Building Bridges Between Dreams & Ultimate Reality
How do you make sustaining and measurable changes in the lives of others and be an awesome life coach? This lens walks you through everything you need to know to become a life coach and build a successful practice.
Before we get into the real meat and potatoes of what it truly means to be an awesome life coach, someone suggested that I explain how I made the decision to become an awesome life coach myself.
Well, first off I should let you in on a little known secret...I have a ridiculously high genius-level IQ. That in and of itself has nothing to do with me being coached but everything to do with how others perceive me. My loved ones know I'm smart so with that intelligence, as with all God's gifts, comes a certain level of responsibility. I have always been everyone's resource person. From friends and family calling me in crisis in the wee hours of the early morning to co-workers seeking advice on their next career move and even to my bosses and managers who depended on my problem-solving skills and ease of making quality decisions to increase ROI. I have this uncanny ability to completely see every angle in and outside of a situation and take a non-threatening approach to making it better.
Because of this and my nonjudgmental attitude toward life, I often assume many more tasks than I intend in my aim to assist with so many requests. It had been a long-standing joke that one of these days I would start making people pay for all the things that they have me do for them. Then a few years ago, because I am such an advocate of life-long learning, I attended some sort of workshop that happened to be facilitated by a life coach. Hearing her talk about the coaching profession ignited something within me. As she continued to describe the coaching process, I had a sudden lightbulb moment; coaching is exactly what I had been doing all these years...for FREE!
Needless to say, I was ecstatic. Here was something that I could do in which I could utilize all of my skills, education and experience to help others and get paid for it! I started to research the field and became more and more intrigued until I decided to just jump feet first and get to running. That was me four years ago and now I have been in private practice as a professional life coach for almost 3 years. I added a Christian certification to my credentials just last year making my practice complete.
Of course I continue to learn all that I can in every area that I find of interest, which is pretty much EVERYTHING. Thankfully my photographic memory helps me out a great deal in being able to apply what I've learned to form provocative questions that will best assist my clients in their own journeys. Every day I get to help people and share my knowledge, two things that I am really passionate about.
So that's my story and the reason I am such an awesome life coach. I guess I should also add that money is not my motivator either. The fact that it pays just means that I don't have to work a real job that might take away from the time I devote to doing what I love most.
What You'll Find On This Page
- Follow Me on Twitter!
- What is a Life Coach?
- Awareness - The First Step
- Continuing the Journey to Self-Awareness
- So You Think You Can Coach
- The Coaching Session
- For Your Coaching Toolkit
- Coach Training
- Coach Certification
- Explode Your Practice
- Building Your Business
- The CoachStart Manual
- Additional Resources for Life Coaches
- Books About Coaching
- Coaching Talk
- Tell Me What's On Your Mind
Follow Me on Twitter!
You can't be serious about coaching without this powerful social media tool.
Twitter is a great social networking tool that allows people from all over the world to follow your tweets. If you're a coach or any other type of business professional, you need to be leveraging the power of this unique social media outlet. Learn more about how you can use Twitter effectively.
What is a Life Coach?
Know the Difference Between Coaching & Other Supportive Processes
A life coach is a person who partners with you to ensure your success. They act as your personal cheerleader in helping you to set goals and create a plan to achieve them. A life coach aids you in identifying your strengths and opportunities for greater personal and professional development. A life coach also works with you in developing a system of accountability to realize your intended objectives. Unlike a therapist or counselor, a life coach is very forward-thinking. Life coaches bridge the gap between where you are right now and where you want to be in the future. Life coaches have a mission to help ordinary people fulfill extraordinary dreams.Life coaches come from a variety of backgrounds. Some have backgrounds in psychology or social work. Some are former business professionals. Many life coaches have no formal education or professional experience at all. People become life coaches because they have a very real desire to motivate others to be successful and have a natural gift for doing so. Good coaches use a combination of education and life experience to meet the needs of their clients. Coaches can choose to specialize in business, careers, parenting, dating, relationships, disabilities or general life. Most life coaches have been coaching unofficially for the greater part of their lives and just didn't know it.
The life coaching industry is still relatively new, having only been officially recognized for approximately the past thirty years. Because of this, coaching is still very much an unregulated practice. There are two major certifying boards attempting to change this: the International Association of Coaches (IAC) and the International Coach Federation (ICF). Both organizations have been around for about 15 years and each have rigorous qualification standards and testing that must be achieved prior to certification. There are many coach training schools available that offer training programs geared toward meeting the requirements of these certifying bodies. It is still a widely debated issue as to whether or not professional life coaches should be certified or not. As it currently stands, certification can definitely help to legitimize an aspiring coach but formal education and life experience can still be just as valuable depending on the target customer.
As for the coaching process itself, most coaching is conducted primarily by telephone or even email. Sessions typically last from 30 minutes to an hour. Life coaches practice effective listening skills to mirror client concerns and act as a sounding board for ideas. Life coaches use intuitive questioning skills to lead their clients onto a journey of self-discovery and growth. Most coaching relationships average about 6 months. Fees for coaching can vary greatly from coach to coach and are based heavily on the type of client being served. Most coaches, including myself, do offer a complimentary session to all first time clients.
Life coaching can be a very fulfilling career for the right personalities. If you are already a person who loves to reach out to others, is a great listener and you often find yourself in the center of everyone's problems, then you probably have what it takes to be a coach. And if you are a big dreamer but don't know quite how to turn them into reality, then a life coach is most likely the perfect answer for you.
