Have your client set a goal to compliment ten people daily, and you both will be surprised at how much more mindful and positive your client will become.
Life coaching is a rewarding job, especially if you enjoy connecting with others and helping them reach their highest selves. If you only see your life coaching client once every two weeks or once a month, giving them homework they can work on in between sessions may be beneficial. Homework can keep them focused on what they want to improve in their lives and help them make twice as much progress.
When you start accepting clients as a life coach, you will encounter people from all walks of life and all backgrounds. You will also encounter people who may have different religious backgrounds and beliefs than you. If this is something that bothers you, life coaching may not be the profession for you, but even if your client doesn’t share the same religious background as you, you can still coach them effectively.
Religion and Your Life Coaching Practice
In the United States, almost 80% of all adults identify with the Christian faith, and over 90% of people who report having a religious identity identify as Christians. This means many of your clients will be religious. There are many ways to handle religion and spirituality in your life coaching practice. It is all up to you and how you feel.
For example, if you are a practicing Christian and a potential new client is nonreligious, you may initially wonder if you can connect with them. It may be tempting to refuse to see them, but even though you cannot connect on a religious level with the client, life coaching and a higher sense of spirituality and overall purpose is something beneficial to everyone, religious or not.
Seeing a client that has a different worldview from you can strengthen your communication skills and teach you about a whole new way of living. This exposure can only help your life coaching practice and give you the ability to connect with more clients. However, if it makes you uncomfortable or it goes against your values to coach people of a different faith than you, this is okay. Your practice doesn’t have to be for everyone. No matter what, it’s important to invest in yourself and your skills, and taking Coach Training Alliance’s Certified Coach Program is a great way to do it. This six-month program will help you hone your coaching skills, and when you graduate, you will be well on your way to having a thriving life coaching practice
Over the last decade, the life coaching profession has grown tremendously. Life coaches are people who enjoy helping others achieve their goals and work towards having the life, career, or relationship they most desire. Here are three of the most important qualities you need to become a life coach.
THREE Qualities you NEED to be a Life Coach
A positive attitude. First, you need a positive attitude. When your clients come to you, they may come to you with personal reservations about achieving success. It is your job to encourage them and put them in a better mindset so they can adequately achieve their goals. This is best done with a positive attitude. In some ways, you are your client’s personal cheerleader.
Great listening skills. Next, it is imperative for you to have great listening skills as a life coach. Listening to your clients is the most important part of your job. Not only must you listen to what your clients say, but you must also take note of their body language and other subtle messages.
Ability to be non-opinionated and nonjudgmental. Finally, you must be non-opinionated and nonjudgmental. Your clients come to you for advice, and because of this, it’s important for you to be able to give them unbiased advice on what they should do. Whether you agree with their decisions or not, you need to aid and support them no matter what.
If you love helping people achieve their goals, life coaching may be the career for you. To find out if life coaching is right for you, you can take our free life coaching quiz. If you discover you are still interested in the career path, you should consider certification. Even though the life coaching industry is unregulated, it does not mean you do not need to seek out experienced educators to learn from. Our Certified Coach Program can give you the tools and training you need to become a life coach in just six months.
If you want to work in a rewarding field where you get to help people every day, you may be interested in becoming a life coach. Life coaches make a career by helping others achieve their goals, whether they are to start a new career or improve their spiritual health. If you decide to become a life coach, you may be interested in seeking out certification.
Why should you trust Coach Training Alliance to train you
The life coaching industry is unregulated, meaning no formal education is required to work in this industry. However, just because there is no formal education required does not mean you should not try your best to learn as much as you can about working as a life coach.
Coach Training Alliance offers a life coaching certification course that allows you to work at your own pace with a team of professionals that can help you along the way. In just six months, you can graduate with a certification in life coaching and a thriving practice.
Our Certified Coach Program offers a premier learning environment with a limited class size of 12 participants. Our six-month, or 22-week, program allows you to focus on your work without guessing when you will be finished with the program. There are no delays in meeting graduation requirements or waiting for classes to open up. This program’s typical week has 60 to 90 minutes of tele-sessions with 2 to 5 hours of self-study and homework.
We utilize the LearnMore system because it enables our students to experience their knowledge fully. Our students are able to know experientially what they have already learned conceptually. We also incorporate the Four Pillars of Wisdom™ approach and the Circle of Learning™ methodology because we believe that learning does not take place in a classroom or hotel conference. Ultimately people learn better and faster by doing and being actively involved.
At the end of our program, you will feel secure and confident with your coaching skills, and you will be well on your way to having a thriving practice. Once the program is over, we offer many continuing education courses for you to continue learning as much as you can about life coaching.
The life coaching industry has dozens of niches, and one of the most unique niches is yoga coaching. If you have never heard of yoga coaching, you’re not alone. Yoga coaching is a life coaching niche that combines being a yoga instructor with a holistic wellness provider.
What is yoga coaching?
If you have a passion for holistic living, yoga, and life coaching, you may be interested in becoming a yoga coach. A yoga coach combines a yoga instructor and a life coach. Yoga coaches take a unique approach to both industries. A yoga coach will coach their students through challenges and changing habits for better health and longevity.
Because yoga teachers know intimately how what we fuel our body with affects our life and practice, yoga coaches can better assess the root causes of anxiety or stress and their clients lives. They can also advise ways to change these feelings through a combination of yoga practice and lifestyle changes.
Especially if you are passionate about yoga, you may be interested in becoming a yoga coach to help your clients on and off the mat. You may often find that people who practice yoga may be working against their yoga instruction in their daily lives. They may not understand how to make these lasting changes, and that is where you can assist them.
Even if you are a natural at helping others, it can be beneficial to seek out certification. Coach Training Alliance’s Certified Coach Program can help you hone your skills to better assist your clients. Our six-month training program can give you all the tools you need to have a thriving practice by the time you graduate.
Life coaches are people who help others develop plans and strategies to reach their goals. They force their clients to think critically about what they want in their lives and help them set up ways to achieve it.
Whether you are a new coach or a coach that has been working for a long time, here are three good techniques you can utilize in your life coaching sessions.
THREE good techniques to use in your life coaching sessions
Ask open-ended questions. First, it’s important to ask open-ended questions. When you ask open-ended questions, the conversation can flow nicely, and your client can open up more with their thoughts and struggles. This type of questioning also encourages self-reflection and encourages the client to find answers within themselves.
Engage in active listening. Next, active listening is an integral part of being a good coach. Active listening is the ability to focus completely on what a client is saying and not saying. This helps understand the meaning of what is said in the context of the client’s desires and self-expression. Active listening works in tandem with asking open-ended questions to further help your client formulate their own conclusions.
Role-playing games. Finally, depending on what type of coach you are, role-playing games can be highly beneficial to your coaching process. For example, if you’re coaching someone interested in a career change, playing out how an interview may go can be very helpful. Likewise, if someone struggles with their dating life, role-playing those situations can also be helpful.
If you love helping people, becoming a life coach can be a dream career because it allows you to help clients get the most out of their lives. The best way to ensure that you are giving your clients the best you can give them is to invest in a certified training course. Coach Training Alliance offers a Certified Coach Program that allows you to develop your coaching skills over six months and graduate with a certification and growing practice.
There are many niches within the life coaching profession. You can be a general life coach and help clients with whatever they bring to you, but if you have a passion for a specific type of coaching, you can always center your practice around that. For example, if you love finance, you can be a financial life coach.
What is a financial life coach?
A financial life coach is a person who enjoys working with others to create a financial plan for the future. A financial life coach can cover different avenues of finance, including personal and business. People who may be interested in hiring a financial life coach may be transitioning between working for an employer and starting their own business, getting out of debt, or saving for a major life purchase.
Financial life coaches may have their clients review spending habits, create budgets, outline financial plans, work through the emotional components surrounding money, and manage debt. However, financial life coaches have their limits. Financial coaches aren’t financial advisors, so if the client is looking for advice on how to invest in the stock market or start a retirement fund, they may need a financial advisor instead of a financial life coach.
If you are interested in becoming a financial life coach, it is important to ensure that the profession is for you. You should start by taking our life coaching quiz to see if you have what it takes to become a life coach. If so, the next step is to invest in a quality life coaching certification course, such as our Certified Coach Program, so you can learn a variety of techniques to help your clients work towards achieving their financial goals.
If you plan to become a life coach with a thriving practice, you will inevitably work with clients going through a divorce. For most people, divorce can be earth-shattering and life-changing, so it makes sense they would turn to life coaching. If you are dealing with a client going through a divorce, here are three tips for helping them through it.
3 Tips for Helping Your Clients through a Divorce
Listen more than you speak. First, like any life coaching client, you need to allow your client to be open and honest about how they’re feeling. You want to create a bed of comfort that allows your client to open up on their own time about the struggles they are facing. Not only does this develop confidence, but it can also make your client feel more understood and seen.
Realize where they’re coming from. Next, it’s important to understand where your client is coming from before you try to help them. If your client has been with the same person for 50 years, ending a relationship and rediscovering themselves will be overwhelming. On the other hand, some clients may be coming out of short, whirlwind relationships.
Parent them if you have to. Finally, you may have to parent your client during the divorce process. With all the emotional things going on, your client may become reckless, childish, and destructive. They may want to take drastic measures during the divorce process or even blame their ex-partner for everything that went wrong. Neither of these are healthy coping mechanisms, so you may have to be the voice of reason while they recalibrate themselves and their lives.
For most people, a divorce is a life-changing event. Getting a divorce is not just about ending a relationship with a partner, but it also comes with completely recalibrating life. If you are passionate about helping others through the hard points of their lives, you may be ideal for the life coaching profession.
Being a life coach is a challenging career, and if you’re interested in working with young people, you will face more challenges. Working with youth can be very rewarding, but you cannot work with them the same way you would with adults. Here are three tips for working as a life coach with young people.
3 Tips for being a life coach to young people
Actively listen. First, it’s imperative for you to actively listen to your client. This applies to all clients, of course, but it can be more important to young people who often feel like they are not adequately heard. It’s important for young people seeking life coaching to be open about what they’re experiencing in a judgment-free zone.
Encourage telling the truth. Often, young people live in a world where they have to edit the truth for the authority figures in their lives. One thing that you can offer them as a life coach is the ability to be completely honest with how they are feeling. You can encourage them to tell the truth about their feelings and all of their opinions.
Make it personal. Finally, it’s important to personalize each coaching session. While most young people need to hear similar things, the delivery should be tailored to the specific person you’re working with. You should also take the time to create a personalized program for the young person and meet with them on a schedule that is most beneficial to them.
Even though working as a life coach can be a challenging job, it is also very rewarding. If you are interested in becoming a life coach, the first step is to figure out if the profession is right for you. Take our free life coaching quiz to see if you have what it takes to become a life coach, and if you’re still interested in the career afterwards, it may be beneficial to enroll in our Certified Coach Program to hone your life coaching skills so you can offer the best to your lients.
The field of life coaching has blown up in the last couple of years, and it has become one of the fastest-growing professions. Life coaching is all about helping people reach their best selves, but sometimes the professions confuse with membership. Both can be necessary, but they are not a substitute for each other.
Let’s compare: Life Coach vs Mentor
What is the difference between a mentor and a life coach?
Depending on your goals in life, you may need both a life coach and a mentor, but neither of these positions is interchangeable. A coach and a mentor have different jobs. A life coach is a person who is task and performance-oriented. Life coaching aims to accomplish a goal, whether it be improving your financial health or making a plan to go back to school for the career of your dreams.
On the other hand, mentorship is about creating a partnership with the one being mentored. The mentor is invested in teaching the student everything they know about a particular industry. Mentors are often experts in their particular industry, and rather than being performance-driven, they are development-driven.
When you think of hiring a life coach, it is all about setting a time frame and achieving a short-term goal. The relationship tends to be strictly professional, and the structure of communication is formal with regularly scheduled meetings.
Mentorship differs from this because it tends to be a long-term, fluid relationship that is driven by the development of the mentee. While these relationships can be professional, they are informal and unstructured.
Put simply, if your client is looking to learn from an expert in their chosen field, you may want to direct them to a mentor. It’s important to know your limitations and not try to take on every single project. If you are still in the beginning stages of developing and marketing your business, you may be interested in our Certified Coach Program to hone your life coaching skills and develop a thriving practice in just six months.
If you are passionate about helping people unravel their limiting beliefs and reach their highest selves, you may be interested in becoming a life coach. A life coach is a person who provides one-on-one coaching to help their clients improve their lives. There are many different life coaches, including personal life coaches, business coaches, and executive coaches. However, there are many more.
Here are three unique types of life coaches.
THREE Unique Types of Life Coaches
Financial coach. First, if you have trouble managing your money, you may be interested in a financial coach. A financial coach can help you learn how to handle money wisely, discover the proper way to invest, and provide guidance when saving and creating a budget.
Wellness coach. Next, a wellness coach can help you if you are on a journey towards a better lifestyle. A wellness coach can provide you with the tools for maintaining a healthy body along with taking care of your mental health and your spiritual health. This coach is similar to a holistic approach, except it focuses on wellness in general.
Recovery coach. Finally, the third unique type of life coach is a recovery coach. A recovery coach focuses on helping someone overcome addictions. These addictions can include alcohol, drugs, or any other form of codependency. Recovery life coaches focus on offering ongoing help for stopping addictions and reducing addictive behaviors.
Becoming a life coach is a rewarding career path, but you do not have to become a general life coach if you do not want to. The best part about becoming a life coach is that you can focus on helping anyone you want. Whether you choose to be an executive life coach or a recovery coach, it is important to hone your skills with a certified coaching program so that you can offer the best to your clients.
One of the most rewarding things about becoming a life coach is that learning is never over. Whether you have been a life coach for two decades or two months, there is always something new to learn.
Here are three unique ways you can help your coaching clients.
THREE Unique ways to help your life coach clients
Have firm boundaries. The first step to offering the best to your clients is to know your boundaries. If you stretch yourself too thin, you are doing no one a favor, especially not your clients. It’s important to set the ground rules for your coaching practice as soon as possible, so you already know how to deal with potentially difficult clients. You also should decide how much you will allow clients to contact you in between sessions. There’s nothing wrong with answering a few calls or emails, but you can quickly end up offering too much for free.
Take time to yourself. Next, while it is tempting to work all the time, it is imperative that you take time to yourself. Working all the time may make you more money, but it may come at the cost of your patience and ability to continuously give your clients what they need. You do not have to take a weeklong vacation if you do not want to. A weekend off once a month and be the perfect way to rejuvenate you, so you’re ready and refreshed.
Get comfortable with silence. Finally, The most important and often underrated skill is learning when to speak and when not to speak. Sometimes it is necessary to stop talking, stay quiet, and let a comfortable silence create a space for your clients to be open. If your client does not say anything after a silence, you can prompt them to continue, but it is still important to accept that silences may happen.
Honing your life coaching skills is an ongoing and continuous practice. One way to ensure that you are giving your clients the best you have to offer is to invest in a certified coaching program. A certified coaching program can give you all the tools you need to assist your clients and develop a thriving practice at the same time.
A life coach is a professional who helps people make progress in their lives to achieve greater happiness. Life coaches can help their clients in many ways, including in their relationships, careers, and day-to-day lives. If you are interested in becoming a life coach, you may be wondering how difficult it is to get a coaching certification.
How difficult is it to get a life coaching certification
The field of life coaching has been around for several decades, but it is an unregulated profession. This means that there is no official certification you need to become a life coach, nor are there specific college programs to give you a degree in this field.
Even though there are no degrees required to become a life coach, it is important for anyone interested in working in this field to hone their skills. Obtaining a life coaching certification takes dedication and hard work like any certification program, but if life coaching is the career field for you, the work will be enjoyable.
When looking for a quality life coaching certification program, you should look for a program that meets your needs, is flexible, and can give you a certification along with helping you develop your business. Coach Training Alliance’s Certified Coach Program is all these and more.
Our certified coach program allows you to become a life coach with paying clients and growing practice in just six months. Our program is certified by the International Coach Federation (ICF) approved coaching certification program.
We utilize the LearnMore System and incorporate the Four Pillars of Wisdom approach and the Circle of Learning methodology. These learning techniques allow you to fully experience what you already know conceptually because we believe that learning does not take place in a classroom or a conference room. Instead, learning flourishes in the real-world context.
If you are interested in becoming a life coach, the first step is to ensure the career is right for you. You can take our life coaching quiz to see if this profession is something you would enjoy. Then the next step is to get into a certified coaching program that will guide you along the way to becoming a successful life coach.
Life coaching is one of the fastest-growing career fields, but it isn’t for everyone. A life coach is a special kind of person who excels at connecting with their clients and helping them develop their skills, confidence, and discipline to reach their highest selves.
If you have a passion for helping others obtain their goals, you may be interested in becoming a life coach.
How To know if Life Coaching is Right for You
A life coach is a wellness professional that helps people make progress in their lives. There are many different life coaches, including personal coaches, executive coaches, and small business coaches, but all life coaches specialize in improving their clients’ lives.
Life coaches aren’t therapists. While therapists focus on the past, life coaches focus on the future. Life coaches help you clarify your goals and identify limiting beliefs that can hold you back from ultimate success.
Life coaches have some things in common. Most life coaches have been helping people their entire lives. They have spent years giving people advice and helping people unpack obstacles holding them back. They also enjoy it. If this sounds like you, then life coaching is probably an ideal profession for you.
However, not all life coaches start this way. Some people prefer to have more experience before advising others, which is okay too. If you feel like you would make a good life coach, you can take our life coaching quiz to see if this profession is right for you.
Giving advice to friends and family is different than becoming a professional life coach. Even if you have been giving advice, once you decide to go into business as a life coach, it’s important to look into certification. A life coaching certification course can help you further hone your life coaching skills while developing a practice. With the right life coaching course, you can be assisting clients through a thriving practice in just six months.
When you first begin taking clients, it’s tempting to take every client that contacts you. However, not every client will be your ideal client. At the beginning of your coaching career, it’s important to focus on who your ideal client is so you can work towards attaining them.
You can’t target your ideal client if you don’t know what it is, so here are some tips for determining your ideal client.
3 Ways to Determine your ideal coaching client
Assess what niche they’re interested in. First, if you are focusing on a particular coaching niche, then you want to make sure your clients have the same interests as you. It’s important for you to be able to offer sincere and genuine advice to help your client reach their goals, so if they are looking for a niche you are not interested in, it’s best to refer them to another coach.
Evaluate their goals. Next, you want to have an interest in their goals. This assessment can be done through a questionnaire or an initial session. After gathering this information, you will have an idea of what kind of clients you enjoy working with, such as entrepreneurs or people on their spiritual journey.
Check your intuition. Finally, is always something to be said about intuition. The final step to determining if a coaching client is right for you is to see what your body tells you. It’s important to question seeds and perceptions because these will help you make good decisions.
Finding your ideal client is only one part of being a successful coach. Another aspect of being a successful coach is having training sessions to hone your coaching skills. Even though the life coaching industry is an unregulated field, it is important to get a certification anyway. Courses like coach training alliances Certified Coach Program can give you all the tools to be a successful life coach.
If you enjoy helping people make plans to reach their goals in life, then you may be interested in becoming a life coach. Life coaching is a fast-growing field that allows people to get one-on-one coaching through any facet of their lives, whether it be their career or their spiritual journey.
Even though you may love the work, it’s still important to price the value you give your client accordingly
How to set your life coach fees
Most people don’t like to talk about money, especially when it relates to their work, but to be successful as a life coach, you must monetize the value you give to your clients. For most coaches, it’s not all about the money, but unfortunately, no one can work for free.
The first step to figuring out how much you want to charge for your time is to set some goals. It’s important to figure out how much money you need in a month and how many clients you want to see. Once you decide on these two things, it is easier to calculate how much you should charge for your life coaching fees.
It can be difficult to stay firm to your prices in a world that undervalues certain services or if you feel underqualified for the work that you are doing. Having confidence and self-assurance is necessary for this business, but you should also hone your skills to offer your clients the best benefit. One way to hone your skills is to take a certified life coaching course, such as the one offered by Coach Training Alliance.
One of the hardest things you will do in your business is set your prices. Pricing can be stressful, but it is important to price yourself fairly to achieve the monetary success you desire. It’s also important to make sure you offer your clients value for the money you’re charging, so honing your coaching skills and taking continued certified courses can be a way to establish value to them.
Many people enter the life coaching industry every year, and it is one of the fastest-growing self-help industries out there. If you are interested in becoming a life coach, the first step is to take a life coaching quiz to see if the profession is right for you. If you’re still interested after the quiz, you may be wondering if you need a college degree to be a life coach.
Do I need a college degree to be a life coach
The field of life coaching is unregulated, meaning there are no required certifications to work in this field. This can be a good thing and a bad thing. On the one hand, you do not need a college degree to work as a life coach. On the other hand, there are plenty of life coaches who may not have any certification.
There’s nothing wrong with being a life coach without certification, but generally speaking, people who are passionate about their work tend to seek out growth opportunities. If you are skilled at coaching people through their struggles, you will only get better by taking a certified course.
Coach Training Alliance’s Certified Coach Program can help you hone your coaching skills so you can give the best to your clients. This six-month course takes a hands-on approach to learning and gives you all the necessary tools to have an established practice by the time you graduate. Coach training Alliance also offers continuing education courses, including an executive coaching course.
The life coaching industry is an unregulated field. This means there are no required programs or certifications needed to work as a life coach. However, people who are passionate about their work tend to seek out opportunities to improve their skills. These opportunities can include taking certified coaching programs and continuing education programs to master the skill of life coaching.
There are many coaching niches, but one of the most common niches is the life and wellness space. Similar to sports coaches, life and wellness coaches push their clients to find success and become satisfied with their job or lifestyle. If someone has a dream of the ideal life they haven’t achieved yet, they need a life and wellness coach.
How to be a life and wellness coach
A life and wellness coach combines a life coach and a wellness coach. While both are quite similar, they focus on two different things that the life and wellness coach niche brings together.
A life coach is a professional who guides their clients to improve their careers, relationships, and lives. Life coaches can help their clients recognize their skills, hone in on their life goals, and overcome challenges along the way.
On the other hand, a wellness coach helps their clients find motivation and develop tools to reach their goals. Wellness goals can range from losing a few pounds to lowering stress and quitting smoking. The difference between a wellness coach and a nutritionist or physical therapist is that a wellness coach gives general choices that can fit any lifestyle.
A life and wellness coach’s ideal client usually needs guidance on moving forward in their career, wants to learn how to utilize their strengths and talents better, is stuck on major life decisions, and likely doesn’t have a successful work-life balance.
If you love coaching people to help them reach their goals and dreams, a career in the life coaching industry may be ideal. However, before you open your doors and start picking clients, it’s important to hone your skills through a certified coaching course. Coach Training Alliance’s Certified Coach Program is a self-paced, six-month program that helps you build a practice while refining your coaching skills so that you will have a growing coaching business as soon as you graduate.
If you love helping people achieve their goals and improve their lives, you may be torn between becoming a therapist or a life coach. When people think of improving their lives, they default to getting therapy, but life coaching can be highly beneficial. As a life coach, you will focus on strategies to help your clients reach their goals.
