Become a Life Coach!
What it takes ... and other important questions

Life coaching is a career that comes from the heart, more so than from the head!

So you don't need any fancy academic qualifications.

However, there are a few very important attributes that you should possess if you want to be successful in this field. 

Ideally you should be someone who :

• is thoroughly honest and with unquestionable integrity;

• has a real passion for working with people;

• has an open, enquiring mind, ready and willing to learn about what makes you and others 'tick';
  

• is generally non judgmental of others (although this can be learnt); and

• is happy to commit to ongoing personal development.
  

Very importantly, you will require comprehensive training (be wary here as there are a number of dubious short courses that will claim to turn you into a practising life coach within a few weeks or months).

Ideally, you should look for training that will also provide you with access to a structured and effective coaching system and toolkit that will help you deliver the results your clients will expect from a professional life coach.

Here are a few things you do not necessarily need to become a life coach:

• A degree or other academic qualification.
  

• To be in a specific age group (although we recommend you be over 23 years of age).

• To lead the perfect life (it doesn't exist anyway!)
  

If you are serious about becoming a certified professional life coach, we recommend you get the very best training you can find.

Life experience alone is not sufficient to qualify you as a life coach. In fact, without extensive training in the various life coaching tools, techniques and systems it can even work against you as you may need to unlearn various conditioned habits in order to help other people effectively.

Life coaching is very much a word-of-mouth driven industry, so your ability to deliver great results for your clients is far and away the most important outcome you want from the training you choose to undertake.

Ensure that the life coach training you invest in is:

• broad based (focusing on all aspects of life coaching, not just niche techniques);

• comprehensive (covering both theory and practical in some depth;

• reputable (with a suitable structure and/or system that has proven to deliver results over an extended period);

• practical to apply  (not overly academic in nature); and

• supportive, throughout your certification period and, preferably, beyond.

No. At least not if you choose to train with New Insights.

The home study nature of our training is designed to work equally well for you, whether you're in Nelspruit or Nairobi, Cape Town or Cairo.

Although New Insights has two companies registered in Cape Town and London we do not run conventional training centres. You study, practice and even write the theory exam from your home or place of choice - even if you decide to emigrate during your training.

There's no need to travel to us - ever!

You have total flexibility and control over your training agenda. But  we are always there to support you by phone, email or through our innovative online Forum and Journalling facility.

Generally speaking, life coaching is not a career for those who prefer being in the employ of others.

The great majority of life coaches start their own life coaching practices rather than look for employment.

And why not?

This is a wonderfully flexible career that can easily be operated from home. In fact we believe that becoming a New Insights certified life coach can give you access to one of the very best home based business opportunities available..

When you become a life coach and start your own practice you are in control! You decide your hours and the clients you prefer to work with.

Life coaching practices share very few of the challenges associated with other small business start ups. They require minimal capital outlay, are generally low cost to operate and carry little risk.

Life coaching is very much a word-of-mouth business. If you prove that you can deliver great results for your clients, you'll never lack for referrals ... and that is a coach's lifeblood!

When you first become a life coach and are just starting out, finding new clients can be a little more challenging.

If you train with New Insights you'll be exposed to a number of practice clients, each one of which is likely to refer other friends and colleagues to you, thereby helping to build your pipeline of clients.

New Insights also offers two other key advantages for life coaches who are just starting out:

• An excellent Life Coach Directory website in which you can profile yourself and your services to the world;
• Substantial, proven support to plan, promote and sustain a successful life coaching practice.