Awareness - The First Step
Getting in touch with who you are and where you are going.
Awesome coaches have a heightened sense of awareness, not only of others but also themselves. Since coaching is a process highly dependent on the coach's ability to remain a neutral, unbiased and nonjudgmental partner toward the client's success; it is critical that the coach is aware of his/her own agenda so it can be set aside in favor of that of the client's.Self-awareness can be defined as a conscious acknowledgement of who one is, what roles one plays and what direction one plans to move in. This consciousness is extended across every area of one's life. Awesome coaches must examine their morals, ethics, values and belief system. An awesome coach can identify what is important to his/her happiness and work diligently to attain those things. Awesome coaches can also spot potential conflicts, obstacles and barriers and take a proactive approach in their response.
Self-awareness begins with asking oneself powerful questions. It is like performing a SWOT (strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, threats) anlaysis on yourself. These questions may include:
- What roles do I play (mother, father, wife, employee)?
- Do I like what I do?
- Do I feel as if I am being utilized to my full potential?
- Am I doing THIS because I believe I can't do what I really want?
- What's stopping me from achieving more?
- Am I realistic about my professional goals?
- What unique talents or skills do I possess?
- Do I have an adequate support system?
- Could I do more to increase my circle of influence?
- Is there a piece missing for me socially?
- Do I associate with positive people or do I gravitate toward those who mean me no good?
- Am I happy after everyone goes home?
- Am I lonely?
- Am I a GOOD friend to others?
- Am I close to my family?
- Am I satisfied with the men/women I date?
- Am I meeting the kind of person I would like to connect with?
- Do I exhibit attitudes or behaviors that prevent me from meeting and dating appropriate people?
- Do others see me the way that I see myself?
- Do I really want to be in a long-term committed relationship?
- How would I feel if I never met "the right one"?
- Do I believe in God or a higher power?
- Is this an important aspect of my life?
- Do I believe that my potential mate must share my beliefs in this area?
- Would I have a problem if we were "unequally yoked"?
- Do I earn a sustainable income?
- Do I manage my money well?
- Am I able to satisfy my basic needs/wants?
- How important to my happiness is money?
- Will the earning power of my potential mate be very important in my decision about who that person will be?
- Are my values and beliefs based on what others may think of me or are they really my own?
- Am I harboring any latent fears that can be resolved?
You can always add more questions that you feel are relevant but the key here is to be completely honest with yourself. Ask those hard questions so you can begin the journey to complete self-awareness. You will not be able to fully give of yourself in a coaching relationship until this step is complete.
Continuing the Journey to Self-Awareness
This is just the beginning.
Self-awareness isn't just about who you are and where you have come from. It also involves where you are going. You can not help a client get from where they are today to where they want to be in the future if you have not already gone through this process yourself. In this case, experience really is the best teacher.
If you have completed the first step then you have a good understanding of who you are. You should know what great qualities you possess and your value to others. You should have also become conscious of some of the negative noise that often pops into our heads when we are taking a risk and attempting something new.
The following links will aid you as you continue on your journey to self-awareness. These include tools to develop a personal mission (your purpose), a vision (dreams) and your own life goals. Developing each of these areas will well prepare you to assist others in achieving their own dreams.
If you have completed the first step then you have a good understanding of who you are. You should know what great qualities you possess and your value to others. You should have also become conscious of some of the negative noise that often pops into our heads when we are taking a risk and attempting something new.
The following links will aid you as you continue on your journey to self-awareness. These include tools to develop a personal mission (your purpose), a vision (dreams) and your own life goals. Developing each of these areas will well prepare you to assist others in achieving their own dreams.
- Simple Purpose Exercise
- Life Coach Marcia Wieder provides a simple exercise to help you to define your life's purpose.
- Eckhart Tolle's A New Earth: Awakening to Your Life's Purpose
- According to Tolle, who assumes the role of narrator as well, humans are on the verge of creating a new world by a personal transformation that shifts our attention away from our ever-expanding egos. This idea is well realized through Tolle's remarkably well-paced narration. Naturally, the author understands his material so thoroughly that he is able to convey it in an enjoyable manner, but Tolle's gentle tone and dialect begs his audience's attention simply through its straightforward approach. Something about this reading just seems profoundly important, whether one agrees with the material or not, and listeners' attention is sure to be captured within seconds of listening to Tolle's take on the universe in which we live.
- Writing Your Personal Vision/Mission Statement
- Cecile Peterkin of Cosmic Coaching Centre explains the process he used in developing his personal vision for his coaching practice.
- How Do You Define Success?
- So many of my clients, friends, family and colleagues find themselves unhappy dealing with expectations placed on them by family, friends, and society as a whole. Many of them have high-paying jobs, gorgeous families and seemingly nothing to be depressed about and yet they feel unsuccessful.
- Overcoming Negative Noise
- How many times have you made up your mind to do something you really desired to accomplish but came up against much discouragement from friends and family? You decide to quit your high-paying job with paid company benefits in pursuit of your dream career only to be met with a thunderous chorus of "you had better not!" These loving beings, whom only have your best interest at heart when they furiously nod their heads in dismay at your latest inspiration, can make it extremely difficult to put that first foot forward in the direction of your goal.
- GoalMaker: Helping You to Achieve Your Goals
- Find out the simple truths to setting goals and achieving them. Understand how to formulate a detailed Action Plan that leads you to successfully achieve all your goals.