What is the difference between a life coach and a therapist?
While therapists and life coaches can be great for improving your life, they’re not the same. The major difference between therapy and life coaching is that life coaching focuses on your goals while therapy focuses on mental health.
There are reasons to see a therapist, of course, because they are mental health professionals regulated within the field of healthcare. They require specific schooling and licensing to practice. If someone is experiencing distressing mental health symptoms, including anxiety, depression, or trauma, they need to see a therapist.
However, if someone is interested in getting unstuck and working towards meeting their goals, they may be more interested in a life coach. A life coach can help a person accelerate their career, replace unhelpful habits with healthy ones, and step out of their comfort zone to experience life.
If you are interested in helping someone open themselves up to new experiences and achieve their highest selves, you may be interested in becoming a life coach. While the life coaching field is unregulated, it doesn’t mean you should practice without certification. Coach Training Alliance’s Certified Coach Program can help you learn the skills you need to develop a thriving life coaching business in six months.
Life coaching and therapy are two different professions with different goals. Therapy is all about looking into your past and healing trauma, while life coaching is about looking forward and taking the next steps in your career and life.
A life coach is a person who helps clients improve their lives. Whether a person is considering a career switch, looking for more fulfillment in life, or improving their intimate relationships, a life coach can help all of these things. If you enjoy helping people make plans to reach their goals and discover who they truly are, then you may be interested in becoming a life coach.
How long does it take to become a life coach?
Life coaching is one of the fastest-growing self-help industries, and this is because people are looking to better themselves and their lives. If you are interested in helping someone on their journey to achieve their highest selves, you may be interested in becoming a life coach. You can take our free life coaching quiz to see if this is the career path for you.
If you’re committed to becoming a life coach, you can become a certified coach with a growing practice in just six months. Coach Training Alliance’s Certified Coach Program offers intimate training programs with a maximum of 12 participants each. The course is 22 weeks long, and you will know exactly when you will finish the program. With no delays or waiting for classes to open up, you can start on your path to becoming a life coach immediately.
Coach Training Alliance utilizes the LearnMore System™, and we incorporate the Four Pillars of Wisdom™ approach and the Circle of Learning™ methodology. This allows you to fully experience your knowledge because we believe that learning does not take place in the classroom or hotel conference room. We believe that we learn more, better, and faster by doing and being actively involved.
If you’re interested in a rewarding career path that allows you to help others achieve their goals and reach their highest selves, then you may be interested in becoming a life coach. In just six short months, you can become a certified coach with a growing practice through our life coaching program.
The field of life coaching has been growing steadily for the last few years, and even despite the COVID-19 pandemic, the industry has grown. This year is one of the best times to start a life coaching business, but there are some things to be mindful of as you work with your clients.
Coaching Clients in 2022
The pandemic has made virtual communication a norm, and it will not go away. For this reason, coaches have to be accommodating and accept that not everybody is comfortable with face-to-face sessions. Because of the pandemic, not everyone who wants to work with a life coach can see them in person. Clients also expect more flexible and personalized solutions, which can mean multiple communication options and more varied schedules.
The year 2022 is also the time to focus on authenticity in your branding. Life coaching is all about helping others, and it’s important for your potential clients to be comfortable talking and working with you. It can be difficult to make sure you are coming across as genuine, but the main thing to do is be honest. Admitting that you don’t know everything can go a long way towards authenticity, and you should also leave gimmicky marketing and buzzwords behind.
Finally, you should also focus on yourself. Life coaching is all about helping others, but it is still important to take care of your own personal growth. Whether you are just starting your coaching career or have been a life coach for years and are looking for continued education, Coach Training Alliance has something for everybody. New coaches can take our Certified Coach Program to further develop their coaching skills. Experienced coaches can select from various continuing education courses, including our Executive Training Course.
Working as a life coach in 2022 looks different from previous years. The life coaching industry has grown tremendously and shows no signs of slowing down. However, working as a life coach in today’s world presents unique challenges.
Life coaching has been around for several decades, but it is still a field that most people know little about. If you’re interested in helping people reach their goals and jumpstart their lives, life coaching may be the field for you. However, you probably heard plenty of myths about it.
Here are three common myths about being a life coach.
THREE Myths about Being a Life Coach
Coaching is a new form of therapy. A common myth about life coaching is that it is a new form of therapy or counseling. Life coaching is a separate profession from therapy, and it is more about helping clients better their lives than digging into the past. Life coaching is also one of the fastest-growing careers worldwide, and many therapists have become life coaches as well.
You don’t need training to become a life coach. The life coaching field is unregulated, meaning there is no standard career path to become a life coach. Unlike therapists who have to go to a four-year accredited university, anyone can say they are a life coach. Unfortunately, this means many people are practicing without proper education or certification. If you are interested in becoming a life coach but want knowledge and experience, consider taking a certified life coaching course.
Life coaches tell their clients what to do. Finally, some people believe that life coaches tell the clients what to do. Many people, including parents, friends, and coworkers, enjoy telling people what they should be doing. Life coaches, on the other hand, do not focus on what people should or should not be doing. They are there to listen and work with the client to develop the best way to achieve their goals. With life coaching, it’s all about the client.
Life coaching is a fast-growing career field, but some people still don’t know much about it. These three myths are common assumptions about the field of life coaching.
Have you ever felt like you didn’t deserve the accomplishments you received? If so, you’ve experienced what psychologists call imposter syndrome. 70% of people experience these feelings at some point in their lives, and this problem affects people from all walks of life.
How to help your clients with imposter syndrome
Imposter syndrome is the idea that someone has only succeeded because of luck and not talents or qualifications. Imposter syndrome can include people who set extremely high expectations for themselves and people who feel like a failure even if they meet 99% of their goals.
Working as a life coach, you will encounter many people who suffer from imposter syndrome. Here are three tips you can use to help your client with imposter syndrome.
Get them to open up. The first step to changing a problem is to recognize you have one. Once you get your client to open up about their imposter syndrome, it will be easier to overcome it.
Recognize when one should feel like an imposter. Next, there are some situations where you will feel like an imposter. For example, if you are in a location where people are much older or younger than you, or if you are the only woman, person of color, or person with a disability, it is natural to feel like an outsider.
Play up the positives. Finally, focus on positive qualities instead of the negative. It’s important to strive for excellence when it matters, but remind your client that mistakes are inevitable.
Many people suffer from imposter syndrome, including writers, artists, and even doctors, but there are ways to overcome them. With quality coaching, anyone can work through these feelings. If you have never coached someone struggling with imposter syndrome, Coach Training Alliance has many continued-education classes to help you further hone your coaching skills and offer the best to all of your clients.
People say losing your job can be as impactful on your life as ending a marriage or long-term relationship. Losing a job can be one of the most professionally traumatic experiences your client will ever have, and this should be taken into consideration during coaching.
Here are three tips on how to guide your client through a layoff.
How to Guide your clients through a layoff
Work through the emotions. First, many emotions come with getting laid off, and you have to make space for them. The client may feel overwhelmed or stressed or feel relieved that they are out of a difficult job situation. No matter what, there will be an emotional impact that comes with this transition.
Evaluate career goals. Once your client has processed the emotions associated with being laid off, they can evaluate what they want to do moving forward. Some clients may want to take the opportunity to switch careers, go back to school, or open a business for themselves, and you can help them discover these things.
Make a new plan. Finally, it’s time to help them develop a new action plan. If they seek employment, you can help them create a fresh resume and help them negotiate job offers. If they are interested in working for themselves, you can help them create a business plan and narrow down the focus of what they want their business to be about.
Being laid off is one of the most professionally traumatic experiences most people will ever go through. Because of this, you have to be sensitive in how you approach it with your clients. To ensure you have the tools you need to coach your client through such a life-changing event, you should invest in a certified training program. A certified training program, such as Coach Training Alliance’s Certifed Coach Program, will give you all of the skills you need to work as a life coach, along with connecting you with industry professionals that can mentor you as your coaching practice grows.
Becoming a life coach can be rewarding if you enjoy helping other people make plans to achieve their goals. There are many different fields of life coaching, from spiritual life coaching to executive life coaching, and all have their benefits. However, this field can be unpredictable. You may have to use all of your life coaching tools you have to help your clients at times.
THREE Unexpected things you will have to help your clients with
Their confidence. Your client may come to you with specific goals, such as helping them build a five-year career plan or with their interpersonal relationships, but in the long run, you will probably help them with their confidence. This is a side effect of helping them with their other goals, and it is a pleasant bonus. Their communication skills. You will also help your client with their communication skills. Each person communicates differently, and most disagreements are because of miscommunication. Your client will become better at communicating professional and personal needs once they are done with your coaching. Their long-term goals. Finally, whether your client comes with specific goals in mind or needs general guidance, you will end up helping them with their long-term goals. Many people have plans for the next year or two, but few have goals that span over ten years. Because coaching is all about getting the most out of life, you will get your clients automatically thinking about what they want for the future. You will need to dig deep in your bag of life coaching tools to help, but your clients will be so much more rewarded because of it.
Life coaching can be a rewarding field because you get to help people reach their highest selves every day. If you’re interested in becoming a life coach, you should take our life coach quiz to see if this profession is right for you. If it is, then the best way to hone your coaching skills and be prepared for what you will experience is to take a certified coaching program. This program will help you develop the tools you need to work with all different types of clients.
A promotion can come with many changes. Not only will your client have new responsibilities, but they will also have to navigate new relationships with their coworkers. Many promotions end in disaster, So coaching your client Through their promotion is important.
How to coach your clients through a promotion
A promotion can be one of the biggest challenges your client will face while also being a source of motivation and inspiration. Either way, it can be a stressful time for your client. The first step to adjusting to a promotion is to assess the new environment.
This comes with a set of questions you can ask your client. You can ask them where they are, what has changed, what is important to them, and what is expected of them. You can also ask them what defines success or failure in the new position.
Breaking up with the past and accepting the reality will be paramount for your client to succeed in the new position, so talking through the changes that they may experience with their coworkers, their boss, and even inside themselves will help them prepare.
You can also help your client set short- and long-term goals and expectations for the new position. These goals can be monetary, sales-based, or personal. Goals can help your client understand what they want out of the position and out of their life, whether it is to settle comfortably into the position they’re in or eventually receive a new promotion.
Promotions are rewarding, exciting, and stressful. They can also come with big changes, new relationships, and more responsibilities. If you enjoy coaching people through promotions, you may be ideal for an executive coach. Executive coaching can provide a dramatic short-term impact for companies and help them manifest changes.
If you are looking for an ever-changing field where you get to work with people every single day, then you may be interested in becoming a life coach. Life coaches aren’t therapists, and they don’t focus on the past. Instead, they focus on the future and helping their clients develop goals to become their best selves. If this sounds interesting, you may be wondering if life coaching is a viable career for you.
Is life coaching a viable career for me?
Life coaching is a rewarding career field because you get to help clients every day. Even though these clients will be from various walks of life, they will all be coming to you to help them discover more about themselves and make a plan to reach their goals, whatever they may be. If you are on the fence about becoming a life coach, the first step is to take our free life coaching quiz to see if this career is for you.
Once you have committed to becoming a life coach, you should seek out certification. While the life coaching industry is unregulated, it doesn’t mean that you should not hone your skills with our Certified Coach Program. This program will help you develop your skills and start your business, and in six months, you will have a thriving business along with a certification.
Working as a life coach can be challenging, especially as you start looking for your first client. The best way to attract that first client is by offering sample sessions, so they can get a feel for how it is to work with you. As you help them trust their own instincts and improve their lives, they will refer you to their friends and family, and you will have plenty of people eager for your services.
Working as a life coach means you will work with a variety of people. People seek out life coaching for different reasons, but the longer you stay in the field, the faster you notice trends. The benefit of knowing the type of client you’re seeing is quickly pinpointing what their driving goals are. This will help you and your client work out a solution faster. Here are five types of clients you will have as a life coach.
5 Types of Clients you will have as a Life Coach
1. The spiritual client. First, the spiritual client will come to you looking for a solution to their lack of fulfillment. They want happiness, and they are looking for passion and meaning in life.
2. The performance-oriented client. This type of client is eager to improve on what they are already doing. Most of the time, these clients are professionals who want to increase their performance.
3. The relationship client. This client usually comes to you because they are interested in improving a relationship in their life. This could be a marriage, friendship, or family, but the driving goal is to restore what they feel has been lost.
4. The work-life balance client. For some people, work-life balance is a major challenge, and you will inevitably get clients who want to develop healthier habits. This client could be dissatisfied with their job and feel like they have lost what is really important to them.
5. The self-improvement client. Finally, the last type of client you are going to encounter is the self-improvement client. This client is ambitious and goal-oriented and is generally looking to enhance their life. They are looking for achievements.
Every client is individual, and they can’t be narrowed down to a specific stereotype. For the most part, each client you encounter will have one particular goal that drives them to seek your help. Knowing the driving goals of your client will help you hone in on why they have come to you for guidance. If you’re looking for training on how to handle these types of clients and others, check out our programs or take a free quiz to see if coaching is right for you!
At the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, job resignation rates plummeted to shocking levels. However, a year later, they have risen past pre-pandemic levels and reached new heights. The Great Resignation, also known as the Big Quit, is characterized by employees voluntarily leaving their jobs, mostly due to dissatisfaction, and switching career fields.
What the great resignationmeans for you as a life coach
During the Great Resignation, people have been quitting their jobs for a variety of reasons. One major reason is that they are reporting low job satisfaction and discontent in how companies have been handling wages despite the rising cost of living.
The COVID-19 pandemic has allowed workers to rethink their careers and long-term goals, and the move back to the office has prompted many people to seek new employment. These are the biggest highlights of the great resignation. Because these people do not always know what they want to do next, they may seek out the help of a life coach.
Especially for those who have been in the same career for five, ten, or even 15 years, hiring a life coach to navigate the great resignation is imperative. However, many people may not realize the benefit of a life coach. The best way to appeal to these potential clients is to offer sample sessions. Sample sessions are great because they can allow prospective clients to see what it is like to work with a life coach and show the benefits you can bring to them.
Resigning from a job is a life-changing moment, and right now, people are resigning from their jobs in record-breaking fashion. Many of them are electing to switch careers, and they may need a life coach to guide them through this change.
If you love helping people realize their potential and make plans to reach their biggest goals, then you may be interested in becoming a life coach. While the field of life coaching is unregulated, you should still seek out a certification to help you develop your coaching skills and start your coaching business. However, even the best coaching course will not prepare you for everything you will experience. There are three unexpected things about being a professional life coach.
Three unexpected things about being a Professional Coach
1. There are dozens of niches. Before you become a life coach, you may think that life coaching is one large field. That couldn’t be further from the truth. In fact, life coaching is one field that is made up of dozens of niches. No matter what your interests are, be it small business coaching, executive coaching, or spiritual coaching, you can find people who need your expertise.
2. You may also need a coach. Next, just because you are a life coach doesn’t mean you do not need one yourself. If you are changing careers or going through another major life change, it may be beneficial for you to seek out an experienced life coach to help you work through it. There is nothing wrong with hiring a life coach, even if it’s your profession. After all, doctors don’t treat themselves, either.
3. Your clients will force you to grow. Finally, as you help your clients, you will grow as well. Being a life coach requires keeping an open mind and helping clients make strategic plans to reach their goals. Because of this, you will interact closely with your clients, and they will be able to open your eyes to new ways of thinking and unique solutions you may not have ever considered. With each client you help, you also grow as a person.
Working as a life coach can be a rewarding career, especially if you enjoy helping people work towards becoming their best selves and reaching their highest goals. However, no amount of training can fully prepare you for what’s to come.
There are many different types of life coaches out there, but one of the most powerful is a spiritual life coach. Spiritual life coaching helps clients connect to who they really are in a world that tries to define them with materialistic things and social constructs.
A spiritual life coach works with their client to help navigate their client’s life, uncover their deepest desires, take steps toward their goals, and destroy limiting beliefs.
If becoming a spiritual life coach sounds like the right path for you, it’s important to evaluate yourself in this process. When it comes to helping others, you must have a deep sense of peace within yourself to put forward positive and calming energy and create a safe space for your clients. If you are interested in becoming a spiritual life coach, you must achieve your own sense of connection with the universe and a level of harmony within yourself.
Once you have developed a sense of balance, it’s time to look into credentials for becoming a life coach. While life coaching is an unregulated field, meaning there is no specific degree or board exam required to practice, it’s still best to seek certification from a qualified life coaching program, such as Coach Training Alliance’s Certified Coach Program.
This program prepares you for real-world coaching better than any other program out there, and within six months, you will become a certified coach with a growing practice. This program allows you to begin your coaching career while you learn through teleconferencing, online media, and interactive software that can be downloaded directly to your computer.
With group mentoring and coach-the-coach opportunities, you will build a wealth of techniques and practical experience to help your clients break through limiting beliefs and develop a spiritual path towards becoming their highest selves. This is what being a spiritual life coach is all about.
Many people scoff at the idea of defining generations, but there is usually a clear distinction between generations and their tendencies. People born in Generation Z are defined through their diversity and that they are the first generation to never know a time before the internet. They are also pragmatic, financially minded, and can struggle with mental health challenges.
While Generation Z is a powerful and intelligent and generation, coaching them brings on new and different challenges.
People who fit into this generation are fixated on measuring themselves against external factors, such as social media and their peers. Coaching them can help them tune into their own internal knowing.
Especially if there is an age gap between your client and you, it’s important to respect their experiences and show an interest in their specific needs. For a generation with so much input and so many distractions, it’s important to cultivate a space where your clients can gradually discover their true wants and needs. The best method for this is using tools and techniques that help them tune into their thoughts, feelings, and desires. This will help them clarify their values and priorities.
Being one of the most politically knowledgeable generations, Generation Z can quickly feel overwhelmed by issues with no simple resolution, such as climate change and human rights. Life coaching can help them work through these feelings and gain clarity on how they want their future to be.
Coaching the younger generation can be rewarding because they are defined by their diversity, mastery of the internet and social media, and political awareness. However, because of these things, they also can struggle with mental health challenges, financial constraints, and feeling a lack of agency.
The best way to reach this generation is by listening to them, helping them tune in to their desires. If you are taking on younger clients, Coach Training Alliance has plenty of resources to help you tap into their needs.
If you have a passion for coaching people in the professional world, you may be interested in becoming a career coach. A career coach specifically helps people progress towards their long-term career goals.
Changing careers is one of the hardest things a person will ever do, so hiring a career coach to work through a job transition is natural. Many career coaches have a background in recruiting or HR and have a passion for helping people thrive in the professional world.
If this seems like you, then the first step to coaching your clients through a job transition is to make sure you are equipped with the skills to be an effective coach. Taking a certified coach training program, such as Coach Training Alliance’s Certified Coach Program, will give you the tools and knowledge to effectively communicate with your clients.
This program is a six-month course that allows you to work as a coach while learning, so when you graduate, you will already have a growing practice. Our Certified Coach Program utilizes the LearnMore™ system that incorporates The Four Pillars of Wisdom™ approach and The Circle of Learning™ methodology. We believe that the best way to learn is by doing and being actively involved.
Once you have completed the Certified Coach Program, you can then leverage your background and coaching knowledge to reach clients looking to change careers or transition from one job to another. People may job transition for various reasons, including a better workplace environment, looking to be more fulfilled in their career, or relocating from one job market to another. As a certified coach, you will be able to work closely with them and develop a relationship where you can help them develop plans to attain the goals they desire.
The COVID-19 pandemic has brought many changes to the world, and one of the biggest changes that this pandemic has brought is a shift in the workplace. Many employees went from five days at the office to working exclusively from home. They have learned how to manage their tasks without oversight and may now place a higher value on family time and personal priorities.
With many employees preparing to go back to the office, one must acknowledge that office life post-pandemic will not look the same as it did pre-pandemic.
One of the greatest things that has come from the pandemic is knowing that employees can independently regulate themselves. They now place a higher priority on autonomy and family time, and they are used to having more control over how and when their work gets done. These more independent employees may feel like they don’t even need a manager anymore, which means a manager’s job will look different.
As we move forward and rebuild our lives post-pandemic, managers may take on a coaching or mentoring position more than a managing position. With this in mind, leveraging some of the skills used by life coaches may be beneficial to reconnect with employees and foster a more progressive work environment. One way to do this is by investing in Human Capital Coaching.
Human Capital Coaching is one of our training programs that focuses on using coaching skills within the context of an organizational progression. Rather than coaching clients individually, this program focuses on supporting employees and aligning the talent of individuals with the goals and strategies of the organization.
This three-month course will allow organizations to better understand and communicate with employees as they move back into the office. Even though your employees may look the same as they did when they left, they will not be the same people after a year of living through unprecedented times.
A business coach is a life coach who provides an outside perspective for you and your business. They not only help you with business-related matters, but they also help you with personal career problems, such as finding career fulfillment and figuring out what is most important to you.
What to expect from a business coach
A business coach is designed to help you answer larger questions in your life. For example, if you’re wondering why you feel unfulfilled in your career choice, how to choose what to pursue next, or how to get unstuck, then a business coach may be right for you.
Business coaches will not solve your problems for you. Instead, they will help you shine light on what you’re doing and how your processes may or may not work for you. The point of a business coach is to help you find your purpose in life and find success when pursuing that purpose.
You can expect your business coach to assist you in defining a vision of a desired outcome, help you use systematic processes to analyze your current situation, identify problems moving forward, and help establish accountability.
Business coaches, however, will not do the work for you. If you’re looking for someone to help you write your business plan or help you intimately with your business, then you are looking for a secretary or an assistant. On the other hand, a business coach is primarily focused on helping you work towards the vision you see for yourself in the future.
If you seek a career change or are a new entrepreneur, a business coach may be beneficial to you because they can help you clearly define your purpose and goals in life and help you work towards them. A business coach will not solve your problems for you or hand you the answers, but they will be invested in helping you achieve whatever success you desire.
Technically, anyone can become a life coach because no official requirements or credentials are needed to practice in this field. In fact, you don’t even have to have a certification to call yourself a coach.
However, just because anyone can become a life coach doesn’t mean everyone should.
Can I become a life coach?
The title of “life coach” indicates that, in essence, you have lived a life and have had to potentially overcome obstacles, making you qualified to counsel others and help them do the same. Life coaches enjoy helping and supporting people so they can reach their goals.
While you can become a life coach with no credentials or certification, many people get coaching certification anyway. Life coaching certification cannot make you a life coach if you do not have the raw ingredients already. If you are passionate about helping people unlock their true potential, a life coaching certification program can help you add tools and resources to your practice.
Coach Training Alliance offers several different coaching courses that are ICF-approved. Our courses are designed to create positive change, regardless of the types of goals, and our Certified Coach Program offers a six-month (22 week) program to obtain your coaching certification. With small class sizes and a learning system based on the four pillars of wisdom, this course will have you ready to start taking clients as soon as you graduate from it.
Anyone can become a life coach, but those passionate about the life coaching field tend to seek continued education and certification courses to better their skills and help their clients more.
If you’re interested in becoming a life coach, but you’re not sure if it’s the right career for you, you can take our life coach quiz. Afterward, you can enroll in a certified coach training program, such as our Certified Coach Program, to start your journey to becoming a life coach.
