Some people exist to guide others through their journey. Sometimes their circumstances can be harder than anyone to handle alone. You are either the helper or the recipient. You will know which one you are from your friends’ feedback after they talk to you about a problem. If you are driven by your will to aid people, seeking a career in life coaching may be the ultimate option for you. However, you should be unique and offer what other competitors fail to deliver. You can become a one-of-a-kind coach if you follow some simple steps.
Determine Your Niche
We have different skills and abilities. You should know yourself well before you start being a coach. First of all, you need to understand your inner thoughts and behavior. After you become aware of who you are on a deeper level, write down your set of skills. Grade yourself based on your best qualities, and then find out the area where you are going to be of help to others. You should also strengthen your skills even if you think that you have fair persuasion techniques and understanding abilities.
Understand People
You need to be different to stand out among the competitors. Some people doubt life coaches because they hear them saying that everything is a choice and if you make up your mind to be happy, you will end up in a good position. However, these words shouldn’t be said to people desperate for help. You should listen to their stories and evaluate each situation distinctively. After looking at all the aspects, you should give an applicable solution using facts, not inspirational words that lead to nowhere. Your uniqueness will emerge from your patience, empathy, and compassion.
Get a Certificate and a Credential
It is one thing to advise a friend and a whole other thing to do it for a living. You will be carrying a huge responsibility on your shoulders because people believe in life coaches, so you don’t want to be the one who leads them astray. To be a professional at what you do, trainers at coachtrainingedu.com/executive-coach-training/ recommend finishing a training program that will help you gain better communication skills, perspective, and ability to determine each person’s level of comprehension. It is advisable to apply for a program that is accredited by the coaching associations.
Getting accredited is the next harder level towards becoming a life coach. After finishing the training period, you should undergo experience hours and an examination. It is not a necessity unless you are going to become a corporate coach. However, some people prefer to go for it to prove their professionalism to their clients and gain their trust.
Set-Up Your Business
To start your business, you need to figure out whether you are going solo or you will register with the state. Each option has its perks; however, you should decide depending on how much you are willing to pay upfront money and the extent of the government’s involvement. Being the only owner will give you complete control over your work, and you won’t pay taxes as a corporate business. On the other hand, if you struggle with any financial problems, you will be at risk of losing everything because the liability falls on you alone.
Purchase Insurance
Insurance is a critical aspect that shouldn’t be overlooked. You are not omnipotent, so you don’t have the power over the consequences of your advice. That’s why you should purchase malpractice insurance to help you if you get sued for professional negligence. Another type to consider is the business owner’s policy to avoid bankruptcy if any accident happened in your office.
Put a Marketing Plan
Some people recommend offering free sessions as a marketing strategy. However, it is better to lower your fee than demanding no money because you should show confidence in yourself and that you deserve to get paid for your solutions. Moreover, become a speaker in live shows and seminars to market for yourself and give people a glimpse of what you’ve got to offer.
Furthermore, using social media platforms can help you become more recognized. You should post videos and make a free online quiz so people can know if they need a life coach or not. Posting tips and tricks about a certain life hiccup will increase people’s engagement on your page.
Keep Learning
Even after becoming a famous coach, you shouldn’t stop learning. Psychology is always progressing, and scientists discover something new every day. So, you should stay on track and upgrade yourself regularly to remain worthy of your position.
The road to becoming a life coach is not easy and requires a lot of effort. It is that way to ensure that your words will fix problems rather than cause more damage. When you become an influential person, you will touch so many individuals. That’s why you need to be well-aware of the commitment you are making and that people’s lives may be affected by you.