- Authentic Happiness: Using the new Positive Psychology
- This site offers several self-assessments that ask powerful questions. It is free to register and take the tests. The assessments can not tell you how happy or engaged you are except in relation to others within your demographics but your self-awareness will be raised in just answering the questions.
It is suggested that you take the tests now and then check back in 3 months to determine how far you have advanced. You can also direct your clients to this site to help them increase their own awareness. The data collected is being used to qualify the organization's research.
So You Think You Can Coach
Elements of an Effective Coach
I love acronyms. I have made up one to help you to understand some of the elements of an effective coach. An effective coach is an awesome coach so make sure that you commit these to memory. For a more in-depth look at some of these elements, click the links in the next module.C - CONFIDENT COMMUNICATOR
- Active listener
- Asks provocative Questions
- Provides quality feedback
- Evokes clarity
O - OPPORTUNITY SEEKER
- Creative problem-solver (thinks outside the box)
- Forward-thinker
- Stretches Goals
- Life-long learner (continual education)
A - ACCOUNTABLE TO ACTIONS
- Motivates to move forward
- True to commitments
- Identifies and overcomes roadblocks, fears and challenges
C - CAUTIOUS CHEERLEADER
- Unbiased support (passes no judgment)
- Reality-tests solutions
- Congratulates successes
H - HONEST WITH SELF & OTHERS
- Self-aware
- Has clear purpose
- Passionate
- Operates without agenda
- Makes lasting connections
The Coaching Session
An Explanation of What Happens During Each Session
As stated earlier, most coaching is conducted primarily via telephone for convenience. Sessions typically last from 30 minutes to an hour and usually occur weekly. The client calls the coach at the designated time to begin the session. The responsibility of making the call is on the client in order to establish accountability early in the process. Most coaches are also available for unlimited email support between sessions.
During the session you will talk about what is most important to the client. Topics may include any part of life. At some point during the relationship (as soon as it is feasibly possible), much of the conversation will center around goals the client will have identified. Together you will discuss options for reaching those goals and reality-test alternatives available to the client. The discussion could focus on evaluating skills and experience, examining support systems and/or overcoming obstacles, fears and emotional roadblocks.
Homework should be assigned at the conclusion of every session. Homework is comprised of tasks that will move the client closer to completion of your goals. I assign homework in terms of W.O.W's (things you can do Within One Week). This is an idea I learned from one of my mentors, Marcia Wieder. For instance, if your goal is to purchase a dream home then your W.O.W., a thing you could do within one week, would be to pull your credit report. The following week it might be to create or reexamine your budget. Homework may include one or several W.O.W.'s depending on the targeted goal(s) and strength of the client's commitment. Whatever the homework, the client should have had a critical role in determining its assignment. It is then the coach's job to hold the client accountable to completing it.
How successful the client may be is completely dependent upon the client. It is the client's responsibility to show up for every session on time, ready to speak openly and honestly and to remain committed to their goals. Goals can always be reevaluated as necessary.
Most coaching relationships average from 3 to 6 months depending on the goals you desire to work on. It is very rare for any coaching relationship to last longer than a year. It is my sincerest desire to coach my clients to the point where they can willingly coach themselves and no longer feel they need me. Of course I am always available should they have additional goals or need support overcoming unforeseen roadblocks.
Although most coaching is conducted via telephone, many coaches also coach in person and quite a few are starting to use technological options such as via email, instant messaging or Skype. Coaches who offer these options have to strongly consider the additional time commitments and further possibility of contextual miscommunication when using these mediums. Due to these concerns alternative fees may apply.
During the session you will talk about what is most important to the client. Topics may include any part of life. At some point during the relationship (as soon as it is feasibly possible), much of the conversation will center around goals the client will have identified. Together you will discuss options for reaching those goals and reality-test alternatives available to the client. The discussion could focus on evaluating skills and experience, examining support systems and/or overcoming obstacles, fears and emotional roadblocks.
Homework should be assigned at the conclusion of every session. Homework is comprised of tasks that will move the client closer to completion of your goals. I assign homework in terms of W.O.W's (things you can do Within One Week). This is an idea I learned from one of my mentors, Marcia Wieder. For instance, if your goal is to purchase a dream home then your W.O.W., a thing you could do within one week, would be to pull your credit report. The following week it might be to create or reexamine your budget. Homework may include one or several W.O.W.'s depending on the targeted goal(s) and strength of the client's commitment. Whatever the homework, the client should have had a critical role in determining its assignment. It is then the coach's job to hold the client accountable to completing it.
How successful the client may be is completely dependent upon the client. It is the client's responsibility to show up for every session on time, ready to speak openly and honestly and to remain committed to their goals. Goals can always be reevaluated as necessary.
Most coaching relationships average from 3 to 6 months depending on the goals you desire to work on. It is very rare for any coaching relationship to last longer than a year. It is my sincerest desire to coach my clients to the point where they can willingly coach themselves and no longer feel they need me. Of course I am always available should they have additional goals or need support overcoming unforeseen roadblocks.
Although most coaching is conducted via telephone, many coaches also coach in person and quite a few are starting to use technological options such as via email, instant messaging or Skype. Coaches who offer these options have to strongly consider the additional time commitments and further possibility of contextual miscommunication when using these mediums. Due to these concerns alternative fees may apply.