A life coach is a person who helps people make progress in their lives to achieve fulfillment. Life coaches can help their clients with careers, relationships, and even day-to-day life choices.
Life coaches aren’t therapists, and they do not solve their client’s problems for them. What they do is help their clients by connecting with them on a personal level and helping them work towards their goals.
How to be a good life coach
1. Listen to your clients. The most important part of being a quality life coach is listing to your clients. Making assumptions about them or projecting your own opinions on them is not the purpose of a life coach. Instead, it’s important to hear and understand what they are saying about their lives and assist them that way.
2. Cultivate positive energy. Energy is important, and life coaches need to have positive energy. People seek life coaches to assist them in making changes in their lives and seek greater happiness, so a negative life coach cannot effectively help clients.
3. Seek true connections. When coaching, a life coach should seek a true connection with their clients. Especially in certain fields, such as business coaching or executive coaching, the connection is important to deeper the relationship and foster growth.
4. Continue learning and honing your skills. Finally, a good life coach always continues bettering their skills. Life coaches regularly take certification courses and educational classes to make sure they are always offering the best to their clients.
If you enjoy helping people reach their goals, then becoming a certified life coach may be the right career choice for you. However, life coaches aren’t therapists, and they don’t solve their client’s problems for them. A good life coach listens to their clients, cultivates positive energy, seeks true connections, and continues learning and honing their skills to offer the best to their clients all the time.
The life coaching industry is a fast-growing industry that is very flexible and open to people from all walks of life. The main purpose of a life coach is to help their clients improve their relationships, careers, and day-to-day lives. However, life coaches are not therapists. A life coach’s goal isn’t to solve someone else’s problems for them but instead to encourage their clients to think deeper within themselves to maximize their potential.
Unlike other professional fields, life coaching is a non-regulated industry, meaning there are no laws governing the field. You do not require a degree to become a life coach, and life coach training organizations do not need to be accredited by a governing body. Does this mean you need a certification to work as a life coach?
The short answer to this question is no. At the current moment, becoming a life coach doesn’t require certification. However, this may not last forever, and it doesn’t mean you should not get a certification.
While you can become a life coach with no certification at all, you shouldn’t. A life coaching certification program gives you many benefits when it comes to your life coaching practice. It will provide you with a plethora of coaching tools, peer group sessions, and even one-on-one coaching from an experienced life coach in the industry.
It’s not uncommon to see people with no certification working as a life coach. This doesn’t mean they are bad coaches, but it can mean that they haven’t spent time to expand their knowledge on coaching or looked into becoming a certified coach through the International Coach Federation (ICF). A certified coaching program will give you a solid knowledge base of coaching techniques, prepare you for ICF certification, and give you the tools you need to succeed in business.
There are many different niches in the life coaching field, and if your passion is for business, you can become a business coach. Business coaches differ from regular life coaches because they focus on working closely with those who work in the business field, be it entrepreneurs, small business owners, or C-level executives.
How to become a business coach
1. Make sure coaching is right for you. If you’re interested in becoming a business coach, the first thing you need to do is make sure that life coaching is the right career path for you. Life and business coaches aren’t therapists, and they don’t solve other people’s problems for them. Instead, they work closely with their clients to create a space of openness and prompt their clients to think deeper within themselves and maximize their potential.
2. Take a life coach training program. Next, it’s important for you to take a life coaching certification program. While the field of life coaching is a non-regulated field, it doesn’t mean you should not have a certification to practice your craft. It would be best to look for a program that is certified by the International Coaching Federation (ICF). While business and life coaching are different, to be a business coach we would still recommend getting your Life Coaching Certification.
3. Attract your clients. Finally, it’s time to start helping people. Once you become a business coach, the best way to attract your first clients is to offer sample sessions and show them what you can add to their lives. The best way to bring more clients to your door is to allow your current clients to speak for you. Once they experience the benefits of your coaching practice, they will have no problem promoting you to others.
If you enjoy helping business people reach their maximum potential, a career as a life coach may be the ideal profession for you. While there are many niches in the life coaching field, a business life coach is a coach that focuses more on entrepreneurs, small business owners, or C-level executives.
If you’ve decided to become a life coach, you already know that the life coaching business is far different from other small business professions. As such, you’re probably wondering do life coaches need a business license? First, you don’t necessarily need employees, and second, the structure is also a little different from a retail business.
Regardless of that, a common question new life coaches ask is if they need a business license to practice.
Generally speaking, no, a life coach does not need a business license to practice. However, this can differ from city to city, so it is important to check your local business regulations to ensure that you do not need a license to practice.
Even though you don’t need a business license, you should still name your business and set up your legal entity. If your goals are to become a full-time life coach, it may be the most beneficial to set up your business as an LLC so you have limited liability protection. If you are working as a life coach on the side or taking only a couple of clients a year, then you may want to stick with a sole proprietorship, which is far more common than LLCs in the life coaching industry.
Whether you choose a limited liability corporation or a sole proprietorship, it’s more important to make sure you have the proper certification and experience to work as a life coach.A life coaching program, such as Coach Training Alliance’s certification programs, will help you develop your coaching skills while also teaching you how to run a business effectively and attract the clients you want. Just like getting a business license or starting an LLC, taking a quality training program sets you up to have a successful career as a life coach.
Ready to get started on your coaching path? Take the quiz and find out if it’s right for you!
Like any other profession, it’s important to make sure you have the necessary certifications to practice in the life coaching field. The best life coach certification programs prepare you to work as a certified life coach. These programs teach skills such as effective communication and problem-solving. They also give tips on working with clients in a variety of settings.
Anyone can call themselves a life coach. However, to practice as an ICF certified coach and give your clients the best coaching available, it’s best to complete a life coach certification program. This begs the question – what is the best life coach certification?
There are hundreds of life coaching programs out there, but the best life coach certification programs are approved by the International Coach Federation (ICF). Most of these programs also allow you to apply for ICF credentials once you’ve completed the course.
The absolute best life coach certification programs aren’t cheap, but they are an investment in your career field. They cover all areas of coaching, including giving new coaches time to practice their skills and gain feedback from other professionals. Most programs offer a well-rounded program that can be done online or as a self-study.
For example, Coach Training Alliance offers a six-month program that is approved by the ICF and has certified over 10,000 coaches from 45 different countries. With small, intimate class sizes of no more than twelve participants at a time, we focus on the LearnMore System and the Four Pillars of Wisdom to give our coaching students a well-rounded and interactive learning environment. Weekly tele-sessions and group coaching sessions are included in our course.
Our courses don’t just cover coaching techniques, but they also cover marketing and business skills, including how to start a home-based business and attract clients. The sole purpose of our course is to provide our clients with real-life practice, so they feel comfortable and confident when they start their journey as a professional life coach.
Whether you are considering becoming a life coach or considering hiring one, it’s important to know what life coaches do. Life coaching is a well-established field, but there is a lot of misconceptions surrounding it. If you’re not entirely sure what life coaches do, you are certainly not the only one.
What Does a Life Coach Do
A life coach’s main job is to help their clients improve their relationships, their careers, and their day-to-day lives. Life coaches are not therapists, and they do not solve people’s problems for them. They partner with their clients to create a space of openness that encourages clients to think deeper within themselves and maximize their personal and professional potential.
Life coaches support their clients and help them move towards the changes they want to see in themselves. They do this by assisting the client with clarifying their vision and exploring all the possibilities. This thought-provoking process helps the client create strategies to work towards long-lasting change.
No matter if it’s business owners, authors, or high-earning executives, many people hire life coaches to assist them with improving their natural abilities.
If helping others excel in their lives is something that you could see yourself doing for the rest of your life, becoming a life coach may be the ideal career path for you. You can become a life coach and as little as six months with our certified life coaching programs. We also offer advanced training programs for executive coaches and organizational coaches, so you can continue investing in yourself, your coaching skills, and your business.
If you are one of the unique and talented individuals who possess the special traits needed to become a great life coach, then you can start your certification process and become a certified coach in just six months. Coach Training Alliance offers several online resources that can help you become a certified life coach.
How to get your life coach certification online
Becoming a life coach can be a rewarding and fulfilling career path, but the first step is to know if you have what it takes to become a great life coach. The best way to find out is to take our free quiz. Our quiz asks you a series of questions about yourself and how you relate to others to see if life coaching is the right career path for you.
If coaching is the ideal career path for you, then the next step is to decide what kind of coaching program you need to hit your long-term goals. Whether you want to be an executive coach, an organizational coach, or an individual life coach, there is a program out there to help you transform your vision into reality.
Life coach certification online programs, such as Coach Training Alliance’s Certified Coach Program, offer small class sizes with experienced life coaches who can guide you along the way. If you prefer to learn at your own pace, Self-Study programs provide all the information you need to get started as a coach. If you prefer a more traditional classroom-like setting, there are live classes that meet remotely (via conference call) , and you can earn your life coaching certification in as little as six months.
Aside from the initial training, the learning doesn’t stop there. If you want to become an organizational coach or an executive coach, you can go deeper in your training with specialized coach training programs. Coach Training Alliance offers continuing education courses that range from five hours to four months long that can further develop and hone your coaching skills.
Being a life coach can be a rewarding career choice. You don’t have to be certified to be a coach, but it helps. With a certified life coaching program, you can become a life coach in as little as six months, and you can also continue improving your life coaching skills with different programs that are more specific to your long-term goals.
Are you the type of person who people always turn to for advice? Do you enjoy helping your friends brainstorm solutions to their professional and personal problems? If you feel drawn to this type of work, you may be the ideal candidate for becoming a certified life coach. Becoming a certified life coach means you can take what you naturally do and turn it into a profession, allowing you to help people develop solutions to their problems every day.
How to Become a Certified Life Coach
Whether you want to team up with a corporation to offer employees the benefits of professional coaching or you want to make a little extra money on the side by obtaining a few clients, the first step to becoming a certified life coach is to make sure coaching is right for you. If you are not sure you have the natural inclination to become a life coach, you can take our life coaching quiz. Our quiz will help you decide if coaching is the right career path for you.
If life coaching turns out to be the ideal profession for you, the next step is to look into certified training programs. A certified training program will help you hone your skills and develop solid business practices, so you know exactly how to successfully run a life coaching business. Coach Training Alliance offers independent training courses along with guided training courses and advanced training so you can become the best certified life coach you need to be.
Having a successful life coaching business requires you to have quality coaching skills, business skills, and marketing skills; our Certified Coach Program teaches you all of these things. participate ingroup mentoring sessions allow you to discuss specific coaching tools, techniques, and models. Finally, you will also have the opportunity to practice your coaching skills and observe your peers doing the same. This practice allows you to learn, by example and through direct hands-on experience, how to coach clients.
Once you’re ready to take the first step to become a life coach, it’s time to enroll in a certified coaching program to prepare yourself for real-world coaching. You can become a certified coach with a growing practice within six months by taking one of Coach Training Alliance’s certified coaching programs.
As with any new business, getting clients as a life coach can be a struggle if you’re just starting out. Once you’ve completed a life coach certification program and completed any legal work to start your business, your next step is to bring clients to your door.
How to Get Clients as a Life Coach
The best way to get clients initially is to offer sample sessions. Sample sessions are great in many ways. Not only do they allow prospective clients to experience what it is like to work with you, but they can also show the benefits you bring to them. It is much easier to obtain your first client by demonstrating how you can help them achieve the changes they want to see, rather than simply telling them.
The second step to building a clientele is to continually provide value to your clients. Growing a steady business is not about having a huge advertising budget, a massive social media presence, or an expensive website. Client referrals are the best way to bring new people to your practice, and the best way to ensure that your client promotes your coaching skills is for your clients to experience the benefits of your coaching practice and share that with others. As long as you coach your clients in a professional co-creative manner, the value you bring to your clients will speak for your practice.
Obtaining clients is a two-part process. The best way to start generating interest is to put yourself out there and offer sample sessions. These sessions let your prospective clients experience what it’s like to have you work alongside them to achieve their goals. The second step is to ensure that you are providing value to your client’s life by helping them implement the changes they want to see. When you are professional and you establish a foundation of trust, your clients will help spread the word through their referrals and bring more clients to you.
If you’re passionate about helping people and you’ve made the big decision to become a life coach, it’s time to take the next step. Becoming a life coach isn’t difficult, but it’s also not easy.
Let’s talk about how to start a life coach business.
How to start a life coach business
Hone your skills. The first step is to hone your skills. Most life coaches start as people who naturally enjoy helping others, but you shouldn’t stop there. It’s important to further develop your skills by finding a life coaching program that fits your learning style and goals.
Put yourself out there. Once you have developed some basic skills, the best way to grow your coaching practice is through sample sessions. Sample sessions allow prospective clients to experience what it is like to work with you, they help demonstrate the value you bring to them personally by helping them to address a challenge they are currently facing and establishes trust to build upon.
Deliver 100% of the time. The best way to grow your life coach business isn’t by having tons of money to spend on advertising or the flashiest website, it’s through client referrals. Your clients will sing praises or curses, all depending on the service you give them. When you work with a client, show up 100% as the professional coach you’ve been trained to be and let the value you bring to your clients speak for your practice.
Starting a life coach business takes three major steps. First, you have to sharpen your skills. Next, you need to put yourself out there and start getting clients. Finally, you have to consistently show up as a professional every time. If you’re ready to begin your journey to becoming a full-time life coach, make sure you invest in a quality certified coaching program. A quality program will give you a guided apprenticeship to help you every step of the way.
Life coaching is a booming industry with lots of opportunities for growth and development. It is an industry where you can set your own hours, pick your expertise, and have complete control over how much you work. With all these benefits, the life coaching industry can be intimidating, and you may be wondering how much you can make as a life coach.
What do Life Coach Salaries Look Like?
A life coach’s salary can vary greatly, and a lot of it depends on how you decide to launch your career. Some life coaches work independently as solo entrepreneurs while others integrate their coaching skills with their existing roles or work exclusively within the HR department of a company. The income of someone who works for themselves can be very different from someone working in the non-profit sector or in conjunction with another business.
Solo entrepreneurs just starting out are encouraged to consider the lifestyle they want and design their practice to support that vision. For some, it may require taking on a few, highly profitable clients; for others, it may require several lower paying clients or supplementing their practice with speaking engagements or book sales.
Realistically, a life coach can make anywhere from nothing to over $200,000 a year. The average income of a life coach is around $61,000 a year, which can break down in many different ways. $61,000 a year can look like one client a month for executive life coaches, or three to four clients a month for other life coaching niches.
When deciding how to price your services, you should charge what you feel is right for you. If you are launching your coaching business as a hobby or non-profit, then you may not have to consider your finances. However, if your goal is to turn coaching into a full-time job, then your fee schedule should be compatible with the income you desire. While your practice grows, you may need to consider having other streams of income.
No matter how you decide to offer your coaching skills, there is a lot of money to be made in the coaching industry. Once you develop a marketing plan that brings customers to the door, so to speak, you will have no trouble making a livable income from your passion.
If you are dedicated to helping people progress in their lives to attain greater fulfillment, life coaching may be an ideal career path for you. Life coach training can be short or comprehensive. You can get started right away using online self-study programs or formal certification programs which can be completed in as little as 22 weeks, and you can work while you are completing your certification. The field of life coaching is well established, but there are many different ideas out there about what it is; so if you’re not sure what a life coach is, you’re not alone.
What is a life coach?
Put simply, a life coach is dedicated to helping their clients improve their relationships, careers, and day-to-day lives. Life coaches partner with clients in a thought-provoking process that inspires them to maximize their personal and professional potential.
A life coach’s main goal is to support their clients and to move towards the change they see for themselves rather than spending time focusing on past problems. Life coaching is all about clarifying a vision, deeply exploring possibilities, generating insights, creating a strategy and working towards the change they see for themselves. Many different types of people hire life coaches, from c-level executives working in billion-dollar companies to authors and small business owners. If you are dedicated to helping others do more than they would have on their own, then becoming a life coach may be the ideal career path for you.
Coach Training Alliance has a plethora of resources for your life coaching journey. If you are just starting, we offer a quiz to find out if life coaching is right for you! We also have guided apprenticeships to help you start your business and advanced training, so you can continuously improve your coaching skills.
In our vast world, freedom is a beautiful word that encapsulates so many emotions, memories, and history. Humankind has been striving for freedom, in a variety of ways, since the beginning of time, and history has clearly demonstrated that when freedom is achieved, the door to possibilities opens.
What does freedom mean to you?
Whether you have chosen freedom as part of your personal or professional mission statements or whether this powerful word has made it into your list of top five core values, the meaning of freedom is unique to each of us. For some, freedom means independence to live every day as you choose. For others, freedom means not having to answer to anyone but themselves. For another, freedom means an escape from tyranny or abuse. For many, freedom means having no constraints when it comes to changing the direction of their lives, when they want and how they want.
Deciding on a path forward can be a confusing time filled with lots of “what ifs.” What if I never find the answers? What if I fail? What if I make the wrong decision? When this happens, we are often left feeling overwhelmed, lost, and without the answers we need to progress into a new chapter. The good news is that there are ways to successfully navigate through these challenging moments and find our way out of the chaos and into clarity.
During times of transition in our lives, it is important to choose powerful words to live by that resonate with us like freedom and then use them as a light to guide our way.
Begin by listing on paper all the words that resonate with you. Then, write a paragraph under each word that describes why this word is important to you and how you’d like to use it as a beacon to lead you out of the fog. For example:
Freedom:This word resounds with me because I’ve wanted to be an entrepreneur my entire life. I’m scared, but I know this is where my heart is leading me. I want the freedom to choose how many hours I work a day, how I work, how much time I spend with my family, and how much self-care I incorporate into my day. Freedom means everything to me because it allows me to push forward through my occasionally self-imposed hurdles and fears and make my long-held dreams finally come true. I pledge to hold this powerful word, freedom, close to my heart from this day forward and always remember that freedom is the key that unlocks the door to possibilities and a contented life.
This type of journaling is an empowering process that allows us to look down on our lives like an eagle and objectively observe, listen to our hearts, and then take action steps that lead us in the right direction. In choosing words like freedom to live by, we are better enabled to let go of past beliefs that are stopping us from moving forward, make choices that align us with our ideal lives, and remember that every experience, failure, and success is a lesson we can carry forward with us on our journeys to becoming the best versions of ourselves.
Freedom. It’s energizing, empowering, and the stepping stone to new and exciting adventures.
You deserve it.
Vicky DeCoster is a Certified Life Coach based in Omaha, Nebraska, who specializes in helping her clients both locally and nationwide to move past obstacles, create a plan for happiness, and cross the bridge of transition to find a new and fulfilling direction in life. To read more about her and her practice, visit her at crossthebridgecoaching.com. To learn more about becoming a certified coach visit Coach Training Alliance.
Coaching helps to create a framework in which individuals can explore their own freedoms- freedom to, freedom from and everything in between.
When we become architects of our own future, coaches can help us navigate the nuanced landscape of change. At its core, coaching is about helping others move towards the change they see for themselves. A big part of that process is working with clients to explore the difference between a ‘limiting belief’ and a circumstance. An example of a limiting belief might be, “I can’t leave my job.” An example of a circumstance is “Gravity is a force that pulls us to the earth”.
Limiting beliefs may feel true, but they might not be true.
Circumstances are true. They may not change, they may not go away, but they can be addressed and possibly worked around.
Coaches create a safe space for clients to explore their limiting beliefs and imagine new possibilities given their circumstances.
What happens when a person no longer has a limiting belief about their future; but a circumstance prevents them from achieving it?
Freedom! Equality! Justice! The freedom to do something, such as the freedom to practice a religion, freedom to peacefully assemble or the freedom to say or write your opinion, inherently connects with a persons’ autonomy. It suggests a person has the capacity to exercise this right if they so choose. A person with a limiting belief may not recognize they are in such a position. Alternatively, there may be circumstances that prevent them from being able to exercise this right.
“Your freedom to swing your arm ends just where my nose begins.” Various individuals have been quoted as the source of this popular saying. In today’s mask wearing protocol, swap the words ‘swing your arm’ with ‘spray respiratory droplets’ and you’ve got an interesting discussion on your hands. When we believe we have the freedom (or right) to do something, and a circumstance prevents us from exercising it, we rebel. We peacefully protest the circumstance. We battle the circumstance. We push back against the circumstance. We disobey the circumstance. We march against the circumstance. We light the circumstance on fire.
Regardless of what we do, the circumstance remains. Typically, we dig our heels in even further and try to muscle our way through the situation with the misguided idea that our belief can somehow overcome the circumstance (gravity, rain, illness). And we go nowhere.
Coaches help us to think broadly about a situation. They ask open ended questions to explore possibilities. Where are the opportunities for improvement? How has this been successful in the past? What about this can be addressed? Are there components of the circumstance that are not as fixed as we initially believed? Is this a circumstance or are there beliefs influencing the situation? What can be accomplished? Where is the most likely place for change to take hold?
Still we have our belief and still the circumstance remains, but the path forward begins to take shape. We are no longer stuck; we begin to see new possibilities.
About the author: Holly Hutchinson Osborn is a Certified Human Capital Coach a who has been practicing since 2008. Holly’s passion is positive growth and lifelong learning. Her experience includes international trade and marketing as well as system sales into the Fortune 500. Holly’s focus at Coach Training Alliance is organizational coaching programs, leader-as-coach training and enterprise solutions. In addition to her work at CTA, Holly serves on the Board at Colorado Youth Outdoors and Young Men Service League – Fort Collins Chapter. Holly is married with 2 children and a graduate of the University of California at Berkeley.
Unveiling the Key to Enrolling More Coaching Clients
The journey to enrolling more coaching clients often begins with a shift in approach—a surprising revelation that reshapes the dynamics of engagement. One fundamental secret lies in avoiding coaching during the initial discovery session. A common pitfall for many coaches is unintentionally steering this session towards a sales pitch, rather than delving into the aspirational vision of the individual seeking guidance. Rhonda Hess breaks down how to most effectively engage with prospective coaching clients:
The secret to enrolling more coaching clients is surprising. Don’t coach them in the discovery session.
Many coaches find their prospective clients walk away from a sample coaching session feeling “done”. It may be because a sample session is oriented around selling coaching rather than attracting the individual to what they already know they want — the vision of their ideal future. If you want to transform your ability to enroll new clients, engage them in their own story and vision. Help them feel the gap between where they are now and where they want to be. Then tell them how you can help them close that gap. It’s easy. Take these steps in order:
1. Make a connection and set up your conversation for success. “I’m really excited to connect with you today. Is it all right if I ask you some interesting and meaningful questions about your ________ (life, business, health etc)?”
2. Get a quick snapshot of where they are now. “Tell me a bit about your __________ right now.”
3. Uncover what they want most. “If you could have everything you want in your _______ in the next 6 months, what would that look and feel like.” Draw the details out in full color.
4. Help them connect emotionally to their vision. “What would _______ (achieving this specific dream/goal) do for you?” “And what else?” “And what else?” “How important would you say this is to you on a scale of 1 – 10?”
5. Ask them to list their challenges or obstacles. “What’s stopping you from having this _______?” “And, what else?” “And what else?” Resist the impulse to coach them!
