How does one become a personal or life coach?

[triks]

Is any formal certification necessary to be a personal / life coach? Also, are most personal / life coaches self-employed consultants, or do some work for companies that provide such services? Any information about the field of life coaching will be appreciated.

[narayan]

If I were going to do this, I would definitely have some college behind me. I would rather go to a life coach who has a degree, so I am assuming most people would as well. Do a search online to see what kind of degress are held by these people. Possibly a psych degree would be good. You know, the study of human behavior. Search out someone who is a life coach now and ask them. I don't see why they wouldnt' talk to you and answer your questions. I think there are a few of these types of people on myspace. I may even have one on my friends list. I will post the link below if you would like to look through them. Myspace would be an excellent place to search for a life coach to probe their brain.
Good luck.

[Sue Bond]

While you do not require formal certification or even training to call yourself a coach, at this point in time, your prospective clients may think otherwise. Clients hire coaches as they want results. Coach training gives coaches the skills, such as asking questions and listening - to name just a few, to effectively support clients to achieve those results. Plus coach training can give a coach an added confidence in their ability and skills.

I'm not sure what percentage of coaches are self-employed vs employed by a company or organization. If you wish to create your own business, make sure you get some training in business, marketing and sales. You could be the best coach in the world but if no one knows you exist...

A list of ICF accredited training programs, which includes The Life Coach Institute, can be found at: http://www.coachfederation.org

Sue

[bituufg]

I know someone who took on-line classes. Look up coachville.com & you will find an enormous amount of info. I know many coaches & there are different ways.. if you want to meet people who are coachs I met most of the ones I know when I attended a Religious Science chruch. This is not a religious church everyone comes as they are & aren't told what to believe or not believe in but look it up on the internet & call some churchs & talk to people or find one & visit. It just happens alot of people at this churchs are interested in self-help & phsyology

[MarkFillipos]

JennyTalk to your coach at your next training session. He can help. He is there to help you with these things.Pete------------------Looking forward to hearing from fellow coaches and keen swimmers needing help.

[tonia boterf]

1. As previously mentioned, anyone can call themselves a coach. There is no legal requirement for education or registration.


2. Many coaches graduate from some type of program but the quality is all over the place.

3. There are two primary coach membership organizations that have created their own forms of credentialing - International Coaching Federation and the Internation Association of Coaches. Yearly memberships dues are required, they have several different tiers of certifications and some benefits.

4. Many coaches are christian coaches and some get different forms of training through religous programs.

5. Personally, I've found people to be most interested in how a coach presents themselves, what they have for content and have they written worthwhile things or done things in their field of expertise. Results and especially word of mouth are the biggest factors that keep business flowing to a coach.

6. I have seen many very capable people through their life's experiences, innate skills and additionally learned information, to be great coaches. I don't believe education, regulation or certification defines that a coach is great. I believe that if a person has a gift, has something really needed by others and the ability to give it, then they should do so. But I do strongly believe that we all have to adhere to professional conduct, ethics, and continual learning for the rest of our lives.

I mean really, what is a life coach = it is someone who has the skills and knowledge to establish client-coach relationships in a professional manner and impart information that enables and/or allows a client to learn, obtain goals and to be satisfied with the service they paid for.

tonia

[becomealifecoach]

I believe that becoming a life coach can be a real challenge because not only are you instantly turning yourself into a salesperson and marketer, but also a business owner as well.

Second, the actual coaching can be challenging (to help someone make major changes or change their life or business). Not only does it take real skills, but when people don't get the result they want, it can seem like they are rejecting you a bit!

All in all, however, life coaching is a joy and I personally think it was worth the journey.

One of the challenges for a life coach is maintaining a high life coach salary. I know it was touch and go for me for a short time in my business.

Jeffrey T. Sooey
founder, coachestrainingblog.com

[shanemaren]

To become a life coach is not a hard task , just you need to have interest in helping people. One who is a charismatic and energetic person that wishes to help people, life coaching is the best opportunity for them .