For Your Coaching Toolkit
Skills for Further Focus
The coaching toolkit is simply a collection of skills and tools you can use to effectively coach your client to success. Consistently work to hone each skill and practice using the tools provided. The greater your mastery of each tool, the more awesome of a coach you will be.
Remember, this list is not all-inclusive. You can choose to add additional tools that you find helpful and as you grow as a coach I am sure you will develop some of your own. Not every tool will work for every client so learn to master many different types of tools so you can pull the most beneficial one to meet your client's needs.
Remember, this list is not all-inclusive. You can choose to add additional tools that you find helpful and as you grow as a coach I am sure you will develop some of your own. Not every tool will work for every client so learn to master many different types of tools so you can pull the most beneficial one to meet your client's needs.
- Active Listening
- Active listening is the meat and potatoes of a coaching relationship. It is what establishes trust and rapport with your client. It is what aids you in gaining information and identifying areas of needed support. Active listening requires you to be completely present. It is a much different technique than simply hearing what is being said. Learn how to be more present in your listening skills.
- A Caring Way to Give Constructive Feedback
- Constructive feedback is the ability to offer valid, well-thought out opinions about another's performance. Constructive feedback places great emphasis on reinforcing the positives and seeks to identify opportunities for potential growth. Part of this process includes being able to "mirror" the client's own words and "neutralizing" unproductive language.
- Coaching Questions: A Coach's Guide to Powerful Asking Skills
- The single most important skill in coaching is asking powerful questions. In this volume, master coach trainer Tony Stoltzfus joins with 12 other professional coaches to present dozens of valuable asking tools, models and exercises, then illustrates these coaching strategies with over 1,000 examples of penetrating questions. Covering the gamut from basic techniques like options and actions to advanced concepts such as challenge and reframing, Coaching Questions is a book that will find a home on any coach's short list of handy references. Coaching Questions: A Coach's Guide to Powerful Asking Skills includes: 1. Dozens of asking tools, models, and strategies. 2. The top ten asking mistakes coaches make, and how to correct each one. 3. Nearly 1200 examples of powerful questions from real coaching situations. 4. Destiny discovery tools organized in a four-part life-purpose model . 5. Overviews of 15 popular coaching niches, with a tool and examples for each. 6. A schedule of training exercises to help you become a "Master of Asking".
IMPORTANT TIP: Each One Teach One
Behind every awesome coach is another awesome coach. Make sure you secure a mentor coach as soon as possible. The best way to develop your coaching skills is to be coached yourself. This will not only help you in building your practice but raise your self-awareness as well.
Coach Training
A Little Known Secret
Training is a touchy topic for me. In some ways I am against the institutionalized form of training. Now don't get me wrong. I am an extreme advocate of life-long learning as every coach should be. The problem I have with coach-specific training is that it tends to be so darned expensive.
Most people I know who have been bitten by the coaching bug are seeking to jump into coaching immediately. They are very passionate about helping people and really gung-ho to get started. Once their minds have been made up to pursue a career in this field, they set about the arduous task of researching. Unfortunately, they soon get discouraged when they see the astronomical costs and time-commitments required to complete a formal coaching education.
This is a pity. Many would-be awesome coaches turn their backs on the field because training becomes an obstacle/barrier to entry. I am going to dispel some fears right now by going against the grain set forth by many of my cohorts - coaching is a natural gift that requires little if any training.
That's right! Coaching is a gift. If you have become enamored with the idea of coaching then you most likely possess that gift. It takes a certain type of person to even seriously consider making a living as a coach.
What training does, and is quite useful for, is to hone your natural skills and abilities into a business practice. Training allows you to further develop your gift into a more structured process so you can deliver it as a service product. Training is also great in expanding the types of questions you might ask. The more knowledge you possess in the area you are coaching in, the more thought-provoking questions you can ask the client. The great thing is that this training can be received in a number of different ways, most of which cost little or nothing.
First off, you have this great lens to help you in your journey. Just by reading up on the skills needed and practicing them both in and outside of a coaching structure will increase your mastery of them. Secondly, if you've read my IMPORTANT TIP above then you know that having a mentor coach is crucial to your success. A mentor coach will assist you in developing your coaching skills further and on a continual basis. Third, reading any of the books or magazines listed toward the bottom of this lens will provide you with a good foundation of the coaching structure as well as an additional overview of the skills you need.
Additionally, many coaches are either currently in school or already college graduates. College courses can aid in defining your niche or provide you with a good coaching foundations (i.e. psychology and other social sciences). Also, you can always use non-traditional trainings that aren't necessarily coach-specific but do focus on some of the skills needed as a coach. For instance, my training as a mediator included listening, questioning, feedback and conflict resolution skills. To top it off, most formal institutions, as well as other coaches, offer free and low-cost teleclasses or books that you can use to work on skills you wish to develop further.
Now I know that every person learns differently and some people need a little more structure than others. For those of us who require added accountability and direction, formal training may be the best option. The following links are to institutions that offer formal coach training. Some may even prepare you for certification. You may need to comparison shop in terms of price, locations and type of courses offered (i.e. teleclass, live, webinars, etc.) in order to choose the most cost-effective solution for your needs.
Most people I know who have been bitten by the coaching bug are seeking to jump into coaching immediately. They are very passionate about helping people and really gung-ho to get started. Once their minds have been made up to pursue a career in this field, they set about the arduous task of researching. Unfortunately, they soon get discouraged when they see the astronomical costs and time-commitments required to complete a formal coaching education.