6. Help them realize the cost of living with the status quo. “What has it cost you not having ______?” “What impact has that had on you?”
7. Show them the bigger why. “If you could overcome _______ (specific obstacle mentioned) what would that do for you?” “And what else?”
8. Gather the gems. “What have you taken away from our conversation so far?”
9. Invite them in. “Are you ready to hear how I can help you achieve _________(their specific dreams and goals)?” Share your “system”, share your fees & terms, weave in benefits of working with you and success stories.
10. Create a sense of urgency. “Are you excited? Let’s get started.” Give them an appropriate first assignment that’s simple and powerful. Tell them what the next steps are. Follow up immediately with your Welcome Packet.
If by the end of these questions they haven’t gotten to “YES!” yet, coach through their objections. If they say… “I need time to think about it.” … honor that. “What do you need from me to know if this is right for you?” Set up a follow up call in a short time. Review in a follow up email what they shared with you about what they want and connect your services to those outcomes. Give this a try and let me know how it works for you. I’ve heard from so many coaches that this approach frees them up from trying to convince prospects how great coaching is. And when you’re not trying to convince anyone to hire you, you’ll find it’s easier to be genuinely curious about them and open to outcome rather than attached to a certain result. Energetically, that alone, can turn the tide.
About the Author: Rhonda Hess co-authored the Coach Training Accelerator™ and designed the CTA Certified Coach Program. She has a super power for helping coaches choose and champion a profitable niche they’ll love. Learn more at Prosperous Coach.
Guiding Clients Towards an Empowered Future
In the realm of coaching, connecting with clients on a deeper level is the cornerstone of a successful and fulfilling practice. By allowing prospective coaching clients to narrate their dreams and challenges, coaches unlock a world of possibilities. The steps outlined—focusing on the client’s vision, emotions, obstacles, and aspirations—lay the foundation for a powerful coaching relationship. As you coach clients through this journey, their passion for their goals intensifies, culminating in a genuine desire for growth and change. Remember, empowering your clients to envision their success and understanding the importance of their dreams sets the stage for a profound coaching experience.
An expert and an amateur are each states of mind. “The expert” is an ideal, a contrast to “the amateur”. Evolution from amateur to expert is a significant, life-changing passage when it occurs. The following distinctions can apply to that process of transformation.
“When ya get to the end zone, act like ya been there before.“
Experts seek practice and goals that exceed current levels of performance. Amateurs seek to sustain a comfort level without challenging it.
Experts continue concentrated, deliberate practice on focused areas to develop with informed feedback. Amateurs get to a level of good enough, and stay there.
Experts understand that there is no predetermined limit of ability. Amateurs believe there is a fixed reserve of potential.
The expert works from love, passion, and dedication; failure is information to guide proceeding. The amateur may be sidetracked by setback; failure is validation not to proceed.
The expert loves and pursues the game, whatever the game is, with total dedication and passion. The amateur pursues it as a sideline, part-time, like a weekend warrior.
The expert keeps going, no matter what. The amateur is dissuaded by setback and adversity.
The expert does what is important first. Amateurs do what is urgent first. Sometimes a football team can do more in the final two minutes of a half than in the previous 28, with imminent clock and finite time remaining can focus energy, attention, and concentration. The expert operates for the entire game in this zone. The amateur waits for the two-minute warning.
An expert takes an initial step or performance cue to move toward the goal each practice, each day. An amateur practices or performs when motivated.
The expert is on a mission, knows that fear can never be overcome, and recognizes that the best indication of what’s next may be what also generates most fear. The expert knows that once action has begun, fear will recede, like your lap when you get up to walk. The amateur must first overcome the fear, believing that comfortable is a prerequisite to begin.
The expert knows that “fairness” is a childhood wish; that in adulthood there is not even an ultimate arbiter of fair. There is always adversity, unlevel fields, bad hops, rotten calls, injustice, unfairness. The amateur seeks fairness, and is set back at what does not seem fair.
The expert does whatever it takes, even for what never could have been imagined. The amateur needs predictability, consistency, assuredness of results.
The expert respects the craft but is not superior to it, recognizing the contribution of those who have gone before. The amateur believes in inherent luck, intelligence, and waits for inspiration to come.
The expert dedicates to mastery. The amateur dedicates to proving himself or herself, needing to consistently demonstrate superiority and competence.
The expert does not take things or people personally, recognizes that others always make self statements, and does not succumb to criticism, envy, or idealization of others. The amateur is subject to the perception of others, to rejection, and reads the responses of others as if looking into an accurate mirror of a valid reflection.
The expert self-regulates and self-validates, takes in new information but does not let it determine meaning. The amateur becomes an extension of the interest, desire, and needs of others, is vulnerably reliant on the perception and feedback of others.
The expert has an internal point of reference, and is proactive. The amateur has an external point of reference, and is reactive.
The expert seeks the mastery of art as work, deliberate practice as lifestyle, success as creation. The amateur believes that art is inspiration, talent is innate, and seeks the lucky break.
The expert believes that the architect of magic is informed persistence and dedicated resilience. The amateur believes that magic is magic.
The expert shows up every day, no matter what, and is committed for the long haul. The expert understands delayed gratification, is the ant, not the grasshopper; the tortoise, not the hare. The amateur shows up as long as something else doesn’t get in the way. The amateur looks for shortcuts, quick results, and immediate gratification.
Experts know they can do best that which they do uniquely well. Amateurs try to do many things, to be everything to many people.
The expert always treats practice like a game. The amateur saves the best for an actual game.
The expert knows that the self and every storyline in life are created moment by moment; that the ultimate abandonment is of one’s self. The amateur believes that much is predetermined, some fate, some circumstance, some luck; that consistent attention must be given to be appreciated and accepted by others.
Experts add value to their art, science, expert body of knowledge, and to others. Amateurs add value to themselves.
The expert believes that certainty develops with proceeding and mastery. The amateur must have certainty in order to proceed.
The expert has a plan and sticks to it no matter what. The amateur responds to the prevailing mood, mindset, or urgency rather than purpose.
The expert, even at times a warrior, believes in humility and modesty. The amateur believes in never showing vulnerability, doubt, or uncertainty.
The expert punches through the bag, runs through the finish line. The amateur hits the front of the bag, and relaxes at the finish line.
The expert knows that courage is to proceed despite fear. The amateur believes that courage is the absence of fear.
The expert sticks to the plan. The amateur let life get in the way.
The expert determines what is important and work toward a purpose. The amateur reacts to the urgencies of life.
The expert pursues the plan and purpose no matter how they feel. The amateur acts when in the right mood or feeling.
The expert consistently pursues success despite a routine practice, including boredom. The amateur pursues success when motivated or inspired.
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About the Author- David Krueger, M.D. is an Executive Mentor Coach, and CEO of MentorPath, an executive coaching, publishing, and wellness firm. His approach integrates the insights of psychology, neuroscience, and professional coaching to help professionals and executives write the next chapter of their business stories. The material in this blog are Excerpted from STRESS MASTERY AND PEAK PERFORMANCE: The Neuroscience of Optimum Performance Under Pressure www.HardWorkMiracle.com
Coach Training Alliance is an intimate, passion driven business that was built at a social distance. We measure that distance across the globe rather than in feet. The Company, and now our community of over 10,000 graduates and clients, was built in an environment that has quickly been forced on many. Rapid change causes stress, anxiety, and in some cases, personal or corporate petrification. This does not have to be the case. Businesses and practices can be built at a distance.
Here are
some simple observations and accompanying practices that can benefit you as you
meld social distance into your daily life.
Relationships
Can Flourish and New Stories Are Created
Times like
these create the strongest of bonds.
People with shared significant events have shared experience and thus
shared story. From both a personal and
professional perspective, now is the time to invest in these
relationships. New tools of outreach and
touch are available relative to large events like war and pandemic in the past,
but fundamental connection thru discussion and exploration is where bonds and
opportunities are to be found. Coaching
and the co-creative approach afford the opportunity to write new stories into
our lives when faced with the suddenly apparent unknown. Exploration of new paths can be achieved while
tackling limiting beliefs, the result being a great first new step down a new
path. All this can be done through a
shared experience that yields a strong relationship with the characters tied to
that new story.
Distance
is Not the Barrier
In twenty years, the Coach Training Alliance faculty has met in person only once yet their connectivity and relationships far surpass those I have seen in other organizations in which I have worked where people interface every day. Why? Because as coaches, they do two things exceptionally well. They listen deeply and value one another’s time.
Listen
deeply and ask open-ended questions.
This approach, a fundamental one to coaching’s co-creative process, can
bridge any physical distance and afford both parties a great understanding of not
only what is being discussed but also the context in which it is being
explored.
Value one another’s time. Be Prompt. Be present. Make an effort to eliminate distraction and avoid multitasking when with your client, colleague or co-worker. Take some time on the front end of any agenda to check in and see where you both are in terms of both well-being and process relative to your topic. Acknowledge progress and success before tackling what is next.
Find Ways
to Provide Value at a Distance
Favors and thoughtfulness
can be accomplished from a distance. Pay
it forward in relationship building by offering help to others seeking to grow
during this time. As a coach, you can be
a critical resource for family, friends, coworkers and even potential clients
(remember there is value in a sample session of coaching). A thank you note or a thoughtful e-mail or
text with real meaning can add value as well as create the perception by those
you contact that you are ready, willing and able to provide value. Acknowledging the value provided by others in
simple ways (a testimonial, offering a reference or a simple public thank you)
is a great way to set the example and ask for the same in return. These are basic business building habits that
are also fantastic feel good behaviors.
Structure
Matters
Finally, the distance environment can take away the familiar structure we have known. Those businesses and coaches who operate successfully and thrive in a distance model do apply a discipline of structure. They plan their days and weeks to tasks and times like they would under a traditional circumstance. They calendar meetings and communication. They map schedule to projects and write plans for both their business and finding balance in their lives. Structured time that feeds your body, your mind and your soul is as important as ever. Two decades of this model at Coach Training Alliance has also taught us that planning time for some fun is critical too. Find some time for that and allow yourself fun as one of life’s great fuels.
Now more
than ever the skills taught to coaches are needed to address the unknown, forge
new paths and build bonds…even at a social distance.
About the Author- CHRIS OSBORN, is the Chief
Executive Officer of Coach Training Alliance. Chris is a serial entrepreneur,
executive and executive coach. His passion lies in growing businesses that aid
in personal growth or business expansion of others. He has been widely recognized
for his ability to lead change through organizational growth and strategic
planning.
Chris currently serves as both a board member and in executive
capacities of numerous organizations in the corporate and not-for-profit
worlds. His experience varies widely from distance education and healthcare to
e-commerce and financial services. He periodically authors material for the
Coaching Compass and is the visionary and co-author behind the Human Capital
Accelerator™. In addition to his work at CTA, Chris is licensed both as an
Opposite Strengths® Executive Coach as well as a New Money Story Coach. Chris
is a graduate of Phillips Exeter Academy and the University of California at
Berkeley
Have you ever wondered how to become an executive coach? When it comes to coaching, many coaches look longingly at the niche of Executive Coaching and wish they could find a way to break into that market. After all, executives need coaching, are easy to locate and most of all, have the money and desire for coaching. Executive coaching is a desirable and attractive niche but many coaches believe that they are not qualified to be an executive coach. After all they say, the highest I ever rose in an organization is mid-level management, so the potential clients won’t relate to me. Or they’ll say, I’ve never even worked in a big company so I don’t know anything about coaching executives.
There are more excuses, but you get the idea.
The first flaw in this argument is that Executive Coaching
is not a niche. Executive Coaching is a
specialty and a very broad specialty at that.
It’s actually far removed from a niche.
In simple terms a niche is where the “who” you serve intersects with the
“what” you help them with.
Misunderstanding the concept of Executive Coaching as a niche is the
first of several mistakes that new coaches make and therefore rule out a
potentially very lucrative niche.
Can you be an executive coach?
To answer that question let’s start with the basics of why
people, including executives hire a coach, or more correctly what coaching
brings to a client.
Anyone who hires a coach has certain expectations of that coach. One major item on their list is a safe environment that will allow them to say what they are really thinking without having to filter their thoughts. They don’t want to have to measure their words. They want to say what they are thinking without having to use a “corporate filter”.
An executive coach allows them to do that.
They also want honest feedback. Too often they find themselves surrounded by
people who can’t or won’t tell them the truth.
Their latest idea may have some major flaws in it but those around them
won’t point out the truth. They need
someone who will speak their mind and ask questions and challenge their ideas.
An executive coach will do that for them.
Sometimes they want the opportunity to think through their
ideas out loud. To talk about an idea
of situation freely without worrying about the end result because they know
that verbally processing their thoughts can lead to new thoughts, new ideas and
help uncover holes in their thinking.
And they don’t want to be judged while doing it. They want a sounding board to hear and
reflect their thoughts so they can hear them themselves.
An executive coach won’t judge them.
And sometimes a client wants to talk through a technical or
complex business issue. This is one
area where the client may want to tap into a coach’s background and
expertise. But this is not the most
common reason for executive coaching.
When executives need to work through complex business issues they tend
to hire a consultant with expertise in this area.
There are more reasons of course, but you get the idea.
There are a lot of reasons why an executive might hire a coach and many of them have absolutely nothing to do with the coach’s business acumen.
When people wonder about how to become an executive coach, they often think that you must have an in-depth knowledge of business, understand profit and loss statements, corporate strategy or mission and vision statements. The concepts of sales strategies, market penetration, and complex Human Resource issues need to be second nature to you. They assume that executives and executive coaching are only focused around complex business issues that can only be solved by a coach who has been there themselves. Coaching can help address many of the challenges an organizations faces, but it not because the executive coach has an abundance of expertise or knowledge to share.
Reality is quite different than this. There are any number of reasons why an executive might hire a coach and many of those reasons have nothing to do with executive or business experience at all. Contrary to popular belief, executives are people too and have all the same problems that everyone else has. Sometimes they spend too much time at work, sacrificing their personal lives in the process. Or they have grown tired of the constant travel and pressure of their executive position and want something with less stress. Maybe they are looking to change their lifestyle and do something entirely different. Or maybe they are simply trying to figure out what is next for them in life.
Executive coaching will grow in the future. Taking the Executive Coaching specialty, you can break it down into even more specialties before you even get to a formal niche.
Common specialties in the Executive Coaching space:
New Leader
Coaching: This specialty is
designed for those not yet in high level leadership positions in their
organization. It tends to mix coaching
with consulting and training to prepare people for future leadership
roles. It is sometimes paid for by the
organization, often as part of a training grounds for future leaders, but is
sometimes paid for by the individuals themselves who want to get a leg up on
their competition. This type of
coaching and training is often done by coaches with a leadership or training
background themselves. But most of these
coaches were not high level executives but trainers or mid-level managers in
their pre-coaching lives,
Life Balance
Coaching: It’s not surprising
that executives have a problem balancing their work with their personal
lives. In order to get ahead at work
many executives begin sacrificing their personal lives when they reach middle
management. They put in a lot of hours,
sacrifice their health, their family and in many cases their futures. The smart ones figure this out before their
divorce, before their health issues, and before their children are grown. This coaching provides focus on the client’s
real priorities and helps them set healthy boundaries. No prior executive or management experience
is required.
Behavioral
Coaching/Emotional Intelligence: One common thread in the executive suite is
the highly intelligent executive who is able to see and solve complex
issues. They may even have tremendous
forward vision into the business that has served them well in the past. But these executives may not play well with
others. The phrase that is sometimes
used is “Too much college and not enough kindergarten”. Helping executives identify their blind
spots and build action plans to overcome behavioral issues does not involve
business expertise. It’s about human
beings and being able to build bridges.
Retirement
Coaching: Some executives are
workaholics and will work until they are kicked out the door. Others have a desire to move on and enjoy the
fruits of their labor. But what’s
next? How do they go from being an
executive where every utterance may result in 1000 people moving into action to
a retiree with no real authority or responsibility? How do they go from their highly structured
life to an unstructured one? What are
they going to do with their time? What
is their purpose? These are all
questions that executives need to find answers to and they don’t involve any
prior business experience.
Nutritional
Coaching: Executives often work long hours and find
themselves on the road eating in restaurants or ordering room service. This leads to unhealthy eating habits, high
cholesterol, high blood pressure and more.
How can they put together some type of nutritional plan that won’t make
them feel like they are limiting every choice they make but still allow them to
eat healthy? And how will they handle
the guilt when the inevitable slips happen.
These are just a few examples or possibilities. As you can see, there are lots of things
that executives want and need that have nothing to do with business knowledge
or executive experience.
Before you rule out executives as part of your target market, think about your special skills and talents and how you can really help them become more complete and more effective as an executive. If you are serious about learning how to become an executive coach, consider taking a Coach Training Program to develop your ability to help clients move towards the future they see for themselves.
About the author: DAVID R. MEYER, is a CTA Certified Coach (CTACC), Mentor Coach, and Certified Behavioral Consultant. As a coach Dave has many tools at his disposal. He is a Wiley authorized partner in the use of DISC and has been certified in Social and Emotional Intelligence through the Institute for Social and Emotional Intelligence (ISEI). Dave is a full time coach, trainer, and speaker who specializes in leaders and leadership teams. His mantra is “Great Teams Are Built On The Foundation Of Great Leadership. Great Leadership Is Built On The Foundation Of Great Trust.” He is the author of the Amazon best seller “The Engaged Manager” and also co-authored the DiSC Coaching Catalyst for training coaches in the use of DiSC with their clients. Dave has also had numerous articles appearing in publications across the US. Dave is a graduate of the CTA Certified Coach program in 2002and has been coaching ever since. He is very active in his local community giving back through his church and through his affiliation with Kiwanis International.
Storytelling is one of the most powerful life coaching tools when working with clients. Popular among all the coaching techniques available, storytelling provides value from both sides and illustrates what matters to a client in a way they understand. Sharing anecdotal experience is often frowned upon by life coaches, but when used correctly, storytelling is an effective means of communication. Trained life coaches understand the need for clients to relate to them as well as articulate values on their own. Whether a story is used by the coach to illustrate a concept or by the client to share insight, storytelling has an incredible variety of uses in a coaching relationship.
Storytelling
by the Coach
Stories are often used as one of the best life coaching tools to illustrate specific concepts that are more “educational” than is appropriate for a session. Rather than walk a client through technical coaching methods, a coach can illustrate how a concept applies to a real life experience. For example, a client may struggle seeing the “bigger picture” of her career journey while currently in a job she hates. Instead of explaining the SMART goal-setting technique, a coach might tell a story of a past client with the same challenge who began setting SMART short-term goals and eventually created a 5 year career plan she could stick to. If this past client landed a new job she loved, the current client may find more inspiration and technique from the story than by simply learning a goal-setting method.
Another powerful storytelling method used by
life coaches is reframing the client experience. Self-narrative is crucial to a
client’s progress and a client may see her journey more negatively than it is
actually unfolding. When this occurs, a coach can tell the client’s story thus
far in their own words, shedding light on the more positive “wins” of the
client to encourage her. An illustrative example of this is with a client who
(despite making great lifestyle changes) has only lost 7 lbs of her 15 lb weight
loss goal. She may feel discouraged and unmotivated to keep going. Her coach
can reflect on the client’s progress by summarizing the most positive changes
she has made. After hearing her coach emphasize the kitchen makeover, new
fitness routine, and growing sense of self-love the client has created for
herself told from the coach’s perspective, the client is inspired and proud.
Storytelling
by the Client
A lesser known utilization of storytelling is
by eliciting information from the client’s perspective. Stories and personal
narratives illuminate how the client views their progress and desires so the
coach can dig deeper and ask questions. The most valuable knowledge gained from
asking a client to share their story is to uncover their “unspoken” motivations.
When asked directly, clients are less likely to share desires or fears they are
embarrassed to share. This can be overcome by the coach in a more subtle way to
learn about client behavior and motives. For example, a client may report to
the coach that she struggles receiving affection from her husband. The coach
may prompt the client to describe a few instances where the client felt this
way in the past. Perhaps the client reveals times where her husband may have
simply been tired or preoccupied, and the coach can point out that this is an
opportunity to communicate needs instead of simply expecting affection.
Client storytelling is also necessary to build
self-awareness. Humans often hold memories in a way that skews positively or
negatively, and life coaches are here to help keep the narrative in a realistic
light. Some clients need help reframing their experiences more positively to
remain encouraged. A coach may help a discouraged working dad reflect on his
progress and effort he’s recently given to spending more time with his family.
Some clients need to take accountability for their past mistakes and tell their
stories honestly. A coach may ask a teenager failing college to take a step
back and describe her role in missing classes and studying. Either way,
coaching around clients’ narratives is a powerful use of storytelling to build
self-awareness.
Of all the life coaching tools, storytelling is a powerful tool because it elicits honest narrations and uncovers client motivations, while also building self-awareness and shedding light on personal accountability. Coaches can take advantage of storytelling from their end to share techniques in the context of the client’s world or to inspire them. Clients allow the coach to understand their worldview and understanding of their own progress. Each of these scenarios prove that used correctly, storytelling holds weight as an effective life coaching tool.
Lupe Colangelo is a certified holistic health coach, life coach, and writer for Life Coach Path. She specializes in behavioral psychology and her background includes coaching for various startups as well as in her private practice. From career coaching to helping people maximize their potential in life and health, Lupe uses motivational interviewing and proven behavior change techniques to empower people to find their own success.
Don’t look now, but 2020 is upon us! Can you believe it? What an exciting time to be alive and to be in business!! Are you excited? You sure should be! Things are changing, and opportunities are everywhere.
Now is the time to take stock of what you did in 2019 and where you want to go in 2020. You may be asking yourself: “I have no idea where to start; I think I will just pull the covers up and stay right here where it is warm and cozy.” Wrong Answer! Jump out and wake up and let’s get going with the promise of 2020.
In the holiday edition of the online version of Inc., this magazine put out an excellent article on evaluating the year past and planning for the new year ahead. I suggest you go here and read this article: https://www.inc.com/marla-tabaka/heres-your-guide-to-a-smart-year-end-businessreview.html . I am sure this year they will do another article, please check it out. You never have to do anything alone. Someone has already put a plan together or a guideline that you can use to get a jump start.
Every year I write the same thing, and these are the tips to make your year-end transition easier.
Pull out your calendar and look at every week of every month and circle in green what produced dollars, or new clients, or new business for you.
On each of those same weeks and months, use a red pen to “X” out all the things you attended, people you met, online training you wasted your time on, and money you spent on things that did not return value to you or your business.
Pull out this past year’s goals and see what you achieved and what is left unrealized. Make a decision right now as to what will go forward and what will be left behind.
Do you see “opportunities” which you were unable to capitalize on? Think long and hard on how you can turn those opportunities into new business in the coming year.
If you are feeling bogged down, or in a fog, or just plain stuck and out of creativity and ideas; this is the time to pick up a fellow business owner and set an “ideating” date to do some serious brainstorming in the week between Thanksgiving and December 21st or at the latest the Christmas and New Year. Why this time frame? Because if you get your 2020 plans down on paper before the end of the year, you can get a jump start on your competition. Most businesses go into a quiet time and slumber through the holidays at the end of the year unless you are in retail.
