HOW TO Become a Life Coach

BE CLEAR ON YOUR MOTIVE

The first step we always advocate when asked about how to become a life coach is this:

Get really clear with yourself on what you want to achieve. 

If you're simply out to add another qualification to your list of achievements, well, OK, good luck ... but understand that this is not the best guarantee of success as a life coach!

If, on the other hand, you have an authentic passion for people—a deep desire to make the world a better place by helping others achieve their goals and dreams—then your chances of a successful career in life coaching are exponentially higher!

KNOW WHAT YOU'RE GETTING INTO

You may be surprised to hear that life coaching is not what most people think it is.

In fact, life coaching—as it was intended—is far more progressive, exciting and inspiring than many assume.

Life coaching is NOT counselling, NOT a form of therapy, NOT mentoring, NOT consulting, NOT about giving life advice.

At it's heart it is about facilitating the self-empowerment of others and it is incredibly positive and powerful.

Make sure you spend time finding out exactly what you are getting into.

We offer a page dedicated to explaining what life coaching is. We also offer a free Introduction to Life Coaching video course.

Our top recommendation is to enrol in our inexpensive online foundation course, Life Coaching 101.

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TEST YOUR SUITABILITY

This might sound rather obvious.

But in the light of Step 2, it may be worth testing how suitable you are for a career in life coaching once you have a full and clear understanding of what life coaching is and what life coaches do.

Life coaching is more a career of the heart, than the head, so you don't need a prior academic qualification.

Age is also not really a factor. Realistically, you can start at pretty much any age, from the mid 20s. You are never too old—unless you think you are!

More important is to test whether your character, outlook and career aspirations are a fit.

We offer a great free resource to help with this—a simple, 5-minute, 20 Question Quiz!

Alternatively, if you enrol in our Foundation Course, Life Coaching 101, you'll get access to a section that will help you self-assess your suitability. 

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ENROL IN THE BEST TRAINING PROGRAMME YOU CAN FIND

When it comes to the question of how to become a life coach, this is the most critical step. 

Of course, if your motive is simply to get that piece of paper, then any impressive sounding course that offers a good looking certificate should do.

But if you are passionate about becoming the best life coach you can be, you need training that offers real substance—training that goes beyond flashy marketing hype.

New Insights certification involves comprehensive, in-depth training that delivers all the important AKSE elements to make you a confident and capable professional life coach:

• Self Awareness
• Knowledge
• Skill; and
• Substantial practice coaching Experience

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DEVELOP A PLAN FOR YOUR STUDIES AND PRACTICE

If you choose to enrol in a quality, training programme such as the Life Coach Training and Certification Programme offered by New Insights, you'll be exposed to in-depth training.

That will include study of a broad body of theory and extensive practical experience in applying your newfound knowledge in the coaching of volunteers clients.

New Insights also offers the convenience of a structured coaching system to use for this purpose.

Make a careful note of everything you need to complete for certification purposes and the time you have available.

Then develop a realistic plan (allowing for some contingency).

Then commit to stick to it!

New Insights offers some guidance in the form of two convenient planning templates for what we call the 'hare' and the 'tortoise' approaches. You can adapt these to suit your lifestyle and needs.

If you choose to enrol in our Foundation Course before enrolling in the full Certification Programme, you'll get advice on planning for your ultimate certification included.

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RESEARCH A SUITABLE NICHE MARKET

There's a favourite saying of marketing types:

"It's the niche that makes you rich"

Many Trainee Life Coaches get so focused on completing their certification requirements that they forget to stop and question what market niche they might want to target once they become qualified.

Developing your thoughts about this, while you are in training, will help you to hit the ground running once qualified.

By choosing to coach anyone and everyone who might want your services, you will inevitably be seen as just another life coach. And you will attract clients that may not be your ideal preference to work with.

By clearly identifying one or more target markets, you'll get the opportunity to establish yourself as a specialist in those niches.

You'll attract more of the people you really want to work with and you'll be able to charge more!

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STAY COMMITTED, COMPLETE CERTIFICATION AND SET UP YOUR PRACTICE

Unfortunately, there are a great many life coaching courses on the market that are high on hype, low on substance and therefore relatively easy to complete.

However, if you did the right thing and opted for in-depth training such as that offered by New Insights, you'll need to remain committed to the process to complete the requirements and various assessments required.

We recommend having a viable plan, and committing to a modest amount of study and practical work regularly. Keep up a steady momentum and resist the temptation to let your focus slip.

Once you receive certification, we recommend setting up your own life coaching practice.

You can choose to be a sole proprietor, enter into a partnership arrangement (perhaps with another specialist in your chosen niche) or start a limited liability company.

Although it is not mandatory (life coaching is not a regulated profession), we also recommend joining a coach representative body, such as COMENSA and/or the ICR. This will help promote your professional development and facilitate networking with other coaches.

At New Insights, we go to some lengths to remain connected with the certified coaches we have trained. We are always on hand to offer advice and guidance on planning, establishing, marketing and sustaining their practices!

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