This is a pity. Many would-be awesome coaches turn their backs on the field because training becomes an obstacle/barrier to entry. I am going to dispel some fears right now by going against the grain set forth by many of my cohorts - coaching is a natural gift that requires little if any training.
That's right! Coaching is a gift. If you have become enamored with the idea of coaching then you most likely possess that gift. It takes a certain type of person to even seriously consider making a living as a coach.
What training does, and is quite useful for, is to hone your natural skills and abilities into a business practice. Training allows you to further develop your gift into a more structured process so you can deliver it as a service product. Training is also great in expanding the types of questions you might ask. The more knowledge you possess in the area you are coaching in, the more thought-provoking questions you can ask the client. The great thing is that this training can be received in a number of different ways, most of which cost little or nothing.
First off, you have this great lens to help you in your journey. Just by reading up on the skills needed and practicing them both in and outside of a coaching structure will increase your mastery of them. Secondly, if you've read my IMPORTANT TIP above then you know that having a mentor coach is crucial to your success. A mentor coach will assist you in developing your coaching skills further and on a continual basis. Third, reading any of the books or magazines listed toward the bottom of this lens will provide you with a good foundation of the coaching structure as well as an additional overview of the skills you need.
Additionally, many coaches are either currently in school or already college graduates. College courses can aid in defining your niche or provide you with a good coaching foundations (i.e. psychology and other social sciences). Also, you can always use non-traditional trainings that aren't necessarily coach-specific but do focus on some of the skills needed as a coach. For instance, my training as a mediator included listening, questioning, feedback and conflict resolution skills. To top it off, most formal institutions, as well as other coaches, offer free and low-cost teleclasses or books that you can use to work on skills you wish to develop further.
Now I know that every person learns differently and some people need a little more structure than others. For those of us who require added accountability and direction, formal training may be the best option. The following links are to institutions that offer formal coach training. Some may even prepare you for certification. You may need to comparison shop in terms of price, locations and type of courses offered (i.e. teleclass, live, webinars, etc.) in order to choose the most cost-effective solution for your needs.
- Building Bridges Chicago
- Become a Certified Human Performance Coach in just 6 weeks. Yes! This is my company so I can guarantee that you will learn almost as much as I know about being an effective coach in this ecourse. AND IT DOESN'T COST AN ARM AND A LEG!!! This course will equip you with all the tools you need to begin coaching right away. Learn active listening, effective questioning, client engagement and much more in this information-packed and practice-intensive class. You will learn the skills to successfully coach individuals toward their goals and also become more self-aware in the process, a necessity for anyone seriously considering becoming a coach. Completion leads to Certification as a Human Performance Coach. 60 Professional Development Hours/6 CEUs
- Dream Coach University
- Become a Certified Dream Coach. Our Dream Resources offer you several opportunities. We hope you will find this information stimulating and thought-provoking. But most of all, we hope you will find it indispensable for making your dreams come true.
- iPEC Coaching
- Whether you want to become a full- or part-time coach, enhance your career skills, or bring coaching into your organization, you've arrived at the right place! iPEC is proud to be a world-class coach training institute that graduates top-notch professionals into the remarkable field of professional life/business coaching.
- Coach Training Alliance
- Coach Training Alliance is a growing collection of the finest educators, mentors, coaches, and facilitators in the profession of coaching. Together they have developed the ultimate coach training programs delivered in the most economical and efficient way.
Each course is condensed into a streamlined, step-by-step process that enables "just-in-time" learning that is unparalleled in the industry. The mission of the alliance is to provide eager students a dynamic learning environment, using the latest educational technology, in the shortest amount of time, for the lowest and most reasonable tuition. - The Institute for Life Coach Training
- We specialize in training counselors, therapists, psychologists, social workers, human resource professionals, educators and other professionals in the profession of life coaching
- New Life Coach Inc.
- We offer the finest in Christian life Coaching strategies and techniques.
Coach Certification
Is It Really Necessary?
The short and skinny of it is...NO!
No one has ever asked me for my credentials. Matter-of-fact, the only time it has ever come up is when I am speaking to another coach. Clients really don't care, in my experience. If you can demonstrate your expertise and communicate your true passion to help them succeed then certifications aren't necessary at all. Pursuing them simply sets you up for more frustration.
Now keep in mind that this is only my personal opinion. I may change my mind as the coaching industry continues to grow and becomes more regulated. At this time; however, I say don't bother. If you just have to spare the expense of getting certified then I have included links to the two major certifying bodies, the IAC and the ICF, in the Additional Resources for Life Coaches module. My recommendation is for the IAC because they take into account life experience as well as coach-specific training.
You don't have to take it from me though. Here is a great article that I found that just about sums it up.
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Coaching Certification: The Low Down
By Leanne Hoagland-Smith
During a conference call of a mastermind group of 30 professional business coaches and consultants, who had all been coaches for over 5 years, the discussion turned to the "coaching certification" process for coaches. What was interesting to note is that this mastermind group was unusual in that everyone had surpassed the industry average of making more than $20,000, exceeded 10 paying clients and 1/3 made more than $100,000. (Source: Stephen Fairley, author of Getting Started in Personal and Executive Coaching) And the real kicker was not one of those on the call had ever been asked for their coaching credentials by their clients. If the subject of credentials came up, it was always by another certified coach. Interesting given that no one within this group was a "certified coach."