What did you learn new this year? No one can afford not keeping their skill level up. If you are even a little tech-savvy, you need to take the free courses for the programs you use in your business. I routinely receive emails from Microsoft, LinkedIn and so on for new training. Keep your mind and company up to date and sharp.
Let’s talk for a moment about “disappointments.” We all have them. Don’t believe all the hype of Facebook and Instagram. Everyone has failures. One of the best pieces of advice I ever received is to just look at the disappointment in a way that is removed from you. If you felt pressured, you did not have all the information you needed, or the timing wasn’t right, accept that for what it is and learn from the experience. Make a mental note and do not fall for the sell again.
During this slow, down in business, do a little research on who your competition is, read up on where your market is going, read up on your niche segment of your industry and become informed, learn what is coming down the pipeline and what you might consider next.
If you are running a small business, or are an entrepreneur who works alone, it is easy to become overwhelmed and isolated. Make sure you sprinkle some business networking opportunities and attend in your local community. If you also belong to some US large organization or a Global organization, plan to attend the yearly conference and put aside money to attend. I do not believe you have to go every year, but you might collaborate with others, and one of your group goes each year and comes back and gives a debrief to your group.
Okay, so let’s look at 2020 and what you want to achieve, what your goals are, what you are excited about, what new products, programs, and writing you want to do. In order to do this kind of dreaming, you will need to block off some white space to think. Many people like to do this in a coffee shop, in a park, on an airplane where they are not interrupted, or some other seclude place they believe is a great thinking place. Remember, nothing is to wild, unbelievable, undoable, impossible – the only person who can derail you is Y-O-U!
CELEBRATE!!!! If you are an outgoing person, and a solopreneur, get together with others in your area and celebrate the year, all the right business stuff, your achievements, and do not be shy about it. WE all need lifting up, and we need to celebrate. We are not talking about being prideful here, just celebrating all the great things that happened in 2019.
May your New Year be full of Focus, Planning, & Prosperity!
Author Janice Bastani, Master Mentor Coach is a certified executive leadership coach and holds many credentials in the coaching arena.
Her credentials include the following certifications:
Professional Certified Coach with the International Coach Federation, Energy Leadership Coach, Emotional Intelligence Coach, Global Group Coaching Coach, NeuroLeadership Coach, Certified John Maxwell Coach, Speaker, Mentor & Trainer.
Janice holds certifications to give and debrief Energy Leadership Assessments, Level One DISC assessment as well as being a Trainer with the DISC Personality Profile, Emotional Intelligence Assessments, Personality Profiling, along with several others in her faith ministry for Spiritual Gifts, and Strengths Profile. She is a founding member of the John Maxwell Team. Janice holds a BA in Journalism.
2019 started off like any new year—with a steadfast commitment to resolutions. As a coach, you play an important role in helping your clients hold themselves accountable for their new goals. Did you do the same for your own goals to increase your profile with media engagement?
Reflection is a necessary quality for anyone who wishes to embark on a successful coaching partnership. To close out the year—and the last month of this decade (!)—we are reflecting on the top insights and strategy from this year as a way to enhance the media relations and marketing aspects of your coaching business.
Here’s a look back at our top takeaway tips for coaches, from leveraging social media to preparing for a media interview.
Amp Up Your Social Media Engagement
Twitter is a great platform for new audiences to discover your coaching insight, especially if you link it with trending topics or relevant hashtags. Some of those new connections you build through consistent and relevant posting can also include influential journalists that write about topics aligned with your expertise. Instead of coming across as promotional or spammy, show off your skills by retweeting a reporter’s recent article and offering some additional insight on the topic.
Drive Media Connections with Strategy
Social media is just one way to catch the attention of relevant journalists. Sending a “fan mail” note about an intriguing article before you eventually sell yourself as an expert can pay long-term dividends, and even build relationships with reporters who turn to you for future stories.
You can also learn how to leverage trending news to tie back to a creative coaching angle. Make sure to have topics and client testimonials at the ready—and preferably a unique viewpoint—as follow-up commentary.
Be Ready for Your Interview
What do you do after you pique a journalist’s interest? Effective interview preparation starts with researching the reporter and outlet, creating concise and jargon-free talking points, and using active listening to engage with follow-up questions. Don’t forget to send a thank you letter to the reporter as a token of appreciation.
These same strategies also apply to preparing for a podcast interview, although this format has some slight nuances that you’ll want to review.
Go Beyond the Interview
Articles and interviews aren’t the only ways to augment your media relations repertoire. Writing bylines for media outlets read by your target audience can give you control over how you deliver your expertise. When presenting yourself as a thought leader, make sure to include your ICF Credential and other relevant background information. Being authentic and offering relevant case studies are also beneficial for bringing to life the impact coaching can have, both personally and professionally.
Professional coaches, like any business owner, wear many hats. When it comes to marketing, honing your public relations skills is a cost-effective way to attract new clients through insightful thought leadership in the media. As you look ahead to 2020, take time to reflect on your media relations accomplishments and set concrete, measurable goals for how you want to build upon those achievements.
Author Adam Yosim has a background in broadcast journalism, and he spent seven years as a local TV news reporter in North Carolina, Kentucky and Baltimore, Maryland. He is a senior account executive at Stanton Communications, ICF’s public relations agency of record.
Think about all the leaders you know, who among that group is a leader who can and does change their world, change their businesses, change their communities, and families? Have you come up with a name or two or three?
John Maxwell is quoted as saying this: “If your actions inspire people to dream more, learn more, do more and become more, then you are a transformational leader.” [from his latest book “Leadershift.”]
Early on in our careers, who are we most focused on? Of course, ourselves. We want to get in there, to do a good job, get a pay raise, a good yearly review, and a promotion at some point. We rarely think about what we can do to grow our peers, to be accountability partners, how to grow the business, and so on. We also feel that we already know all we need to know, after all, we earned a degree, and we are not ready to do any more learning.
Today, what is your top priority in your career?
No one climbs the ladder of success alone. As we climb, there will be times when we find out that we do not know it all. There is always someone who has traveled more, experienced more, been in the presence of very successful people and instead of taking a selfie with the person you might learn to step back and observe what abilities they have that makes them successful. We also will find out that there will be knowledge we have not learned or been exposed to and it is indeed time to go back to school [so to speak] and get educated in the skills, processes and emotional intelligence we did not have in college.
Leadership can be trained, but to be truly transformational one must go to another level. Here are some of the basics of becoming a transformational leader.
I Have a clear picture of what a transformational leader looks like and what they do. What does this mean exactly? Transformational Leaders see things before others, they are willing to say things that others are not willing to say, they believe things others do not believe, they also feel things differently than others do, and because of the previously mentioned items, they do things others are unwilling or unable to do.
II A transformational leader must first focus on their own transformation before they can transform others. What does this mean? It is pretty simple, in order to go up you must give up. This is about pride and ego and admits there are things you do not know, and then you have to be willing to get out there and learn what you do not know. It is all about leading from “positive change.”
III We change inside first, and then we change on the outside. What does this mean? Have you ever heard the word “incongruent?” This is a state of being when a person puts on a false mask or narrative and wears on the outside, when in reality they are someone completely different inside, at home, and outside of work. If you want to be a transformational leader, you must change your inside first. When you do this, it will naturally show up externally, and everyone can see the change in you.
IV Create an environment around you, which promotes transformation! How do I do this? Who will change a negative, non-creative environment from dull to an environment where people can’t wait to show up to work in the morning? Only a very transformational leader. This positive energy seems to walk through the door and fill the office when they walk in. Their persona demands your attention, and you feel good about who you are and where you work and what you do at work. This just doesn’t happen by accident. There is a purpose to it. This focused purpose revolves around key values which are good. Good values include attitude, commitment, competence, forgiveness, initiative, integrity, personal growth, priorities, relationships, and work ethic. How would rate yourself on each of these?
V It’s not only at the office it has to happen and spread outside the office. What do you mean? If you make a difference inside the office, it only goes to the reason you would do so outside the office as well. Making a positive difference doesn’t stop as you exit the office. We also need to invite those we are transforming inside our business to join us outside in our communities. All boats rise when we do this.
Transformation follows a specific pattern. I would like to this pattern below:
Top-Down Leadership influence filters down, not up!
Small To Big Mass movements begins with a few people.
Inside Out Inner values determine outward behavior.
Look up at the five bold headings, place the number beside each pattern below, and then evaluate where you might want to focus on your own leadership journey.
Author Janice Bastani, Master Mentor Coach is a certified executive leadership coach and holds many credentials in the coaching arena.
Her credentials include the following certifications:
Professional Certified Coach with the International Coach Federation, Energy Leadership Coach, Emotional Intelligence Coach, Global Group Coaching Coach, NeuroLeadership Coach, Certified John Maxwell Coach, Speaker, Mentor & Trainer.
Janice holds certifications to give and debrief Energy Leadership Assessments, Level One DISC assessment as well as being a Trainer with the DISC Personality Profile, Emotional Intelligence Assessments, Personality Profiling, along with several others in her faith ministry for Spiritual Gifts, and Strengths Profile. She is a founding member of the John Maxwell Team. Janice holds a BA in Journalism.
During these past summer months, I have been deep into researching, reading, and writing about “Life Transitions” and all that transitions entail. If you have been a client of mine in the past you know I frequently call this: “Surfing Lava.” It will be no surprise to you that you, me and everyone we know is always in a state of “change” or “transition.” It is my belief it is not the transition itself that gives us trouble. Instead, it has the tools and questions to navigate the transition which is the real challenge. What do you think about that statement?
Dr. Henry Cloud wrote an excellent book around this topic entitled: “Necessary Endings.” Dr. Cloud’s premise along with many other author’s is this process of “transition:”
Something must come to an end.
There is a period or a gap before the next thing begins, like a desert.
Then there is a new beginning.
I’d like to explore each of these three components of “transition” in this blog post. We will begin by encouraging you the reader to think of a most recent time when you had an end to something, then a gap, and finally a new beginning. Think about this for a couple of minutes. Let the memory come into your conscious awareness and all the emotions that accompany it. Okay, now let’s take that memory and unpack it with our three-step process mentioned above.
1. Something must come to an end
Let’s look at a life experience that happens to most of us as parents. For those of us who have children, they all transition into each year of education. Think about the first day of school for your child. They got on the big yellow bus, or you were in the carpool drop off lane for the first time. Then there was the first day of High School.
Later the first day of college. As you drove away after the big “move-in,” how did you feel about that role you played had come to an end. Each of us handles this type of transition differently.
There is a period or a gap before the next thing begins, like a desert. Often when we end one phase of life, we begin to “wander” around wondering what is next for me or perhaps you are so excited at the ending of one thing and the beginning of another, and you do not experience the gap moments in your life. If you do experience that gap or being in the desert, this is a time to step back and take inventory of where you are in other areas of your life. This is time when you can focus your energies elsewhere, where you may have neglected and now is the time to re-engage in these areas of life. You have heard the saying do not be sad it is over, be thankful that you experienced it. This is so true for all of us.
3. Then there is a new beginning. Think back to a time when you were the one who was going off on that new adventure. Perhaps it was moving into your dorm room at college. Maybe it was that first job and first apartment or buying a new car without a co-signer. Perhaps it was getting married or welcoming a new life into your family. These all come with lots of emotions; everything is unique to you no matter how much you prepare. We all have some sense of excitement, fear and lots of questions which we do not have the answers for. Welcome these into your life.
Recently I took a course creation online training, and I learned something which ties into what we are talking about today. There are three learning truths that we each have, and if we apply them, we can navigate through transitions in our lives. Here are these truths:
“All learners come to the learning experience with some prior knowledge” – The facilitator explained this as: “A toddler may not know what azure is as a color, but the toddler knows what a blue sky looks like.” We all know things based on some, even if it is limited knowledge.
“Existing knowledge does not go away without a new experience.” – Here again, this may seem elementary; however, our past experiences good and bad stay with us until a stronger new experience dislodges the old one. Let’s say you had an awful experience with a carpet cleaning service, and you would never recommend that company to anyone, and you even posted a negative review of the company online. This experience lives in your mind until such time as you have a positive experience with another cleaning company which can replace your existing negative one.
“All knowledge is built upon existing knowledge.” We each use our previous experiences to base our knowledge of the current situation. As a coach, I frequently challenge my client’s assumptions based on their existing knowledge. I do this by asking them to think of someone who has navigated their current challenge, and I like them: “How did they do that?”
You can see when you put all these questions, experiences and points of view into a process for navigating the transition; you begin to see a roadmap of how you might traverse the void you find yourself in today.
So, what about you? As you read this blog on transition, did you find yourself stuck in one of the three descriptions? If you answered NO, good for you. I would encourage you to look around you and see who is surfing lava tomorrow. If you answered YES, then let’s talk about that or find someone in your circle of peers or someone 5 years older than you are who have already weathered the storm you find yourself in and see what they can contribute to let you know how they navigated this save transition. Remember we are all in a constant state of development every day of our lives. Transition is a normal part of your human experience.
Author Janice Bastani is a certified executive leadership coach and holds many credentials in the coaching arena.
Coaching supervision offers coaches an opportunity to access continuous professional development through reflection and dialogue in a safe, supportive and confidential space. If we look closer at the word itself: super-vision meaning over-sight, the practice of supervision is for the coach and their supervisor to reflect together and have over-sight of the coach’s practice in service of them being the very best coach they can be.
In this way, the function and scope of supervision cover three main areas.
Learning and Development
In this domain, the focus is on the continuous growth and development of the coach towards increasingly advanced competence. This aspect of the dialogue might focus on the ICF Core Competencies as well as other related theories, models and concepts that could be introduced into the discussion by either party. The focus is on the coach as a coach and their ongoing skill development as a practitioner. Mentor Coaching for Credentialing could be seen as sitting somewhere within this domain with regards to the specific focus on the ICF Core Competencies, however, the roles of Mentor Coach and Coach Supervisor are not always the same and the focus and training for each discipline is different.
Support
Coaching Supervision also provides support for the coach in terms of them feeling resourced, supported and nurtured. As such, the focus is on the person or the who of the coach; the coach as a person. In this domain, topics such as confidence, inner dialogue, helpful or limiting beliefs held by the coach might feature in the discussion.
Safety and Standards
This domain is centered around quality and professionalism. Here, the dialogue may reflect upon how the coach is managing their overall coaching practice, ethical considerations and the safety of the coach and their client, as well as having consideration for the system within which the coaching work is being undertaken. Here, the ICF’s gold standard and the core values of excellence, integrity, collaboration and respect are at the forefront of the reflective dialogue and the focus is on the coach as a professional.
Within the context of these three areas, coaching supervision is sometimes described as working with “where the personal intrudes on the professional” in that the focus is on ensuring that the coach does not get in the way of their client’s learning and development but is instead an enabling tool or vehicle for their client.
In practical terms, coaching supervision bears some resemblance to coaching in that the coach and supervisor need to establish that there is chemistry and rapport for them to work effectively together. They will contract with each other around how they will work and how similar boundaries of confidentiality are upheld. The focus of each supervision session will be clearly established and may be related to the above domains in the context of, for example:
Case analysis (i.e., The coach’s work with a particular client or a particular session with a client)
Patterns and themes that the coach is noticing about their coaching practice across their client base
Observations that the coach is having about themselves within the context of their coaching practice
Review of the ICF Core Competencies or other coaching-related materials and how they are being evidenced in the coach’s practice
Exploration of the “who” of the coach
Sometimes, it can be helpful to frame the supervision topic as a question which the coach and supervisor then work collectively to answer. Some examples of supervision questions might be:
I have a lot going on personally at the moment, how can I be sure that I am fully present for my clients?
My client has told me they are being bullied, what are my responsibilities as a coach and how can I be of best service to them?
I find myself getting very distracted and even impatient when coaching client A…. What can I learn that will help me be the best coach I can be for them?
I am usually confident as a coach, however, when coaching client B…, I find myself feeling intimidated and trying to impress them, what is it that is triggering this response in me?
I get so engaged in coaching my clients that I lose track of time and our sessions seem to end abruptly with no clear actions or forward movement, how can I manage the time better for a better ending to the session?
My client shared something that really goes against my values and I’m finding it difficult to coach them without feeling negatively towards them, how can I resolve this?
I have noticed that I am more verbose when coaching clients who are younger than me, what is triggering this and what implications does this have for my coaching with them?
These are just a few examples of the many, many questions that a coach might bring into supervision and the common feature of all of them is that the conversation is aimed at supporting the coach to be the best they can be in that situation and across their coaching practice.
Coaching supervision can be undertaken on a one-to-one basis or as part of a supervision group. This discipline requires specific training which will most likely cover at least one or more fields of (coaching) psychology as well as specific supervision models. A coaching supervisor is also most likely to be an experienced coach and also be self-aware and mindful of their own part in the coach-supervisor dynamic and relationship. For supervisors working with groups, an understanding of group dynamics and group development is needed as well as knowledge of group supervision processes and practices.
Purchasers of coaching services want to know that they are buying the best and knowing that a coach is in supervision can be a great way of demonstrating quality assurance, professionalism and integrity in one’s coaching practice. Indeed, in some communities, being in coaching supervision is now a prerequisite for being able to provide coaching services within certain organizations.
ICF recommends coaching supervision as a useful form of continuous professional development for coaches and is committed to conducting further research into its efficacy as it continues to build a sizeable body of work on evidenced based approaches that are in service of the best coaching possible.
Author Tracy Sinclair, PCC, is also a trained Coaching Supervisor, Mentor Coach and an ICF Assessor. Tracy trains coaches and works with managers and leaders to develop their coaching capability. She works as an international Corporate Executive and Board Level Coach, a leadership development designer and facilitator working with a wide range of organizations. Tracy also specializes in working with organisations to support them develop coaching culture. She was the President of the UK ICF from 2013-2014. Tracy is a 2019 ICF Global Board Director and Immediate Past Chair. Original post can be found here: https://coachfederation.org/blog/coaching-supervision
Don’t look now, but 2020 is upon us! Can you believe it? What an exciting time to be alive and to be in business!! Are you excited? You sure should be! Things are changing, and opportunities are everywhere.
Now is the time to take stock of what you did in 2019 and where you want to go in 2020. You may be asking yourself: “I have no idea where to start; I think I will just pull the covers up and stay right here where it is warm and cozy.” Wrong Answer! Jump out and wake up and let’s get going with the promise of 2020.
In the holiday edition of the online version of Inc., this magazine put out an excellent article on evaluating the year past and planning for the new year ahead. I suggest you go here and read this article: https://www.inc.com/marla-tabaka/heres-your-guide-to-a-smart-year-end-businessreview.html . I am sure this year they will do another article, please check it out. You never have to do anything alone. Someone has already put a plan together or a guideline that you can use to get a jump start.
Every year I write the same thing, and these are the tips to make your year-end transition easier.
Pull out your calendar and look at every week of every month and circle in green what produced dollars, or new clients, or new business for you.
On each of those same weeks and months, use a red pen to “X” out all the things you attended, people you met, online training you wasted your time on, and money you spent on things that did not return value to you or your business.
Pull out this past year’s goals and see what you achieved and what is left unrealized. Make a decision right now as to what will go forward and what will be left behind.
Do you see “opportunities” which you were unable to capitalize on? Think long and hard on how you can turn those opportunities into new business in the coming year.
If you are feeling bogged down, or in a fog, or just plain stuck and out of creativity and ideas; this is the time to pick up a fellow business owner and set an “ideating” date to do some serious brainstorming in the week between Thanksgiving and December 21st or at the latest the Christmas and New Year. Why this time frame? Because if you get your 2020 plans down on paper before the end of the year, you can get a jump start on your competition. Most businesses go into a quiet time and slumber through the holidays at the end of the year unless you are in retail.
What did you learn new this year? No one can afford not keeping their skill level up. If you are even a little tech-savvy, you need to take the free courses for the programs you use in your business. I routinely receive emails from Microsoft, LinkedIn and so on for new training. Keep your mind and company up to date and sharp.
Let’s talk for a moment about “disappointments.” We all have them. Don’t believe all the hype of Facebook and Instagram. Everyone has failures. One of the best pieces of advice I ever received is to just look at the disappointment in a way that is removed from you. If you felt pressured, you did not have all the information you needed, or the timing wasn’t right, accept that for what it is and learn from the experience. Make a mental note and do not fall for the sell again.
During this slow, down in business, do a little research on who your competition is, read up on where your market is going, read up on your niche segment of your industry and become informed, learn what is coming down the pipeline and what you might consider next.
If you are running a small business, or are an entrepreneur who works alone, it is easy to become overwhelmed and isolated. Make sure you sprinkle some business networking opportunities and attend in your local community. If you also belong to some US large organization or a Global organization, plan to attend the yearly conference and put aside money to attend. I do not believe you have to go every year, but you might collaborate with others, and one of your group goes each year and comes back and gives a debrief to your group.
Okay, so let’s look at 2020 and what you want to achieve, what your goals are, what you are excited about, what new products, programs, and writing you want to do. In order to do this kind of dreaming, you will need to block off some white space to think. Many people like to do this in a coffee shop, in a park, on an airplane where they are not interrupted, or some other seclude place they believe is a great thinking place. Remember, nothing is to wild, unbelievable, undoable, impossible – the only person who can derail you is Y-O-U!
CELEBRATE!!!! If you are an outgoing person, and a solopreneur, get together with others in your area and celebrate the year, all the right business stuff, your achievements, and do not be shy about it. We all need lifting up, and we need to celebrate. We are not talking about being prideful here, just celebrating all the great things that happened in 2019.
May your New Year be full of Focus, Planning, & Prosperity!
Author Janice Bastani, Master Mentor Coach is a certified executive leadership coach and holds many credentials in the coaching arena.
Her credentials include the following certifications:
Professional Certified Coach with the International Coach Federation, Energy Leadership Coach, Emotional Intelligence Coach, Global Group Coaching Coach, NeuroLeadership Coach, Certified John Maxwell Coach, Speaker, Mentor & Trainer.
Janice holds certifications to give and debrief Energy Leadership Assessments, Level One DISC assessment as well as being a Trainer with the DISC Personality Profile, Emotional Intelligence Assessments, Personality Profiling, along with several others in her faith ministry for Spiritual Gifts, and Strengths Profile. She is a founding member of the John Maxwell Team. Janice holds a BA in Journalism.
As a mentor coach, I often meet new and aspiring coaches. It is wonderful to see our community grow and give access to coaching in wider circles. Through the years, I have had plenty of opportunities to mirror myself in their struggles, and I realize there are a few things I am glad I saw early. It has helped me in building my business and given me a smoother ride along the way.
Building a Coaching Business is Building a Business
First thing I am glad I saw clearly is that building a coaching business is building a business. As newly trained coaches, we are overflowing with enthusiasm on coaching itself—the work we can do to contribute. It is then essential to remember that building a business is a different skillset. I differed my two skillset developments by ensuring I had support in both parts: a good mentor coach to support my growth in coaching and good business advisors to help me get my business right. As my business understanding grew, I went from needing the actual advice to having a business coach. I still separate mentor coaching from business coaching because goals are completely different. In mentor coaching, the goals are around developing my coaching skills. In business coaching, they are around developing my company and my skills to run it. Both are highly needed.
