| As a life coach of some years standing, I am | | | | for people wanting to be life coaches. Some of these |
| frequently emailed by people with queries about | | | | are extremely professional and good courses, others |
| becoming a life coach, so I have recently put together | | | | less so, so you need to check them out. Bear in mind |
| a regular newsletter with information about the kinds of | | | | also that different individuals will require different levels |
| considerations which I believe you should take into | | | | of training. If you have experience already in a related |
| account before you try to launch yourself into a | | | | professional area, such as counselling or psychology, |
| coaching career. This article gives an introduction to | | | | then you are likely to have different training needs |
| some of the preliminary issues that it may be worth | | | | from someone who is completely new to this kind of |
| you bearing in mind if you are thinking of being a | | | | work. |
| personal coach. | | | | Make a list of what you want and need to get out of |
| My first tip would be that you think about your | | | | a coach training course (or any other course in a |
| motivation for wanting to become a coach. Some of | | | | specialist coaching field that you feel is relevant to |
| the promotional material provided by life coach training | | | | you). Look at a range of different possible options. If |
| courses and other organisations can give the | | | | possible, get feedback from people who have |
| impression that coaching is a career where it is easy | | | | attended the courses as to their good and bad points |
| to establish yourself and make a lot of money in a | | | | and seek recommendations from anyone you know |
| short space of time. Well, my experience and that of | | | | and trust who is already a life coach or has reliable |
| most coaches I know is that you can make a | | | | information about the options. |
| reasonable living from it, but like any other business | | | | My third tip is for those who are intending to set up |
| becoming a life coach takes time, effort and | | | | their own life coaching practice rather than to work as |
| perseverance. So if your primary motivation is to make | | | | an employee for an organisation. If you don't have |
| money easily then I would wish you good luck but | | | | experience of creating your own business then this |
| suggest that you find yourself an alternative career! | | | | may well be an area that you need to focus as much |
| On the other hand, if your primary motivation is to help | | | | time on as learning specific coaching skills. Do you |
| people to make changes in their life or to deal with | | | | have ideas about how you are going to market your |
| specific stresses or anxieties or difficulties in career or | | | | coaching business successfully? Have you worked out |
| relationships, then I would encourage you to explore | | | | how many clients you will need and what rates you will |
| further. For most coaches the greatest rewards are in | | | | charge for coaching sessions in order to make the |
| providing a helpful supportive service to people and | | | | profit you require to support a reasonable lifestyle? |
| seeing the benefits that coaching can bring. The | | | | Are you familiar with any legal requirements about |
| personal satisfaction in being able to help people | | | | running a business, submitting tax returns etc? If you |
| achieve and set personal goals is what makes | | | | are not yet sure about these and other aspects of a |
| coaching worthwhile. | | | | business then either check that the coach training |
| My second tip is to give careful thought to the training | | | | courses you are considering teach these skills and |
| that is appropriate for you. There are a great number | | | | areas of knowledge or else work out another plan for |
| of coach training providers offering courses out there | | | | how you will learn about them. |