With the continued growth of this billion dollar plus industry, it appears that innovative individuals have decided to provide opportunities for those who wish to become coaches and by offering a certification process. NOTE: A recent quick Google search of the Internet revealed 215 coaching schools (Source: http://www.peer.ca/coachingschools.htm
Good for them! After all being certified automatically means that you are more credible and can deliver better results? Of course if this was true, then why do most coaches (53%) make less than $20,000 a year?
Possibly, the answer is a lack of a proven process not to mention some poor small business practices. Certification programs may offer the techniques and some tools, but do they have a proven history that consistently demonstrates securing results for their clients? I doubt it given that the majority of coaching schools are relatively new and even established traditional universities that offer executive coaching programs are new to this field.
If you are thinking about becoming an executive coach, do your research. Before you spend thousands of dollars on that coaching certification program, ask the following questions:
- Do over 60% of your certified coaches make more than $50,000? (Note: For this mastermind group, this is anywhere from 10 to 15 minimum clients per year.)
- What type of results do their clients receive? (Note: The process that this mastermind group uses generally doubles results in 30 to 90 days.)
- Can the same process be used in a variety of industries? (Note: This mastermind group has coached individuals including a U.S. Senator, Fortune 500 executives, high school and college students, small business owners and housewives. The industries range from manufacturing to high technology.)
- Do proven, high quality tools support the process?
- Are testimonials available from both graduates and clients?
- How long have has the coaching school or company been in business? (Note: This mastermind group uses a company with a 25 year proven history.)
Executive coaching is a rewarding career. Just be careful that you don't reward others before you understand the dynamics within the explosive field. You just may be paying for something that is not necessary and putting your hard earned dollars in someone else's pocket.
Leanne coaches individuals, small businesses and large organizations to double performance in warp time. She is a national speaker on performance improvement from youth to adults. Please feel free to contact her at 219.759.5601.
If you truly don't believe doubling your results is possible, read some case studies where individuals and businesses took the risk and experienced unheard of results.
One quick question,if you could secure one new client or breakthrough that one roadbloack, what would that mean to you? Then, take a risk and give a call at 219.759.5601 to experience incredible results both personally and professionally.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Leanne_Hoagland-Smith
http://EzineArticles.com/?Coaching-Certification:-The-Low-Down&id=176213
Explode Your Practice
Learn powerful, proven practice-building secrets to create a six-figure income on a shoestring budget!
Building Your Business
How to Make Money as a Coach
Most coaches become coaches with the primary goal of helping others; however, earning a significant income can also be a major motivator.
Too many coaches focus so much on building their coaching skills that they forget to dedicate critical time to building their coaching practice as well. Clients are not just going to magically appear. Coaches have to diligently work on marketing in order to attract them.
There are coaches with fairly consistent practices filled to capacity with clients. If this is you, you might think that you must be doing a really good job of marketing, right?
WRONG!
Perhaps you may have laid the groundwork to get your practice to where it is today but what about tomorrow? Have you identified and accounted for the natural peak and fall your business takes at certain times of the year? Have you performed a SWOT analysis on your business? Do you have a marketing plan? Or even a business plan?
As coaches, we do a great deal of work on raising our self-awareness, creating a personal mission and a vision but what about the mission and vision of the business? Where is your awareness when it comes to your coaching practice? Do you track leads? Do you have a measure for how successful each of your different marketing efforts are? The whole idea of marketing tends to scare many coaches. This is because they think of it as a grueling task, something unenjoyable, something that they HAVE to do.
In the introduction of Stephen Covey's book, The 7 Habits of Highly Successful People, there is much discussion around creating paradigm shifts. This is a complete change in the way one thinks about or perceives a particular thing. I invite you to make a paradigm shift right now in regards to marketing. Rather than look at marketing as something you HAVE to do, think about it as something you LOVE to do.
Perhaps it would help to put this in terms that a coach can understand more easily. A very real goal most coaches have is to get more clients. To start off, the coach needs to examine where his/her business is right now. How many clients are in the practice? How many more would be desirable? Why?
The last question is the most important. What would having more clients achieve for you? How will things be different if you have these clients? In other words, what is your purpose? Knowing the purpose of attracting more clients is just the beginning of this new paradigm shift.
Secondly, one of the things that an awesome coach does best is to build quality, lasting relationships. Marketing is all about building relationships. Building relationships is truly the only way to attract new clients. Marketing is used to identify potential clients, introduce them to the world of coaching, establish a rapport and build trust in you as the coach as well as the coaching process.
If you are like me and most other coaches then I know your eyes light up when you talk about what coaching means to you. Coaches are very passionate about their work. It is fun to tell others about the world of coaching, what it has done for us and what we have seen it do in the lives of others. If you can communicate your love of coaching passionately then you are in fact MARKETING.
Did a paradigm shift just occur in your thinking? Are you starting to perceive marketing as something you love to do rather than a have to do? Good. Your next step is to learn how to communicate your newfound love and passion for marketing across many different advertising mediums so you can begin to leverage its power.
The first step is knowing your business. This means that you need to have a clearly defined niche, identify your target customer and really start figuring out what appeals to them. It all starts with your business plan. Your business plan is a guide for how to run your business. It is a written plan comprised of goals, objectives and available resources to direct you. A good business plan should also include a marketing plan. A marketing plan is a guide on how you will communicate your products and services to your target market. Templates for both can be found at the end of this module.