Get Inspiration for Other Industries
I also realized how helpful it is to get inspiration from other industries. Don’t stay in coaching networks only. Listen to other industries and pick your golden ideas. Listening to plumbers and carpenters got me out of “selling myself—taking it personal,” I adopted their mode. A plumber knows he is needed and relaxes in that. He knows his prices are fairly counted to cover salary and expenses, and he doesn’t question himself if someone complains. Using their “I wouldn’t work for someone who won’t pay me, that would ruin my business” got me out of taking things personally. Keeping in mind that if it ruins a plumber’s business, it will for a coach. This helped me charge enough to give my business a chance. Looking at the best in other industries has also given me inspiration in how to use technology, how to develop and market my services and given me a good sense on what trends are influencing my market.
Always Think One Size Bigger
My peeking into other businesses got me to see the power in always thinking one size bigger, and it has saved me from a lot of mistakes. Here is the trick: Always work in a system that can hold your business easily one step bigger. If you are new, create a system that will work when you are fully booked. When you get going, build a system that will hold for growth. When good things happen, you are already mentally and organizationally prepared to take on bigger challenges. If you decide to work your way through it, you have a lean process to support you. If you decide this is where you take in subcontractors or employ individuals, you can easily do so. The systems are already in place. Systems built to manage bigger challenges helps you step up your game when you get the chance.
Budget for Development
I am also glad I early realized development requires a budget, in time and money. As a coach, it is essential to have the time and money to continue learning. You are the instrument, and your coaching can never get better than you. Holding that in mind when budgeting helps you set prices to cover time and costs for your own training. It also makes you build your business to have coverage for time to take on the CEO role to develop your own company. Parallel development, you as a coach and your business: Neither can stand still and both parts need their resources.
Look Big
It can be hard work to build trust and gain respect as a small business owner. I realized you can always look big by adding on to what already is. I joined established networks to gain credibility in business context. Coaching may be new and still a bit suspicious to some. By making myself visible in the networks of established companies, people got used to seeing me as part of business around. Create your own network, become part of your business community, don’t stay lonely.
Author Lena Gustafsson, PCC, holds a Master of Social Sciences, having majored in Psychology. She is past president of ICF Sweden and actively engaged in the development of coaching in her country. She is equally interested in the fields of method development and of building business as a coach; getting the two together is one of her strengths. She is working internationally in all sectors from sole traders to multinational companies to public organizations and NGOs. She is also working as mentor coach for new and experienced coaches. Besides coaching, she serves as an entrepreneurial startup advisor and does leadership consulting. She is the representative of coaches in the Swedish National Council of Branches and in the national board of Swedish Federation of Business Owners. The original blog can be found here https://coachfederation.org/blog/realizations-building-coaching-biz
The headline “Improve Employee Engagement” is everywhere in the business culture. Understandably so, because employee engagement is linked to less turnover, higher productivity and ultimately, to increased profitability. As a coach, providing your clients with the skills and resources to boost employee engagement will be extremely valuable to them. A key way is through authentic appreciation.
What is Appreciation?
Simply said, appreciation is taking a moment to focus upon individuals to show that you value the work they do. This is one of the keys to improving Employee Engagement. People clearly want to be appreciated for their contributions:
The level of employees feeling appreciated is one of the core factors Gallup found to significantly impact the degree of employee engagement in organizations
Over 200,000 global employees were studied by the Boston Consulting Group, and the top reason they reported enjoying their work was “feeling appreciated” (financial compensation didn’t appear until #8)
Seventy-nine percent of employees who quit their jobs cite lack of appreciation as a key reason for leaving
Four out of five employees (81 percent) say they are motivated to work harder when their boss shows appreciation for their work
It would appear that the most important ways to increase Employee Engagement is to give employees appreciation. But, unfortunately, most people don’t feel appreciated at work.
In fact, while 51 percent of managers surveyed across several companies felt they were doing a good job of recognizing employees for work well done, only 17 percent of the employees who worked for those managers felt appreciated by their supervisor. Thus, a wide discrepancy existed between how the managers perceived they were doing and what their employees experienced.
So, Why Are We Missing the Mark?
The first core principle to understand is that not everyone feels appreciated in the same ways. Each person has a specific “language” that, when used, communicates a clear message that they are appreciated. Research and experience have identified five languages of appreciation in the workplace:
Words of Affirmation: Praise communicated orally or in writing
Quality Time: Receiving focused attention from your supervisor, “hanging out” with co-workers, working together on a project
Acts of Service: Helping co-workers troubleshoot or complete a time-sensitive project
Tangible Gifts: Giving a small gift reflecting colleagues’ food preferences, hobbies or interests
Appropriate Physical Touch: Spontaneous celebration of a positive event such as a high five when a project is completed, a fist bump upon solving a problem, or a congratulatory handshake when a significant sale is made
Core Conditions for Staff to Truly Feel Appreciated
Four core conditions need to be present in order for employees to truly feel appreciated. Business leaders need to focus on communicating appreciation in these ways in order to be effective in their efforts. And, coaches need to assist their clients in implementing these steps to help improve their employee engagement.
Team members will feel valued when appreciation is communicated:
Regularly: What ”regularly” means varies depending on the work setting, the frequency of interaction between co-workers and the nature of the relationship. However, regularly clearly implies more than once a year during a performance review or when someone receives the “Staff Member of the Month” award
Through the language and actions important to the recipient: The key word is “recipient.” Most of us tend to communicate appreciation to others through the actions that we value—like giving a verbal compliment or sending an email. But, as mentioned above, not everyone feels appreciated in the same ways, and the probability is high that your colleagues differ from you in what communicates appreciation to them
In a way that is personal and individualized: Group-based recognition is a good start (“Way to go, team. Our satisfaction ratings improved last quarter”), but if the appreciation doesn’t relate to what the individual team member did to help achieve the goal, the communication can fall flat. Employees want to know what they have done that you value
In a manner that is perceived as authentic: If the communication of appreciation is not perceived as being genuine, nothing else really matters. Actions of recognition can appear inauthentic when:
A person’s tone of voice, posture or facial expressions don’t seem to match what they are saying
How a person relates to you in front of others differs from how they interact with you privately
There is an overall question of the motivation of the deliverer—do they have an ulterior motive?
With some thoughtfulness and intentionality, creating a culture of appreciation in the workplace is attainable, and an investment that makes good business sense. But many leaders need assistance and a structured process to apply the concepts of communicating authentic appreciation.
About the Author:
Paul White, Ph.D., is a psychologist, author and speaker, who “makes work relationships work.” White is the co-author of three books including, The 5 Languages of Appreciation in the Workplace, which has sold over 330,000 copies (written with Gary Chapman, Ph.D., author of the #1 NY Times best-seller, The 5 Love Languages). Their online assessment tool, Motivating by Appreciation Inventory, has been taken by over 175,000 employees and their Appreciation at Work training resources are used in over 25 countries.
Author: Christina Stathopoulos, PCC. A reblog from ICF.
Millennials are about to make up over half of the world’s workforce. Being able to effectively coach them will become paramount to the sustainability of any coach’s practice. And, overgeneralizing the common issues associated with working with millennials can inhibit a powerful relationship between coach and client. This article is intended to support coaches in navigating their issues with millennial clients and offer new insights on how to distinguish any age biases that may be inhibiting deeper relationships.
As a bonus, this article is being written by a 27-year-old millennial woman, who also happens to be a Professional Certified Coach with a robust practice. So, if you are a coach interested in distinguishing your current age biases, learning how to take responsibility for them, and applying new methods to your coaching, then keep on reading.
What is a Millennial?
What is a millennial? I encourage you to think about your answer to that question, and possibly even jot it down before you continue reading.
Most simply put, millennials are a demographic cohort born between the years 1981 and 1996.
The Problem with “How”
You might have a lot of questions about how to be a life coach for millennials, but there are a few easy ways to get it going. Coaches crave “how-tos” when it comes to working with millennials.
They believe this will make the coaching more effective.
They believe this will make working with millennials easier.
Ultimately to seek the how-to first will cause coaches to make the mistake of focusing more on their own performance than on “what” and “who” of the clients they work with.
Expertise will always be of value, but the default among coaches is to move forward on expertise and operate on top of the undistinguished biases they bring into their relationships with their millennial clients.
Think about it through the lens of the ICF Core Competencies. To rely on tips tricks, or how-tos to coach a client, means to be unwilling to be flexible during the coaching process. It eliminates the space to not know and take risks. It also then requires the coach to listen through their own agenda of “How is this response reflective of this person being a millennial?” versus any more open-ended or curious lens.
My assertion is that “how” kills the partnership between coach and client.
“How” Without Performance
Consider that the most effective way to work with millennials comes in these three steps:
Distinguishing your own age bias
Taking responsibility for that age bias to have it out of the space held for a client
Applying new techniques and methods to coaching
Skipping straight to #3 will cause that focus on performance previously mentioned.
Distinguishing Your Own Age Bias
To start, revisit your answer to the question, “What is a millennial?” Consider that anything you included in your answer beyond the range of birth years points to what your bias is.
Remember that bias doesn’t necessarily mean negative. However, if you want to be a life coach for millennials you must understand and negate your own bias. If you are stuck or unsure, here are some common examples:
“Millennials crave instant gratification.”
“Millennials are great with social media.”
“Millennials rebel against older leadership styles.”
“Millennials need friends and family to give them career advice.”
“The most important goal for a millennial is work/life balance.”
Taking It Out of the Space
Once you have distinguished the age biases that you have around working with millennial clients, you must practice putting those biases aside. One way to practice this is to listen to your own coaching of millennials through the lens of Coaching Presence. For example, you can check in on:
Where am I asking this question from? – Are my lines of inquiry reflective of being completely connected to the client and curious?
How much of the client am I listening to? – Am I trying to fit my client into assumptions I have about how they view career/life/leadership? Or am I truly listening to who they are and their experience?
What am I right about? – Which techniques or methods am I redundantly applying with the same client repeatedly? Why am I attached to those methods?
Applying New Techniques
With your age biases distinguished and out of the space, you can give yourself permission to seek out techniques again. And, you will undeniably notice a difference in how you hold those techniques.
With age bias undistinguished and running rampant, how-to becomes a coach’s beacon for how to fix their coaching or fix their clients.
With awareness and responsibility, how-to is merely a tool to broaden a coach’s skills and abilities. There will be far less pressure to have the correct solutions and answers.
In conclusion, curiosity remains your best tool available to you when coaching millennials. Taking on the practices and techniques that hone your Coaching Presence will ultimately make you a more effective coach for the next generation of global leaders.
Christina Stathopoulos, PCC, is the founder and head coach of Hear Her Roar. She is a Professional Certified Coach (International Coach Federation-credentialed) and an Accomplishment Coaching-Certified Coach. Christina specializes in working with women leaders who are seeking to have a greater impact on their professional and personal communities. She partners with these women to have more confidence, develop their leadership presence, and embolden their voices. Christina’s pursuit for playing powerfully began at Mount Holyoke College, where she earned degrees in English and chemistry. In addition to her private practice, Christina serves the next generation of leaders as a Leader in Training of Accomplishment Coaching’s Coach & Leadership Training Program—the world’s finest accredited program. Christina lives in Hoboken, NJ, where she passionately holds onto her scientific roots through home brewing.
The world is changing, and many companies are applying new management techniques that focus on collaboration, collective intelligence and a greater individual autonomy. Companies are making these changes not only to react faster to ongoing transitions, but also to create a better, more fulfilled workplace.
However, creating such changes requires a lot of effort: new processes, new ways of working, new structures, and also a higher degree of self-management from each person.
The leaders’ challenge is to make all these changes happen in a way that creates excitement, rather than chaos and panic.
It requires leaders who have not only a good knowledge of change management principles and great communication skills, but also a high level of self-motivation, a great deal of perseverance, and personal purpose to make things happen.
Leaders need to demonstrate a great level of self-management themselves. Their stability and focus will stabilize the whole system and set a positive example for others.
One way leaders can further develop their self-management is with professional coaching. Professional coaches help leaders take a step back from their challenges and guide them through the process of creating a change. During the process, leaders can develop new positive habits and strategies on how to progress through changes with confidence.
Anyone who wants to grow their own self management skills or who coaches on self-management in times of change should focus on the following six areas.
1) Manage Emotions
Change and uncertainty often trigger emotions such as fear or anger. When leaders understand their own emotions and manage their reactions, they become more trusted by others. Leaders with high emotional intelligence bring empathy in their communication and connect better with their audience.
Tip to work on this area: How can you take a step back from emotionally charged situations and start observing yourself instead of reacting?
2) Set Your Own Goals
Some leaders do not set any goals when things keep changing because they want to see how the future will unfold. But as Zig Ziglar said: “If you aim at nothing, you will hit it every time.”
Even if the future is uncertain, leaders need to keep setting their own goals. Goals increase personal drive, clarity and focus. They provide directions when leaders need to make decisions.
Tip to work on this area: Even if you don’t know how things will evolve, what would be the ideal outcome in three, six or 12 months?
3) Assess and Plan the Way Forward
In a world full of changes, we tend to move away from detailed plans and Gantt charts. But having a high-level plan of five to eight chronological steps on how to get from now to the future is a must. Such a plan decreases complexity, allows for doing things differently, and forces leaders to make decisions on the best way forward.
Tip to work on this area: Make a plan on how you want to drive a specific change: simple, few steps, chronological. A plan is your strategy, not a shopping list of possible actions.
4) Hold Yourself Accountable
Great leaders and managers create a positive example: They hold high standards for others by holding high standards for themselves.
Leaders who hold themselves accountable find creative ways to find motivation and courage to do difficult things. They deliver on their promises—to themselves and to others.
Tip to work on this area: How can you hold yourself accountable to deliver on promises even if no one else checks on you?
5) Maintain Steady Progress
Creating a change is not a sprint, but a marathon. It can be easy to “lose your nerve” and start taking erratic actions when you do not see quick results. Shortcuts can undermine the real progress and can end up wasting time and resources.
Tip to work on this area: How can you validate that you are still moving in the right direction, even if you do not see immediate results?
6) Adapt to Reality
What is real, and what are just biased perceptions, wishful thinking or wrong interpretations of data? Do leaders perceive the world around them objectively?
In the current world, we need to quickly adapt to new technologies as well as to the new ways of working (remote work, flexible desks, self-managed teams, virtual teams, etc.). Practically, it means that every day we need to flex our habits. We need to unlearn what we used to know and learn new ways of doing things. Do leaders perceive their own behaviors objectively and know how they can adapt them?
Tip to work on this area: How can you stay flexible and keep adapting without losing sight of your big goals?
Focusing on these six areas will increase leaders’ capacity to deal with and progress through change in a more serene way.
Lenka Grackova, ACC, will be exploring this topic more in-depth at ICF Converge 2019, which is taking place October 23-26 in Prague, Czech Republic. Join her session “The Rising Power of Self-Management” in the Build content group on Thursday, October 24 at 3:00 p.m. (local time). By attending this session, you can earn 0.25 CC/0.25 RD in Continuing Coach Education units.
Do you have too much to do and too little time? Of course! Time Management is one of the most common forms of stress that professional people experience, with too much to do and not enough time. It’s called “time poverty” and it’s the biggest single problem facing most people today. Things like budget limitations, staff cutbacks, competitive pressures force individuals to take on more and more work.
The key to becoming more efficient and relieving that stress is the ability to set priorities and the ability to focus on one task at a time. Here are five ways to get organized and get avoid time poverty issues:
1. Be open to new ideas.
The most foolish person of all is either the person who feels he has no time to learn about time management or, even worse, the person, while being overwhelmed with work, feels that she already knows all that’s needed to know on the subject.
2. Learn from the experts.
Success leaves tracks. A wise man, who had studied success for more than 50 years, once concluded that the greatest success principle of all was, learn from the experts. If you want to be a big success in any area, find out what other successful people in that area are doing—and do the same things until you get the same results. Study the interviews, speeches, biographies and autobiographies of successful men and women. You’ll find that they all had one quality in common: They were all described as being “extremely well organized.”
There is probably no other skill that you can learn that will give you a “bigger bang for the buck” than to become extremely knowledgeable and experienced in using time management practices. So read the books, the articles, listen to the audio, take the courses. Then, practice, practice, practice every day until you master those skills. It is one of the best ways to avoid issues with time poverty.
3. Develop a plan.
Successful men and women are both effective and efficient. They do the right things, and they do them in the right way. They are constantly looking for ways to improve the quality and quantity of their output. Develop a plan, Then decide what is the most important thing to do, and then decide how to do it. Having a succinct plan of action is one of the best ways to have effective time management.
4. Set priorities.
Since there is never enough time to do everything that needs to be done, you must continually set priorities on your activities. Perhaps the best question you can memorize and repeat is, What is the most valuable use of my time right now? Proper time management involves setting the right priorities and following through on them.
5. Focus on one task.
Start with your top tasks. The natural tendency is to major in minors and clear up small things first. After all, small things are easier and they are often more fun than the big, important things that represent the most valuable use of your time. However, the self-discipline of organizing your work and focusing on your highest-value tasks is the starting point of eliminating some amount of time poverty and lowering your stress levels.
The truth is, you can study time management and take time management courses for your entire career, and you will still never learn everything you need to know to get the most out of yourself while doing your job in the most efficient way. The key to efficiency is to continue learning and adapting to become your own expert.
This post is a re-blog from Brian Tracy at Success.com.
*This is a re-blog from Success.com, by author Jim Rohn
Let me give you some thoughts on time management. Here is a list of things you should consider to make the most of your time:
1. Run the day or it will run you.
Part of the key to time management is just staying in charge. Here’s what usually happens: We start something and we’re in control, but as the day starts to unfold, we start losing it. It’s like running a business. If you don’t stay on top of things, the business will run you before long. You have to stop every once in a while and say, “Wait! Who’s in charge here?”
“Some will master and some will serve.”
Here’s a good phrase to remember: “Some will master and some will serve.” That’s the nature of life, and you have to make sure you become the master. You have to run the day. You have to stay in charge.
What is the key to staying in charge of your time management? You must have your written set of goals with you at all times. Prioritize your goals and decide which are important. Constantly review your goals, then make them a part of a good written game plan.
With your game plan in hand, try to separate the majors from the minors, the really important things from the things that you just have to do. And prioritize. A little thought will save you a lot of time.
Is this a major day or a minor day? Adjust your time accordingly. Is this a major conversation or a minor conversation? A lot of people don’t do well in this area, and here’s why: They major in minor things. They spend too much time on things that don’t count and too little time on things that should count.
Consider this: A man comes home at night and flops down on the couch. He says, “I’ve been going, going, going.” But the real question is, “Doing what?” Some people are going, going, going, but they’re doing figure eights. They’re not making much progress.
You’ve just got to zero in on the job at hand. Don’t start your business day until you get to the business. I used to start my business day in the shower. I’m trying to compose a letter in the shower. I’m not awake yet, and I’m trying to compose a letter. I found out that it doesn’t work that way. Wait to get to the office to start your work. Don’t start your business day at the breakfast table. It’s not good for the family, and it’s not very productive.
So here’s what you’ve got to do. On the way to work, concentrate on your driving. In the shower, concentrate on the shower. At the breakfast table, concentrate on the family. Wherever you are, be there. Don’t be somewhere else. Give whatever you’re doing the gift of attention. Give people the gift of attention. Concentrate on where you are.
Boy, it’s easy in a society like ours to just say yes too much, to over-obligate yourself. Then it takes all that time to back out of it. Don’t say yes too quickly. It’s better to say, “I don’t know if I can make it, but I’ll give you a call.” It’s nicer to say that than to back out later.
Being too eager to please can be dangerous. You need to appreciate yourself, your time, your limits.
One of my colleagues has a good saying: “Don’t let your mouth overload your back.” Being too eager to please can be dangerous. You need to appreciate yourself, your time, your limits. Know when your commitment to someone else will end up taking time away from yourself and your family. Appreciate your special time alone. And appreciate your time with those you love and those who love you.
This is especially important when it comes to charity work. A group of entrepreneurs I know have been very successful in their own business. They get a lot of press. And they’ve been swamped with requests to do pro bono work. They must get a couple offers a month to sit on one charity board or another. Here’s how they handle it: They take all requests, weigh them for time commitments and evaluate them for opportunities. Then they take a collective vote on which two they’ll accept during the next year.
You can’t immediately say yes to offers that sound prestigious. You can’t immediately say yes to social functions, even if they sound like a lot of fun. You’ve got to say maybe and take time to evaluate what’s truly important to you and what will just take time away from your ambitions and your family.
Be eager to please yourself and your family. Don’t be so eager to please everybody else. Appreciate your own limits. You don’t have to fill up every second of the day; take time to appreciate what you’ve accomplished. Take time to enjoy the fruits of your labor.
5. Appreciate the little details.
Your success should be a pleasure. Appreciating what you’ve acquired and what you’ve done and who you’ve become is important. It’s an important component in fueling your future achievements. Just knowing that you finished all you started out to do that day… that’s encouraging! It’s these little daily gains that continue to fuel your achievement.
Let’s say you’re figuring out tomorrow’s game plan tonight, and tomorrow looks pretty light. So all you write down for tomorrow is “cleanup day.” Clean up all the little notes on your desk. Write all the thank-you notes you haven’t gotten around to writing all week. Take care of a few phone calls that keep getting shuffled from one day to the next. It’s just minor stuff. Nonetheless, it’s the little stuff that keeps weighing you down until you get it done.
So you spend your day in cleanup mode. You file the notes, write the thank-you cards, make the phone calls. It’s not a major day. But at the end of the day, you feel you’ve accomplished so much. Why? Because you’ve taken care of so many little details. It’s the little details that can make a major difference. You feel like you’ve really achieved something during a day that started out to be so minor.
Little achievements are just as important as big achievements. Success is the constant process of working toward your goals, little achievement by little achievement. Little achievements produce big results. Anything is possible in those 24 hours we’re given each day.
I’ve been a life long student of boundaries. That is to say, boundaries have been a core issue for me in the past and now it’s much less of an issue. When I sense myself leaning in too far, trying to do too much, to people please or over-deliver, I rein myself in.
Still, I occasionally fall into old patterns, even in coaching relationships.
I’m a 2 on the Enneagram. That’s “The Helper.” More than anything, I want to be of service to others, to help them better their circumstances. It’s a good fit for being a coach. And a strength overused becomes a weakness.
In the past, it’s often meant that I gave too much in all of my roles and relationships. And, I allowed some people to step on me… repeatedly.
Powerful Questions to Uncover Boundary Challenges
What about you? Do you like to fill in the holes and make sure everyone is taken care of? Are you a natural helper or people pleaser? A lot of coaches are.
Here are more specific questions to ask yourself:
With coaching prospects…
Do you reduce your fees habitually to suit prospects?
Do you bend over backward to prove your worth in Discovery Sessions?
With coaching clients…
Do you habitually go over time in sessions?
Are you charging enough to cover your investment of time outside of sessions?
Repetitive Over-Delivery Hurts You and Your Coaching Clients
Early on in my business I attended an International Coach Federation conference and met Cheryl Richardson.
