Starting Out as a Life Coach
Life coaching is one of the most lucrative careers of the 21st century. It forms one of the major types of coaching careers responsible for empowering a billion dollar industry. No wonder a lot of people are switching careers! Find out how you can also make the change and what are needed to start a career in life coaching.
What to Expect in a Life Coaching Career
People who have problems with their life goals are the usual clients of life coaches. This includes individuals who have relationship issues, need business and career direction, spiritual and health management, personal motivation, creativity boost, lifestyle correction and others. Life coaching means working with a client (or multiple clients) until the coach and client are able to resolve a specific issue. Coaches also provide certain hours for private consultation and sessions. Career life coaches who have made a name for themselves can soon become public speakers and branch off to publication, broadcasting, consultancy, and even work in training institutions.
Life coaches can work at any time of the day, and for any number of hours. They can set their own salaries according to the means of their clients. Rates also depend on the popularity of the coach and the recommendations he or she gets. This flexibility makes a life coaching career very appealing.
Should You Enroll in a Coaching School?
There are many ways to become a life coach. One is to start at nationalcoachacademy.com, which explains the whole process from start to finish. Certification courses from coaching schools are one practical means. Many institutions offer coaching courses, but not all may be accredited by the highest recognized body of professional coaches, the International Coach Federation. Those accredited by the ICF offer three types of courses, each with different requirements and costs. Some groups also offer relatively affordable and faster coaching courses. All schools offer their own approaches and methods for teaching, but enrollees should expect getting training in communication, management, and leadership skills.
Many life coaches work even without certifications. Some areas do not require life coaches to have licenses or certifications to practice. This means that anyone can start a life coaching career. But without at least an understanding of what life coaches should accomplish and how they could serve their clients, an individual pursuing this career should discontinue his or her practice. Not only will these lead to unsatisfied clients. This is a form of dishonesty that breaches your mission as a career life coach.
Prerequisites to Becoming a Life Coach
While educational background is not strictly needed when starting a life coaching business or enrolling in coaching schools, individuals with degrees have an advantage. Life coaching is a highly communicative and behavioral career – coaches should be able to assess their client’s needs and lead him or her to fulfillment. This is why those with a background in psychology, communication and social work may find methods that can help them in their careers. But this does not directly mean success. All life coaches need are people skills, patience and self-motivation to lead their clients to satisfaction – characteristics they can acquire with or without formal education.