Your marketing plan should include all of the things that you will need to do to get the word out about your business. From creating a web presence to article marketing to networking and more. Any activity that you plan to use should be listed.
Secondly, many coaches make the mistake of relying solely on providing coaching services for an income. The most successful coaches know that they must diversify themselves in order to meet their financial goals. This is where it becomes important to develop multiple income streams.
Multiple income streams are additional methods, typically related to your coaching practice and niche, that generate more money. Incorporating multiple income streams into your coaching practice also provides your clients with added value to their service. By developing spin-off products such as books, cds and dvds; your client can take you home with them and continue to benefit from your expertise.
The following links will aid you in developing a sound marketing plan according to your niche and target market.
Too many coaches focus so much on building their coaching skills that they forget to dedicate critical time to building their coaching practice as well. Clients are not just going to magically appear. Coaches have to diligently work on marketing in order to attract them.
There are coaches with fairly consistent practices filled to capacity with clients. If this is you, you might think that you must be doing a really good job of marketing, right?
WRONG!
Perhaps you may have laid the groundwork to get your practice to where it is today but what about tomorrow? Have you identified and accounted for the natural peak and fall your business takes at certain times of the year? Have you performed a SWOT analysis on your business? Do you have a marketing plan? Or even a business plan?
As coaches, we do a great deal of work on raising our self-awareness, creating a personal mission and a vision but what about the mission and vision of the business? Where is your awareness when it comes to your coaching practice? Do you track leads? Do you have a measure for how successful each of your different marketing efforts are? The whole idea of marketing tends to scare many coaches. This is because they think of it as a grueling task, something unenjoyable, something that they HAVE to do.
In the introduction of Stephen Covey's book, The 7 Habits of Highly Successful People, there is much discussion around creating paradigm shifts. This is a complete change in the way one thinks about or perceives a particular thing. I invite you to make a paradigm shift right now in regards to marketing. Rather than look at marketing as something you HAVE to do, think about it as something you LOVE to do.
Perhaps it would help to put this in terms that a coach can understand more easily. A very real goal most coaches have is to get more clients. To start off, the coach needs to examine where his/her business is right now. How many clients are in the practice? How many more would be desirable? Why?
The last question is the most important. What would having more clients achieve for you? How will things be different if you have these clients? In other words, what is your purpose? Knowing the purpose of attracting more clients is just the beginning of this new paradigm shift.
Secondly, one of the things that an awesome coach does best is to build quality, lasting relationships. Marketing is all about building relationships. Building relationships is truly the only way to attract new clients. Marketing is used to identify potential clients, introduce them to the world of coaching, establish a rapport and build trust in you as the coach as well as the coaching process.
If you are like me and most other coaches then I know your eyes light up when you talk about what coaching means to you. Coaches are very passionate about their work. It is fun to tell others about the world of coaching, what it has done for us and what we have seen it do in the lives of others. If you can communicate your love of coaching passionately then you are in fact MARKETING.
Did a paradigm shift just occur in your thinking? Are you starting to perceive marketing as something you love to do rather than a have to do? Good. Your next step is to learn how to communicate your newfound love and passion for marketing across many different advertising mediums so you can begin to leverage its power.
The first step is knowing your business. This means that you need to have a clearly defined niche, identify your target customer and really start figuring out what appeals to them. It all starts with your business plan. Your business plan is a guide for how to run your business. It is a written plan comprised of goals, objectives and available resources to direct you. A good business plan should also include a marketing plan. A marketing plan is a guide on how you will communicate your products and services to your target market. Templates for both can be found at the end of this module.
Your marketing plan should include all of the things that you will need to do to get the word out about your business. From creating a web presence to article marketing to networking and more. Any activity that you plan to use should be listed.
Secondly, many coaches make the mistake of relying solely on providing coaching services for an income. The most successful coaches know that they must diversify themselves in order to meet their financial goals. This is where it becomes important to develop multiple income streams.
Multiple income streams are additional methods, typically related to your coaching practice and niche, that generate more money. Incorporating multiple income streams into your coaching practice also provides your clients with added value to their service. By developing spin-off products such as books, cds and dvds; your client can take you home with them and continue to benefit from your expertise.
The following links will aid you in developing a sound marketing plan according to your niche and target market.
Check out your exclusive 25% discount on custom printed products at VistaPrint. Order today!
- Coaching Business Mastery
- The Only Program That Turns Coaches Into Powerful "Money Machines" With Integrity
- Marketing Plan Outline
- Template for a basic marketing plan, including situation analysis, market segmentation, alternatives, recommended strategy, and implications of that strategy.
- Sample Business Plan Outline
- Business plan outline of topics frequently covered by business plans.
- Start Accepting Credit Cards Today With PayPal
- Coaches are mobile merchants in need of a quick, easy solution to accept credit cards whether it be over the phone, in-person or online. Let PayPal provide you with the tools you need. Check out the PayPal Virtual Terminal for more information.
- Put Your Business Online
- Did you know that coaches receive over 80% of their client referrals from their web presence?
We provide you will the most reliable and feature-rich web hosting service without advertising. Lightning fast website loading speed, zero downtime, fanatic user support and instant activation - that is why you will love doing business with 000webhost.com - Setting the Right Price
- There are many factors to consider when pricing your services. These can include your geographic location, your niche, your skills and expertise, your experience, the target market you serve and how you deliver your service (i.e. on the phone, in-person, email). Hourly coaching fees can range from as low as $25 to as high as $850. With such a broad range of fees it can be difficult to determine where you might fit in.