She was asking a group of coaches… Do you want more for your clients than they want for themselves?
Bam! That was an aha moment for me. The answer was ‘YES’… always.
I learned from Cheryl that ultimately your client must choose transformation for it to happen. They must want it with all of their heart, mind and be willing to take action outside their comfort zone.
If you want something for them more than they do for themselves, it creates an imbalance in the co-creative relationship and the reality is, you’re going to be pushing them and they won’t appreciate it.
Later on, a friend of mine created a training based on years of research called Right Use of Power and I attended one of her first workshops.
Another huge aha. Let me explain…
When you are in a practitioner or authoritative or helper role, that role carries a certain amount of power. Hopefully, as coaches, we believe we are our client’s equals, but even so, they may hold some deference for us.
It’s up to coaches to do our best to equalize the power in the coach-client relationship. And this requires a lot of self-reflection and self-awareness.
Right Size Yourself
You might be kind of surprised that the answer to balance the power is not to give clients more, more of your time or make it easier for them by taking some of their responsibilities your own shoulders like giving them discounts.
Those kinds of things actually increase the power differential. And they do something to you too. You’re inflating your role and deflating your own power.
The answer is to invite the client to stand in their own power by making their role clear to them. And to stand firmly in your role without inflating or deflating your power.
Treat your prospects and clients as responsible people who are creative, resourceful and whole. That means:
Charge fees that pay you well. Don’t discount those fees to enroll a client.
Set and maintain time boundaries for sessions. If you’re about to go over time, acknowledge that you’re purposefully going over time and set a reasonable time boundary that you stick with.
Hold your clients accountable for paying their fees on time, showing up on time, being ready to coach, and doing their own work in between sessions. Don’t do their work for them unless that’s explicitly part of your program.
To know if you’re being right-sized, notice if you’ve over-inflated your role by taking responsibility from them or under-inflated your role by not owning your own power.
It is a dance that requires self awareness.
Set Boundaries Early On
If you clearly show prospects and clients your boundaries early on in relationships, you have a better chance at a mutually satisfying relationship.
If they are empowered, they will take leaps.
“We teach people how to treat us.” Phil McGraw
With prospects, that’s as simple as holding the time boundary on your Discovery Sessions and by not stepping into the coaching role in that session.
Be transparent on your website and in emails about what they can expect from your Discovery Session. It’s a get-to-know-you conversation where you’ll each assess fit for working together.
During the session, ask them open-ended questions. Let them talk.
Understand what they want right now and what’s keeping them from it. Then apply that to your signature program.
Share your fees and stand behind them.
With new clients, give an orientation at the beginning of your first session.
Set ground rules about cancelations, showing up on time and time boundaries.
Tell them your role and responsibilities and explain theirs. They send a Session prep. They set the agenda. They show up truthfully. They take action between sessions.
If they fail to bring an agenda, illustrate what an agenda is and reinforce it’s their role to set a specific bite-sized takeaway for each session.
These are small things. And they set the tone powerfully.
And still, there will be tests.
Red Flags That You’ve Inflated or Deflated Your Coaching Role
How can you tell if your boundaries need fortifying?
1. You feel desperate to enroll this prospect.
That desperation will deflate your power while tempting you to inflate your role and discount your fees.
2. You feel overwhelmed by a client’s energy.
The client may not be a good fit. Maybe you’ve said ‘yes’ when your intuition clearly said ‘no’.
Or, you might need to make requests for them to slow down. Consider doing a grounding meditation at the beginning of the session.
3. You feel emotionally tapped out after working with a client.
The client may not be a good fit.
Or, you were over-delivering. You might have inflated to prove your worth. Get right sized. Stand in your power. Hold your boundaries.
Try an energetic disconnecting exercise to release energy after the session.
4. You are beginning to feel resentful toward the client.
You likely inflated your role while deflating your power by taking some responsibility from the client such as charging too little or repeatedly giving too much for the fees you’re charging.
Only some people will be ideal coaching clients for you. And it takes time to realize what makes you a good fit for them and them a good fit for you.
Pay attention to ease and to your reactions to people to inform you. When you think of enrolling clients imagine your avatar — the ideal client for you.
The ultimate boundary is to learn how to say ‘no’ when you’re clear something is not right for you. Do it in an honoring way. Take it onto yourself. You might say something like:
“I feel strongly that I’m not the best resource for you. And, fit is really critical in the work I do with my clients. I’ve learned over time that I’ve got to listen to my integrity and sometimes not take on a client, even if they want to work with me.”
Have some coach colleagues or other resources to refer those non-ideal people to. If they are not right for you doesn’t mean they won’t be right for someone else.
Author Rhonda Hess co-authored the Coach Training AcceleratorTM and designed the CTA Certified Coach Program. She has a super power for helping coaches choose and champion a profitable niche they’ll love. Learn more at Prosperous Coach.
These are powerful questions that are standard in the coaches toolbox.
The right question can really help anyone zoom past obstacles and into a power zone of awareness and action on their own behalf.
That’s why questions are so valuable to coaches and in coaching.
So the first question unlocks a lot for your clients:
What do you want?
Well, sometimes people have a hard time answering this question, but with probing questions beneath it, you might be able to get them to it.
The second question is:
What’s holding you back?
As human beings, we do generally have a sense of this. We might be in denial about it, but we generally do know what we’re doing that’s either sabotaging ourselves or what we’re thinking, what we’re feeling that is lingering too long for us to be able to transform.
So what’s holding you back?
That question will cause your coaching client to go inside and really look at the truth with a capital T.
The third question is:
What is it costing you to continue holding back?
I don’t know if we normally as human beings think about what the costs are of our actions, of our thoughts, of our habits, but to ask someone that causes them to look at themselves from a place of self responsibility.
The fourth question is:
How could you show up differently?
Presumably you’re talking to them about a circumstance or a situation and this question allows them to wonder, Oh, I’m at choice here. How could I show up differently?
I remember this one time where I was going to be speaking in public at a pretty big event for coaches and I was just so nervous. I called my husband for support and he has asked me: How do you want to show up, Rhonda?
I paused and I thought about it. Well, I want to show up standing in my power, believing in myself and being open and vulnerable to my audience as well as delivering something that is actually valuable to them.
Those four answers just grounded me. They made me feel good again, made me feel ready again. And I realized that it was okay to be vulnerable with my audience. It’s okay that I was nervous and I didn’t have to try to obliterate that nervousness before getting on stage.
The fifth question is:
What is a new perspective that you could adopt right now?
Oftentimes when our coaching clients are telling us how they feel or what they think about something, it might be a gripe. It might be the raw feeling and there’s nothing wrong with that.
As a matter of fact, I invite my clients to share their raw feelings.
You can respond to that raw stuff with the question: What’s a new perspective you could adopt right now about that?
You’re inviting them to pick themselves up out of the situation and get a 30,000 foot view. Look at it from the other person’s point of view. Or from their highest self point of view.
The sixth question is:
What is the most meaningful action you could take right now?
So often when our clients are stuck, it’s because they’re unwilling to or afraid to take an action and when you put that word meaningful in front of action, it helps them think differently.
Meaningful to them could be journaling. Or it could be having a conversation with you or someone else. Meaningful to them could be deciding not to do it at all and to take a different direction.
The seventh question is:
What new habits will you put in place right now?
Habits are amazingly powerful in our lives and in the lives of our clients.
We all have bad habits. If you take any aspect of our lives on the life wheel, we’ve got bad habits in those areas, whether it be finances, or how we behave at work … how we feed or exercise ourselves.
We all have habits that can be improved and habits are amazingly powerful if we put the right ones in place.
That’s partially why I’m talking to you about client management because these are habits that we can have in place with our prospects and our clients.
And the last question, number eight is:
What new skills or support systems will ensure your success?
We want to teach our clients and ourselves to realize that sometimes we have to learn something new or go get help in order to ensure our success.
I always ask my prospects about their support systems. I want to know do they have a family? Do they have a partner? Is that partner supportive of them building a coaching business? Do they have childcare? Do they have ways that they’re going to be able to segment parts of their day to work on their business?
With your own target audience around the niche you have, the ultimate outcome you’re going to help them achieve —be sure they have support systems in place and not just you. You don’t want all of the help and succor to be on your shoulders.
Going back to the skills too, of course everyone who is undertaking something new or trying to do something big.
Hopefully, you’re helping your clients achieve something big to get past or solve a big problem they have or to achieve a huge goal they have. Because if you’re doing that with your clients you may not be able to earn enough as a coach
New skills might something like developing a stronger intuition. It might be developing greater awareness of themselves, of their body, of what their mind or emotions is telling them. Or it could be something really nuts and boltsy such as taking training in order to succeed.
These questions are useful for coaches, for nearly any client at any time, so I hope you use them for your success!
Author Rhonda Hess co-authored the Coach Training AcceleratorTM and designed the CTA Certified Coach Program. She has a super power for helping coaches choose and champion a profitable niche they’ll love. Learn more at Prosperous Coach.
In today’s world, coaches are free to use advanced technology to become location free or, so-called digital nomads. It is technically possible to connect with our clients via video calls and perform our other tasks online. However, is it a realistic option when it comes specifically to coaching?
When leaving Europe to start my digital nomad adventure in Southeast Asia, I got bombarded with questions from my fellow coaches. Was it going to be possible to sustain my coaching business while working remotely? How was I going to get new clients? How could I make sure I have a stable internet connection everywhere? To be honest, it was overwhelming at the time. I had a plan, but was I sure it was going to work out? Not really.
Just like my colleagues, I had some limiting beliefs about running a coaching business while traveling. The nomadic lifestyle looked great on Instagram. But what was the reality going to be like? I did not know, but I chose to trust that I will be able to deal with the challenges this journey was about to bring.
Did I succeed? If success means have I been learning a lot? Has this experience expanded my range? Have I sustained my business, happy clients and my mental sanity? Then my answer is YES!
Would I recommend such an adventure to everyone? Yes and no. The truth is, once you are on the road, your business is not going to be the same. So, if you are considering running your coaching business while traveling, the main question is: Are you ready to embrace change?
And what changes can you expect?
1. Your environment will be different, and you will be the same person.
By saying yes to your dreams, you are not automatically saying no to your responsibilities. If you are a responsible person in your “real” life, it is not going to change once you become a digital nomad, not without your permission. However, if you are fighting an endless battle with your procrastination, working from a tropical island might not help you to focus on work.
What is your real motivation to change your lifestyle?
2. You might start attracting different clients.
Yes, there are people out there who think remote working makes you an irresponsible hippie. If you let your potential clients know about your lifestyle, what people will be excited to work with you? There is a chance that your clientele is going to change. This can impact the way you think about your business and your ideal clients.
Who are your ideal clients?
3. You are the one choosing your perspective on your challenges.
Working with clients in different time zones can be a challenge or an opportunity to redesign your idea of what your working day could look like.
Can you embrace change and explore the opportunities the transformation of your daily routine might bring?
4. You will let go of some of your standards.
Perhaps you are used to working with your clients in a meeting room, wearing freshly ironed shirts. As a digital nomad, you might be forced to coach from your phone, sitting on a trash bin, with lizards running on the wall behind you.
After eight months on the road, my imaginary list of must-haves to perform my work got reduced to three things: stable internet connection, (relative) silence and privacy. But even these simple things have a different definition in other parts of the world. So, it becomes essential to always have a plan B (and C and sometimes D).
This is an opportunity to boost your creativity and problem-solving skills and amaze yourself with your ability to stay grounded, 100% focused on your client, no matter what your working conditions are.
Are you ready to expand your coaching comfort zone?
5. Just like traveling, remote working is a journey, not a destination.
Each destination brings a new set of challenges. And that can be amazing and/or stressful. Staying in the present moment is the only way to enjoy your journey because you never know what will come next.
How are you dealing with uncertainty?
Final Words
Once you become physically distant from your clients and your environment, your fancy gear and pretty clothes, all that is left is you, your skills and your ability to be fully present for your clients.
Coaching as a digital nomad can be an intense boot camp of one’s own flexibility, self-management and resilience. It enables you to expand as a person and as a coach in many unexpected ways. At the end of the day, all you need to be a great coach is yourself. And the more you expand your own range, the more space you can offer your clients.
About the Author: Anna Kmetova, ACC, CPCC, is a Life and Career Coach who empowers open-minded individuals to lead authentic and fulfilling lives through guided one-to-one sessions. When she is not supporting personal transformation, she helps companies implement a coaching culture. Anna is based in Amsterdam. From November 2018–August 2019, she has supported her clients remotely from Thailand, Laos, Cambodia, Malaysia, Indonesia and Taiwan.
This title is a mouthful for sure. However, when you stop to think about it, we all have a “Capacity” limit and a threshold for each of these four items. Just off the top of your head, ask yourself this question of each of these four things: “What is my capacity limit when it comes to; my intention, to my leadership, to my partnering, and with people?” I am betting you have never asked yourself these four questions nor have you thought about these four items in this manner. You are not alone. Most people do not look at these four words and ask much of anything.
I am reminded what a well know leader once remarked on a video that when people are asked about in a job interview, most say: “I am really good with people.” Really? What does that mean exactly? Let’s take a very brief look at each of our four capacities a little deeper.
In order to increase our capacity for intentionality we must be will to do three things:
We must be willing to be Deliberate
We must be willing to be Consistent
We must be willful
The key here is to be very intentional and not to let this slide or for us to procrastinate.
When it comes to Leadership what I know from my foray down this lane is the more I learn about being a leader, the more I understand there is so much I do not know, and still have to learn. Leaders are by nature “multipliers,” they are great communicators, they are attentive listeners, they must see before those they lead see, they must connect before they ask others to change, just like someone selling something: those leaders lead must feel understood, liked and cared for. Sounds like a whole lot doesn’t it? Being a leader in any business or as a father or mother prompts two important things: consistency and intensity.
The third Capacity we are going to explore today is the one of Partnership. Have you ever heard this saying: “I can do things you cannot do, you can do things I cannot do, together we can do great things!”? But, how often do we actually partner? Seldom, is the answer. It is almost as if we live and have been brought up in the “Lone Ranger Culture;” we can each figure it out ourselves and do it so much faster and more inventive than anyone else on our team or in our field. Really? In order for “Partnership” to work, each of us has to change our Lone Ranger mindset. When we do not seek out to work with others, we are not close to expanding our Capacity for Partnership.
This one should be easy, and yet it trips people up all the time; our ability to have People Capacity. In other words, developing relationships with other people. Let me state this plainly here: if you do not know how to build healthy growing relationships with your loved ones, your spouse, and in your business environments you will stop growing altogether and be like a bitter old man/woman who has given up on life and is basically waiting to die.
How do we expand our people capacity?
We expand our people capacity by “Valuing People” every day.
We expand our people capacity by making ourselves more valuable in our relationships.
We expand our people capacity by getting out in the world and not staying home.
We expand our people capacity by having a focused relationship where we are benefiting others and not ourselves.
We expand our people capacity by being consistent friend vs. a fair weather friend.
We expand our people capacity by believing the best about others
We expand our people capacity by not allowing other people’s behavior to trigger and control us.
We expand our people capacity by keeping the value of any relationship high even in tough times.
We expand our people capacity by “unconditionally loving others.”
We expand our people capacity by creating great memories.
We expand our people capacity by keeping those relationships we desire close to us and nurturing them.
That was a whirlwind of information is a short time span. What did you glean from what you have just read? How might you make four goals in developing your own “capacity” in each of the areas discussed in this blog? When will you act on those goals? How will anyone know you are working on growing your capacity in “Intentionality, Leadership, Partnership, and People?”
Author, Janice Bastani, is a certified executive leadership coach and holds many credentials in the coaching arena: Professional Certified Coach with the International Coach Federation, Energy Leadership Coach, Emotional Intelligence Coach, Global Group Coaching Coach, NeuroLeadership Coach, Certified John Maxwell Coach, Speaker, Mentor & Trainer.
Janice holds certifications to give and debrief Energy Leadership Assessments, Level One DISC assessment as well as being a Trainer with the DISC Personality Profile, Emotional Intelligence Assessments, Personality Profiling, along with several others in her faith ministry for Spiritual Gifts, and Strengths Profile. She is a founding member of the John Maxwell Team. Janice holds a BA in Journalism. Learn more about Janice at www.janicebastanicoaching.com
It’s time to buckle up and get ready for some major transformations in the coaching space
Looking to implement the latest coaching trends for 2019? In our technology-driven world, the demand for skilled coaches is greater than ever before.
**This blog is a re-post from http://membershipfix.com/coaching-trends/**
Inc.com recently published an article entitled, “Science Says 92 Percent of People Don’t Achieve Their Goals. Here’s How the Other 8 Percent Do.” Within the article, Inc.com cited a University of Scranton study which found that only 8% of people accomplish their goals.
Because the achievement of goals is the foundation to a fulfilled life, that statistic proves there are many disappointed people and businesses out there. Yes, there are a small group of individuals accomplishing their goals. However, far more are living out “quiet lives of desperation”.
There are many obstacles facing technology overloaded goal seekers today. Things are increasingly complex and require expert solutions. But not all coaches will be ready to solve the unique problems their clients will face in 2019.
Are you an executive, spiritual, fitness or life coach? Regardless of the type of coach you are, here are ten coaching trends to be aware of in 2019 so you can continually stay relevant.
Technology Will Continue to Replace Location
It wasn’t too long ago that location was everything when it came to coaching. Location-based coaching will continue to become obsolete in 2019.
Coaches and clients will advance the trend of being okay with long-distance coaching. It won’t matter where the coach or client is living. In some cases, it could be years before a face-to-face encounter ever happens. Even so, the impact coaches have on their clients will be real and powerful.
Seeking to Be as Human as Possible
With the digitalization of coaching, things are both easier and more complex now. The coaches who’ll thrive in 2019 will be those who, despite lacking face-to-face encounters, provide “the human touch” for their clients.
This will include as many communication forms as possible to provide well-rounded interactions. Coaches who find cutting-edge ways to make interactions feel as face-to-face as possible will find unique success.
Proof of Coaching Results
Due to the complexity of coaching in 2019, clients will want to see the measurable results coaches have already achieved. As already shared, the added challenges of technology require more than the simplicity of traditional coaching methods.
Clients are looking for coaches with a proven track record of delivering results. Because the bar is higher now, there will be a greater disparity among coaches skilled at delivering results and those who are not. Being a part of a coaching membership site will help you display your wins in a way that will convert clients.
Greater Accountability in the Coaching World
With the rise of technology and the Internet, it became easy for anyone to simply call themselves a coach. The challenge for those seeking a coach, however, is that it’s become more difficult to determine if prospective coaches are truly qualified.
Expect more concrete licensing and qualifications for coaches in the future. We’re reaching a point where clients need to see qualifications in a coach to feel confident in their investment. Coaching membership sites are a great way for coaches to stay current with regulations to put their best foot forward.
Increased Rates for Qualified Coaches
Already, you’ve noticed a theme in this article and it boils down to higher standards for coaches in 2019. Coaches will need to:
Solve more difficult problems than in the past
Have an increased understanding of technology
Be able to prove past successes before landing new clients
Have a strong web presence
Be highly competitive
Adhere to industry and governmental regulations
Use more complex automation to complete administrative tasks
It stands to reason that fewer coaches will successfully make these adjustments. But for the truly persistent, these higher standards will allow coaches to demand higher rates. The need for the few who can provide unique solutions will increase coaching wages for the truly skilled.
Greater Focus on Positive Psychology
As the understanding of positive psychology continues to advance, coaches will increasingly draw from this wisdom when helping their clients with mental roadblocks.
Coaches will be able to show their clients that their biggest enemy is often themselves.
Negative or self-defeating internal dialogues will be evaluated by coach and client alike. That negative dialogue will be replaced with positive self-talk. And once the positive self-talk is in place, many roadblocks previously thought insurmountable by coaching clients will begin to crumble.
The Demand for Coaching Will Increase
Because today’s coaches will be tackling more difficult problems, many more businesses and individuals will need help. They’ll recognize how unprepared they are to solve those challenges on their own and will look for assistance.
In 2019 and further on, coaching will be seen less and less as a luxury. Instead, it will be an understood necessity for success. It will no longer be only perceived elites who utilize the benefits of coaching. A membership to a coaching site will help you find the growing number clients that best suit your expertise.
Specialized or Niche Coaching Will Increase
It’s becoming significantly more difficult to remain an expert in multiple industries. The greater complexity of problems industries and individuals face will develop the need for specialized or niche coaches.
More than ever before, coaches who brand themselves as generalists won’t be taken as seriously. In addition, they won’t be able to command high rates like specialized coaches will. Coaching experts will need to stay specialized to keep up with all the latest trends.
Greater Need for Automation and Delegation
Because of the increased need for expert advice, coaches simply won’t be able to do it all. Trends in 2019 will continue towards the automation of administrative tasks through software and other advances.
Also, coaches will need to delegate or outsource work to freelancers. That may mean help with videography, ghostwriting books or web content. Today’s coaches will need to make sure they’re not spread too thin because of the increased expectations they face.
If you’re struggling to know how to best use technology for administrative purposes or who to hire, a coaching membership site will help you sort that out.
More Relationship-Driven
Gone are the days of sterile coaching relationships. Expect coaching in 2019 to continue the trend toward building authentic, meaningful relationships. This bond is necessary to tackle personal and psychological roadblocks.
There’ll be a need for vulnerability on the part of both client and coach. The more difficult problems faced in 2019 will require the shift to ensure success. Also, with more at stake in the event of failure, a greater level of trust will need to be built.
While coaching in 2019 will be more challenging, there are greater potential rewards for coaches who are prepared for the latest trends.
This blog is a re-post from http://membershipfix.com/coaching-trends/
It’s true. The make or break factors in coaching business success are rarely about education, specific business skills, or experience. Instead, it all comes down to how you manage your mind.
Nearly all my clients have struggled with believing in themselves at one moment or another. I’ve struggled with it on and off myself. What’s pulled me forward again and again is a BIG WHY. With all my heart I want to serve and earn with the freedom to do it my way. Over the years I’ve learned to use obstacles as my prosperous path.
Change Your Mind
When you break through, it’s a shift in perspective that does it. You simply change your mind. Suddenly, what seemed like a steel wall in your way becomes a wisp of cloud. If the steel wall persists, it’s not because it’s real. It’s just waiting for you to see the wall come down. You have the power.
There’s a simple tool you can deploy whenever you feel that knife edge of wanting to give up: Turn what feels like a big deal into no-big-deal. Release your fixation on whatever you think is lacking and put their focus back on serving.
Move forward like a toddler reaching for a toy – with joy and determination.
The Powerful 12
So what does it really take to build a successful coaching business? A little of this and that – all of it easy to develop if it doesn’t come naturally. Here’s my list of 12: A big enough “why” – the reason you carry on.
Curiosity.
A passion for learning.
Self discipline.
Creative juices.
A deep desire to serve.
Focus.
The ability to re-resource.
Stick-to-it-iveness.
Seeing mistakes as guide posts.
Patience.
Loving kindness towards yourself.