- The Nuts & Bolts of Networking
- Networking is a method that is used to build relationships. These relationships could be with classmates, co-workers, business partners, vendors, service providers and even family. Networking is the process of discovering and using connections between people. Many of these connections actually stem from already established friendships and business relations. Networking is the ability to explore all of your relationships and utilize them to help you to move closer to your long-term goals.
- Accept Online Appointments
- ServeMeHere is the first service referral community where members make appointments online, choose the location of service, and rate the professionals. Make it easy for your clients to set appointments. Maintain a preset schedule for complimentary sessions and use ServeMeHere to allow clients to book right away.
- 10 Awesome Documents to Help You Start a Company
- Includes presentation template, business plan template, financial projections from, nondisclsure form, LLC formation, EIN application and much more.
The CoachStart Manual
Want to Start Your Own Life Coaching Business?
It's all in The CoachStart Manual
This is one of the best resources I've found... Get the
CoachStart Manual now.
Additional Resources for Life Coaches
The following links are to organizations that assist life coaches by providing continuing support, certification and professional credentialing.
- The Life Coach Support Network (LCSN)
- A resource for life coaches of all specialties to come together for networking and continued personal and professional development. Life coaches will have the opportunity to submit articles, join the coach directory, share resources and much more. Additionally, coaches will be able to gain more exposure for their own practices by demonstrating their expertise in the free coaching help forums on the LCSN messageboards.
- The International Association of Coaching (IAC)
- The International Association of Coaching is a global association for coaches. IAC provides an independent credentialing and certifying service for people who use coaching in their business and is recognized worldwide.
- International Coach Federation (ICF)
- The International Coach Federation is the globally recognized association of professional personal and business coaches. ICF offers the only independent credentialing program for Coaches that is recognized worldwide.
Choice: The Magazine of Professional Coaching
Dedicated to leading the most important conversation in coaching. choice, the magazine of professional coaching, provides and promotes development, growth, education, and success for those professionally involved in coaching. It is the source of professional articles, news and discussion, as well as information about products and services related to coaching. choice is the balanced voice of professional coaching-a must-read!
Subscribe today at www.choice-online.com
Welcome to the global conversation!
Books About Coaching
These are my favorite books about coaching. Use these as a great resource for ideas to add to your coaching toolkit.
Coaching Talk
See what others are saying in the world of coaching and personal development.
- Getting To Know Coach Flood
- ?And it would have killed me on the inside to watch that team coached by someone else.'' Some may question his lack of experience as a head coach, but none will question his desire and motives for the Rutgers Football program.
- International Capsules: Ullrich says he had 'contact' with doping doc
- After the 2010 Vancouver Olympics, the Russian Alpine Ski and Snowboard Federation hired two experienced Slovenian coaches to guide a budding program. The women's coach is Marjan Cernigoj, who spent 13 years with the US Ski Team.
- Sullivan & Cromwell LLP | Karen Seymour and Allison Caffarone Contribute ...
- As counsel to an indi- vidual facing criminal charges, you hold your client's life and lib- erty in your hands. In addition to the high stakes involved, the work is also demanding, intellectually intense, and poses unique dilemmas for defense ...
“He who asks questions is a fool for 5 minutes; He who doesn't ask questions remains a fool forever.”
Tell Me What's On Your Mind
Your input is very valuable to me.
I love constructive feedback so let it rip. Feel free to post your comments, reviews or even tips for me to improve this lens. Of course your questions are most welcome! If you are interested in scheduling a FREE introductory coaching session or would like to inquire about receiving mentor coaching, feel free to drop me a line here or by private email to contactme@niquenyafulbright.com.
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T.Garrison
Nov 10, 2009 @ 9:38 am | delete
- I absolutley Love, Love, Love, thsi wealth of information that you have put together. I am 25, but I am begining to hone in on my capabilities as a life coach. Though I am young, I have been consulted for years, asked for advice, and have had my imput requested by others who see my mind as a valuable resource and also see that I have the incredible gift of using it to help other people in perplexed siutations. I appreciate you and the information that you have provided. I have also bookmarked you and will revisit the site soon. Thank you and be blessed!
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coachniquenya
Jun 22, 2009 @ 4:32 pm | in reply to rlmodranski | delete
- It seems like just about every "true" coach has been practicing coaching naturally for the better part of their lives. I've never heard of that book. I'll have to check it out. Thanks for the tip.
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coachniquenya
Jun 22, 2009 @ 4:30 pm | in reply to ajgodinho | delete
- Thanks for dropping by! I appreciate your support.
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ajgodinho Jun 22, 2009 @ 2:50 pm | delete
- Hi Niquena, good lens filled with some solid content...I'll have to come back here again for lack of time right now...I've joined your "fan club"...cheers, AJ
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rlmodranski
Jun 21, 2009 @ 4:10 pm | delete
- Excellent lens! I guess I've been doing this sort of thing for what seems like forever. Never really thought about it as coaching before. I read the book "Chazown" by Craig Groeschel and discovered my vision is to help people reach their full potential in Jesus Christ. Thanks for sharing!
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by coachniquenya
coachniquenya
Niquenya D. Fulbright is an executive life coach, mediator, management consultant, author and corporate trainer with over 10 years experience inspirin... more »
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