Author Rhonda Hess co-authored the Coach Training AcceleratorTM and designed the CTA Certified Coach Program. She has a super power for helping coaches choose and champion a profitable niche they’ll love. Learn more at Prosperous Coach.
Have you ever felt like your potential clients are giving you a mixed message? They grab up all your free stuff — your irresistible offers, free discovery sessions, articles and other goodies — but too few hire you, buy your products, or enroll in your programs.
It’s clear they need help. They seem to be attracted to you and your message. So what’s missing?
They aren’t properly motivated to invest in what you’re offering. All 5 of these things must be aligned for your prospect to say YES to you!
1. They truly want the outcome you’ll help them reach.
Are you speaking clearly to exactly what they most want?This is easy if you’ve niched to a unique target audience. If you’re selling what you do — coaching — you’ve failed to provide a link to an outcome they want. Draw out of your prospects the specific tangible and emotional outcomes they most want, then speak to how your coaching or program helps them get there. A set of powerful questions asked during enrollment helps them tap into what they really want with all of their heart.
2.They believe that you are the right person to help them reach that outcome.
Who are you that aligns with who they are? This is about your personality, your style, your skills, your experience and maybe even your credentials. And it’s also about your story. People want to know that you’ve been in their shoes and thrived beyond where they are now. (You don’t need to be far ahead.) Show that you’re a vulnerable human being who courageously took the leap. Relate to them with compassion and curiosity. If they feel understood, they are more likely to listen to what you have to say.
3. They want that outcome right now!
Is the timing right? Think about the times when you’ve invested in support to get where you want to go. You had a fire in your belly and you were ready to take a leap. Help them identify closely with what they want as an immediate possibility. Then trust them to do what’s right for them, which may be not taking this step right now. It will be better for you to have clients who are truly ready for change.
4. They understand what you’re offering. Is your process or system crystal clear? They want to know… what will it be like to work with you? How will they benefit in incremental ways? What will they be doing? Will it be difficult? They need to know that THEY CAN DO IT and that you’ll be with them every step of the way.
5. They believe they cannot afford NOT to hire you now.
Are the costs of status quo becoming intolerable to them? The double negative is necessary here. Help them see the costs of being where they are now, the immediate relief and long term rewards of moving forward in their lives. If possible, monetize the value of transformation so they can justify the investment of working with you financially as well.
If all five of these things are aligned in the mind of your potential client, they will get to YES!
Play around with this the next time you enroll clients. Often, small changes in your approach make a huge difference in your results.
Author Rhonda Hess co-authored the Coach Training AcceleratorTM and designed the CTA Certified Coach Program. She has a super power for helping coaches choose and champion a profitable niche they’ll love. Learn more at Prosperous Coach.
Like many who are in the field of personal development, I look in from time to time to see what my peers are doing and where they post and whom they are following and learning from. Since January 2019, I have noticed a troubling trend. The trend is from their posts on social media and in the groups we jointly belong to, it seems they have fallen into the trap of jumping on board anything that sounds like it might be a “solution” or “great idea.”
Is this a bad idea? Or is it a good idea? This is strictly my opinion on this specific topic, but what I am wondering is how they have time to work. These folks are following, listening, doing assignments all hours of the day and night, and from the looks of it, they are not getting down to the business of working vs. learning.
One of my mentor’s once told me this: “…just because you have a great idea or a thought does not mean you have to express it…” and this is true too of these types of decisions: “…just because it sounds like a great idea, course or something you want to explore does not mean you should abandon your daily schedule, weekly, monthly, quarterly and yearly goals and jump on the next learning train…”
Another one of my mentor’s from long ago impressed upon me the freedom which is experienced by have days to do certain distinctive types of activities, just like an athlete. One day the athlete will do strength training, on another day endurance training, cardio one day, upper body, lower body, the psychology of their specific sport and so on, you get the idea. As an author, trainer, speaker, coach and mentor, each of these requires different skills, and I am not good at trying to do multiples of each every day of the week. However, I can be very effective if I block off one day for research for training, or for writing, or developing a training program. I block off my “people” days for coaching and mentoring my clients. When I speak publicly, I have to do my due diligence for the audience I am going to speak to and write and practice my speech and that has specific blocked time to do that.
Daily, I read, I have my own spiritual practices, and block off time to eat, wind down, exercise, speak with loved ones, and so on. These are my daily non-negotiables. A grown child is just as disappointed as a grandchild if you forget the important dates in their lives. I also leave “WHITE SPACE” in my calendar. When I was much younger, I falsely believed that having a packed calendar with every day and hour packed with something meant, “I WAS GETTING SOMEWHERE!” The only thing I got was burnout, irritability and disconnected relationships. A packed calendar is one of the sure ways to bring on overwhelm and distress.
There are principles that never change, and one of the best ones comes from the field of “Marketing”: “…a confused customer never buys….” This is so true in business when we have an influx of multiple learning sources, multiple mentors, multiple social media influencers who are all vying for our attention, time, and dollars we become deer in headlights – frozen on the road. Good decision and good reasoning suddenly become lost in the noise of the constant email solicitations, the reminders, memes, and social posting rants that are continuously being brought to our attention through “alerts.” It all becomes a dizzying lifestyle that leaves us empty. We do not have enough time to implement or use what we have just expended our most valuable resources on….our time before we are jumping into the next thing being offered to us.
I am of course talking here about our own “personal development.” I have counseled my new entrepreneur clients on the dangers of accumulating knowledge which is not implemented into a business plan. I learned this the hard way. Each time in my early career when I thought I didn’t know how to do something, I actively sought out that “something” and I was plunged into the world of lists, fresh lists, old lists, partnering lists and it goes on. Once on these “lists,” it is virtually impossible to get off of them so the solicitation cycle can go on for your entrepreneurial lifespan.
We must first learn the basic, then once we have that, see where the gaps are in our skill base and go from there. You may have heard this called Bright Shiny Object Syndrome.
So, every day this week, I have set aside a small block of time [basically while I am waiting], and I have “unfollowed” anyone or anything that is not adding value to my feed. I have also made this a habit each December when I purge my own lists and contacts. It is incredible how much you no longer are distracted by when it isn’t in your face or tech items. I can attest it is very freeing and time blocks open up which are better spent on other pursuits.
Author, Janice Bastani, is a certified executive leadership coach and holds many credentials in the coaching arena: Professional Certified Coach with the International Coach Federation, Energy Leadership Coach, Emotional Intelligence Coach, Global Group Coaching Coach, NeuroLeadership Coach, Certified John Maxwell Coach, Speaker, Mentor & Trainer.
Janice holds certifications to give and debrief Energy Leadership Assessments, Level One DISC assessment as well as being a Trainer with the DISC Personality Profile, Emotional Intelligence Assessments, Personality Profiling, along with several others in her faith ministry for Spiritual Gifts, and Strengths Profile. She is a founding member of the John Maxwell Team. Janice holds a BA in Journalism. Learn more about Janice at www.janicebastanicoaching.com
As a coach, have you ever thought “Who am I to…?” Fears like this show up when you take the smart step of focusing on one unique tribe of people — a niche market — and begin to put the word out that you can help them get where they want to go. The underlying thought is: “How can I charge for this if I haven’t accomplished for myself the things my clients want to accomplish!” And then you fall into a spiral of doubt and start back pedaling.
I hear you. But keep moving forward by embracing your beginner’s mind.
In any new job, career or business direction there is the absolute necessity to be new, untried and unproven at first. You are required to be a beginner and learn from doing. There’s no shame in it.
In fact, a fresh perspective is THE POINT of coaching.
Dance in the Moment
Coaching isn’t about knowing. It is about coming to sessions without a plan, “dancing in the moment” with your client. It’s about drawing out their wisdom and facilitating shifts in perspective and new approaches to problems, processes and desired outcomes.
These are the true skills of masterful coaching:
active listening
active witnessing
active curiosity and
asking powerful questions
In fact, coming in with a lot of knowledge can actually override the most sacred thing about coaching – the client’s agenda. The paradox is that there is no one right way to do anything and it’s best if the solution is your client’s idea, not yours. There’s no need to know what your client knows. And there’s no need to know what your client doesn’t know either.
So ease up on yourself here and trust that YOU CAN DO IT!
It is true that over time you do become an expert on your niche market – the unique group of people you serve – because you’ve coached individuals in that “tribe” long enough to witness the patterns. But it’s so important to stay open minded for diversity, for surprises. That’s why staying fully present is much more valuable in coaching than coming loaded with the answers as a consultant.
The Secret of the Sacred Six
Here’s a secret… personal and professional developmental growth is facilitated by the same set of things no matter what the territory or topic. Coaching is about helping clients to:
Remember and honor their personal values.
Vision for what they want most.
Uncover and move through fears (in a spiral rather than a direct line from A to B).
Leverage strengths and uncover possible obstacles.
Up-level mindset, environment, skills, courage, commitment and motivation.
Think through milestones and take active steps toward what they want most.
Rely on the “Sacred Six” and you’ll realize you are primed to help people on any topic.
Author: Rhonda Hess co-authored the Coach Training AcceleratorTM and designed the CTA Certified Coach Program. She has a super power for helping coaches choose and champion a profitable niche they’ll love. Learn more at Prosperous Coach.
While my children’s adolescence cured me of most of my theories, a few fundamental ones survived, and are even more boldly illuminated against the backdrop of passing years. One of these survivors is the principle of reverse truths. In traditional science, truth is arrived at by proffering a hypothesis, then accumulating data to prove or disprove it; the data force the conclusion. Reverse truths work the opposite—the hypothesis or belief creates the data.
Our assumptions select what we perceive in the world and determine what meanings we attach. Not only is believing necessary in order to see, but we bring about what we expect to happen. A story creates a reality. For example, a placebo is an inert pill, plus a story. The patient is prescribed expectations that, in the majority of cases, manifest. By anticipating an experience, we can create it. The story generates a truth so powerful it can reverse the pharmacological effects of the real medicine. The placebo’s story is a white lie, a fiction that becomes a truth.
The most vital reverse truth in our lives is our belief in our children. They look to us as a mirror of who they are, and they become what they see. If we trust and respect them, they become trustworthy and respectful.
Some parents have this reverse truth backwards, thinking that they will trust a child only after he or she has proven to be trustworthy. There are forward truths, but this isn’t one of them. Our belief in our children is taken in by them, and metabolized into their own belief in themselves. We convey to them in an unspoken message: “I’ll believe in you until both of us can.” When that affirmation isn’t there, they may spend their lives looking for that elusive approval.
Carlyle was right. “Tell man he is brave and you help him to become so.” As a parent, the trick is that you have to believe what you say, for feigned praise and inauthentic interest are forgeries immediately discernible to a child’s expert eye. I see this reverse truth professionally as well. When I work with practicing professionals—such as doctors and financial professionals—and performance professionals—such as actors and athletes—I have to believe in them so they can believe in themselves, with an unspoken, “I’ll believe in you while you teach me why, until both of us know.” Which is why I only work with clients in whom I really believe.
A corollary of believing in my children was to believe their words, their truthfulness. When both my children were very young, I told them that I would never lie to them and would always believe everything they told me as well. I knew then the responsibility that was placed on them to always tell the truth.
On a Father’s Day many years ago now, my son’s last one before leaving home and starting college, I found a letter from him at my bathroom sink. A passage in it addressed his perception of this reverse truth: “You never lied to me and I have never lied to you. Sounded stupid at first, but as time passed, it became more important, and I realized that I never would. This is a relationship few others have ever had.”
DAVID KRUEGER, M.D., Dean of Curriculum and Mentor Coach at Coach Training Alliance, is an Executive Mentor Coach who works with executives and professionals to develop and sustain success strategies. A former Professor, Psychiatrist, and Psychoanalyst, his coaching and writing focus on the art and science of success strategies: mind over matters.
Dave is author of 17 books on success, money, wellness and self-development. His latest book, The Secret Language of Money (McGraw Hill), is a Business Bestseller translated into 10 languages.
By: Jeff Orr, CTA Graduate, Certified Human Capital Coach
A long time ago, I wrote an article (I say “article” because I don’t think blogging was even a thing yet) for a triathlon coaching company I owned along with a couple of other guys. I titled the article “If it Feels Weird, Do It” which of course was a play on the old saying, “If it feels good, do it.”
At the time, I was coaching a weekly swim workout for a local women’s triathlon club. As in many other human attributes, the ability levels of the swimmers were distributed in a bell-shaped curve.
There were a couple of former college swimmers who could literally swim laps around me on the right side of the curve. There were a handful of absolute beginners on the left. Most of the group lived in the middle of the curve. They had great attitudes—a joy to be around, in fact—and they had lots of room to improve in the water.
To be effective at any sport, one has to pair good conditioning with efficient technique, and swimming is no different. However, the act of moving through a liquid magnifies the effects of poor technique much, much more in swimming than in other sports.
Because of the primacy of technique in swimming, I spent most of my workouts teaching my athletes to swim more efficiently versus making them work harder. The thought was if you could get a 10% decrease in your swim times by making small, maybe even tiny, changes in your swim stroke, that beats the heck out of getting a 5% decrease in your swim times from working yourself to death all summer in an effort to improve your conditioning. Most of the swimmers were relatively inexperienced which meant there were lots of opportunities to make small but significant tweaks in their strokes.
On any given day, I would watch one of the swimmers go back and forth across the pool keeping an eye out for things that she could improve upon. When she’d stop at the wall, we would have a short conversation that 90% of the time consisted of advice to “keep your head lower” or “keep your elbows higher.” Then, she would swim down and back, stop, and ask me how the “new” stroke looked.
99% of the time, my answer was that visually, nothing had changed whatsoever. Then, we would have a slightly different version of the first conversation, she’d swim another lap and ask me how it looked. I would shrug my shoulders and to the great frustration of both of us, tell her that nothing had changed.
The problem was that in her mind it was different. As she swam, her thoughts were all about proper head position and high elbows. Those thoughts would make it down the line as far as her neck and her elbows, where her body rejected them because they felt weird.
Her brain was doing a ton of work thinking about doing something new, but her body was rejecting the newness for the comforting feeling of doing what it had always done.
When you do what you’ve always done, you’re going to get what you’ve always gotten.
The problem is that thinking about making a big change in your life, your business, or even just your swimming, is daunting all by itself. Exhausting. Terrifying, even. Because of this, your brain will trick you into believing that if you’re THIS wrung out from grinding through the options in your head, the work MUST be done.
Perhaps you’ve thought about one or more of the following:
-Leaving the safety net of your current job and opening your own business
-Exposing yourself to the slings and arrows of outrageous critics* by writing your book
-Taking on the responsibility for another person’s livelihood by hiring your first employee
It’s grueling to the point that at the end of the day, it feels like it should be enough. But it’s not. As tough as it is to think the thoughts, it doesn’t mean anything until they engage the body to do the action.
Eventually I discovered that to get a swimmer to make a positive correction, I had to emphasize that she first must break out of her comfort zone and that it was going to feel weird. Leaving the comfort zone was more important than the stroke change itself. To this end, I would go one step further and tell her to exaggerate the weirdness! To make it feel so weird that other people on the pool deck would look at her and wonder if she needed to be rescued. Forearmed with that notion, she could shake herself out of the routine in order to get those difficult thoughts to translate into concrete actions.
If you want to make a big change in your life you have to be mentally prepared for the physical process to feel weird. Having a coach standing on the virtual pool deck helping you work your way through that preparation can go a long way toward breaking through your comfort zone and keeping those elbows high.
*Apologies to Shakespeare
Author Jeff Orr is a highly-respected CTA Graduate and a Certified Human Capital Coach who helps organizations achieve their peak performance by blending business coaching skills with 24 years experience as a USAF fighter pilot. Jeff has trained over 300 F-16 pilots from 5 continents. He also currently works as a pilot for a major commercial airline. Learn more about Jeff at www.JeffOrr.com
It may seem strange to look at it this way… whereas new clients come at a cost, including the time and energy it takes to market and set them up, repeat clients are cost-free. You’ve already built rapport and results. You already know their strengths and opportunities.
I’m lucky that most of my clients come back repeatedly for more support and I’ve designed my business to make it an easy choice for them.
Are you doing all you can to bring your clients back to you for more?
3 Simple Steps = More Repeat Clients
1. Make it a part of your business model.
Design a natural flow with all your programs that drives clients to your next step. Create a funnel or pyramid of programs where the first one builds to the next.
It begins with listening to what people in your niche market specifically want (not what you think they need). You’re looking for program topics and titles that:
Provide relief from one specific acute pain or challenge.
Help them correct specific mistakes.
Fill the holes in their knowledge or understanding.
Give specific guidance to achieve their ultimate desired outcome.
Convert your “insider” understanding about your target audience into valuable freebies and for-fee programs. Your funnel of offers will inspire and motivate your prospects to invest in themselves repeatedly. You provide easy-to-climb steps to the outcomes they most want.
Every step in the chain of offers is related, while increasing their investment and the value you deliver. Then it’s easy for you to “seed” the idea of their return before your clients are finished with their current program.
2. Put the spotlight on them
Everything you create for your business should be tailored for your target audience. Everything!
I see a lot of websites that are all about the coach or expert. The language is general and vague. The offers are basic and could be found on any coach’s website. It’s an online brochure and nothing more.
That kind of website does little to help you get and keep ideal clients. But when your tribe feels at home and understood by you, they’ll bookmark your website as a resource. They’ll keep tabs on what you’re offering for them next.
Take an objective look at your website today:
Is it a home for your target audience?
Are you speaking their language and offering specific solutions they know they want?
3. Check in
Many entrepreneurs are shy about this, but simply asking clients to return is the easiest way to get them back.
Your call may come at the perfect time and they’ll be thrilled to hear from you! At the very least, you’ll show once again that you are truly interested in them. And, you’re likely to enroll a repeat client with a simple check-in phone call.
Check in about something specific that you worked on together before. Where are they on that now?
What do they want most for the near future? That gap is your next step together.
Have a program or coaching package at the ready. Don’t forget to pay yourself well.
Call rather than email. The high touch approach will mean the most to them.
What can you do today to bring past clients back into the fold? How can you improve your business model, website or offers to speak directly to what your target audience wants most?
Rhonda Hess co-authored the Coach Training AcceleratorTM and designed the CTA Certified Coach Program. She has a super power for helping coaches choose and champion a profitable niche they’ll love. Learn more at Prosperous Coach.
One of the very first things I learned as a brand-new Air Force Academy cadet on day 1 was that in basic training, I was expected to spend more time listening than talking. I couldn’t talk to my fellow basic cadets at all unless we happened to be in one of a handful of places in which talking was specifically allowed. When addressing a member of the cadet cadre, unless otherwise asked or directed, I was to use one of the seven basic responses:
1. Yes, sir! (or Ma’am, of course)
2. No, sir!
3. Sir, may I ask a question!?
4. Sir, may I make a statement!?
5. Sir, I do not know!
6. Sir, I do not understand!
7. No excuse, sir!
Out of all of the basic responses, “No excuse, sir” presented the most opportunities for failure. The other six were completely straightforward. If someone asked me a question to which I didn’t know the answer, I said “sir, I do not know.” If someone asked me a question and I didn’t know what the hell he was talking about, I said “sir, I do not understand.” And so on.
“No excuse, sir,” on the other hand, was reserved only to be used as a reply to a question that began with the word “why.” It was tough to remember to use it because the natural inclination when someone asks a question is to provide an answer.
A typical exchange might sound like this:
Cadre: Orr, why do your boots look as though you polished them with a chocolate bar?
Me: Sir, I didn’t have time to…
Cadre: [cutting off my reply] I SAID WHY!
Me: NO EXCUSE, SIR!
The cadre may not have cared about the shine on my boots at that moment, and I might even have had a perfectly valid reason for them to look the way they did. The “why” of his question was never about getting to the root cause of the situation. It was about getting me to understand that in the military, excuses wouldn’t be tolerated. If I were going to assimilate into this culture, I had to find a way to unemotionally deal with a no-win situation in which someone was going to yell at me for not being able to fit a 10-minute task into the 5 minutes I had available to me. It wasn’t about teaching me to shine boots. It was about testing my resilience.
The cadre’s “why” was really a stipulation, not a question. My boots looked awful and that I was solely to blame regardless of the conditions leading up to that moment. “No excuse, sir” represented acceptance of my sub-standard performance and a willingness to press on in the face of impossible time constraints.
When you preface a question to one of the people on your team with the word “why” you’re probably making a similar stipulation. “Why isn’t this task finished?” isn’t so much a question as an accusation. You probably don’t even want to know the actual reason it’s not done. What you really want to hear is “No excuse, sir!” followed by actions to rectify the situation.
Here’s the problem; unless you’re testing this person’s ability to suck it up and soldier on like in basic training, you really do care about his impediments to success. If he truly has 5 minutes to do a 10-minute task, you need to do one of three things: remove 5 minutes of task, add 5 minutes of time or teach him how to be more efficient.
Starting with an accusatory tone through the use of the word “why” torpedoes this process from the beginning because it puts him on the defensive and makes him more likely to create lame excuses in an attempt to make the pain go away. Lame excuses make you angrier which in turn makes him more defensive which in turn creates more lame excuses, ad infinitum.
Step one for you as the leader is to get him to talk about the task unemotionally. The way to do that is to ask open-ended questions to get to the “what” and “how” of the situation.
“How goes the progress on your task?”
“What’s your plan for completing this task on time?”
The bonus is that “what” and “how” put you in a mindset in which you’re more open to receiving the information that comes back. It starts a conversation in which you’re genuinely receptive to finding a solution versus a one-way “conversation” in which you’ve already made up your mind and now you’re simply issuing punishment in the form of accusatory language.
Unless you want to hear “No excuse, sir!” –and maybe you have a perfectly understandable reason to do just that–leave “why” behind and start the conversation with “what” and “how.” You’re more likely to find solutions to the problems that are besetting your people, and they’ll be more open in their communications with you.
Author Jeff Orr is a highly-respected CTA Graduate and a Certified Human Capital Coach who helps organizations achieve their peak performance by blending business coaching skills with 24 years experience as a USAF fighter pilot. Jeff has trained over 300 F-16 pilots from 5 continents. He also currently works as a pilot for a major commercial airline. Learn more about Jeff at www.JeffOrr.com
The key here is to be very intentional and not to let this slide or for us to procrastinate.
This one should be easy, and yet it trips people up all the time; our ability to have People Capacity. In other words, developing relationships with other people. Let me state this plainly here: if you do not know how to build healthy growing relationships with your loved ones, your spouse, and in your business environments you will stop growing altogether and be like a bitter old man/woman who has given up on life and is basically waiting to die.
There are principles that never change, and one of the best ones comes from the field of “Marketing”: “…a confused customer never buys….” This is so true in business when we have an influx of multiple learning sources, multiple mentors, multiple social media influencers who are all vying for our attention, time, and dollars we become deer in headlights – frozen on the road. Good decision and good reasoning suddenly become lost in the noise of the constant email solicitations, the reminders, memes, and social posting rants that are continuously being brought to our attention through “alerts.” It all becomes a dizzying lifestyle that leaves us empty. We do not have enough time to implement or use what we have just expended our most valuable resources on….our time before we are jumping into the next thing being offered to us.
3 Simple Steps = More Repeat Clients
