If you’re wondering what the process is to become a life coach, then look no further. This article will give you a complete guide on how to become a life coach.
About a decade ago, if you introduced yourself as a coach most people would assume you meant some sort of physical training.
However, a growing market has shifted the traditional term of a coach to be something much more. Many people are saying goodbye to their old careers and forming new paths for themselves as life coaches.
Some make the choice to become a life coach because of a major, inspiring event in their life. Others simply recognize the potential they have to help people achieve goals.
No matter the cause, the world needs more people willing to take on this role.
Life coaching is an exciting, empowering career. It benefits both the coach and the students in ways nothing else can compare to.
If you are interested in experiencing the thrill of coaching for yourself, you’ve come to the right place.
This is the complete guide you need to start your life coaching business.
What Does It Mean to Become a Life Coach?
A life coach is someone who helps others reach their goals. This means you serve as a motivator, strategy partner, and source of accountability.
Starting a career as a life coach is a deep commitment to unlocking the potential of your clients. Ironically, the choice to become a life coach is actually a similar commitment you make to yourself.
It means having the courage to leave your old career and do the job which doesn’t even feel like work. It means getting excited for having no two days look the same, and working with clients from all walks of life.
Above all, life coaching transforms the way you look at overcoming challenges, helping others, and how you set an example.
The more you shape the lives of others, the more you are shaped as well.
1. Weigh the Pros and Cons
If you like what you see so far, this job may be for you.
However, there are some things to consider.
Pros
There are more benefits of becoming a life coach beyond the deeply rewarding points mentioned above.
Life coaches are their own boss. You get the freedom to set your own schedule, pay rate, vacation hours, and client list. For many, this reveals a strong sense of productivity and satisfaction which was previously unforeseen.
Coaching keeps you on your toes. No client situation will ever be the same, no matter your niche market. This makes you a consistent learner as you continue to evolve coaching approaches over time.
Plus, you’re making a real, visible difference in someone’s life – so powerful it’s worth mentioning twice.
Cons
Understand you may grow to become the best life coach in the world, but you have to start somewhere.
Like any business, the road to become a life coach with an established client list takes time. Be patient in the early stages and keep your goals in mind as you work to help others with theirs.
Also, you may struggle to build enough capital at the beginning.
This may delay you leaving your day job for your dream job. But, at least you know when the time comes to make the jump, it will be all the more rewarding because you will be better prepared.
2. Assess Your Skills
Speaking of being prepared, one of the best things you can do to become a life coach is to take a serious look at your people skills.
Remember, you will be working with all kinds of situations and personalities.
Take the time to know yourself so you can effectively identify the thought process, habits, and quirks of your clients. This level of emotional intelligence will boost the way you keep them motivated on the way to reaching their goals.
Some key skills to build are listening and communication, vulnerability, trustworthiness, and respect. It wouldn’t hurt to understand personal boundaries or be social, either.
3. Get Training
Sharpening your skills is one thing, but what can you show your first clients to express your credibility? A certification.
Professional programs are offered in person and via online coursework to certify you in this industry.
A lLife coach certificate shows everyone who works with you the dedication you took to become a life coach.
It also gives you a better idea of what to expect in this profession. Programs offer tools to build your business including how to profile clients, an ethical code of conduct, and coaching models.
4. Pick a Niche
Once you enroll in your training, you can start visioning the specifics of your future career!
Begin with picking your niche. There are six common forms of life coaching to choose from.
Career Coaching
A career coach works to align a client’s passions and personal interests with skills they can use in a particular industry. This better identifies ideal career choices and is often the push many people need in the direction of their success.
Business Coaching
Business coaching takes the process mentioned above one step further.
It focuses on entrepreneurs looking to start or grow their business, rather than those looking for opportunities in the job market.
Executive Coaching
Some business people need coaching after they are already established in the high ranks of a company.
Executive coaching helps them improve company culture, identify opportunities for their employees and sales goals, and increase productivity levels.
Health Coaching
If you choose to become a life coach who focuses on health, understand it is not the same as being a personal trainer.
Trainers focus on shaping the body with workout routines, and can sometimes include meal plans.
A health coach helps in physical and emotional health. They provide workout tips and motivation as well as spiritual tools to build confidence or mental clarity.
Relationship Coaching
The relationship coaching market is composed of two areas – couples and singles.
Coaching couples can mean working on communication skills, increasing intimacy, or getting through obstacles like long distance. Singles coaching can be helping individuals find their partner.
Personal Coaching
This is the most holistic approach one can take when they choose to become a life coach. It brings together aspects of all coaching areas to provide services which improve a client’s life across the board.
5. Choose Your Working Environment
Now that you know the area in which you want to become a life coach, you can get excited to create your working space!
Do you prefer meeting clients face to face? Or, would you rather have the freedom to work remotely using email and video-calling communications?
Set up a system that works for you.
Try to stick to it, but don’t be afraid to get creative and make necessary changes, either. You may find yourself setting up an at-home office only to do most of your meetings in local coffee shops.
Remember mixing things up is good sometimes. It can make your services more effective, and your clients will likely feel the effort you are putting forth to customize their experience.
6. Build a Brand
Speaking of clients, remember to work on your brand in order to build strong leads!
This is just as important as working on your skills and certification. Your efforts to become a life coach don’t mean much without a group of people to provide empowering, life-changing assistance to.
Building your brand is more than introducing yourself as a life coach to personal referrals or possible connections at networking events.
It takes marketing skills from making a powerful logo to ordering business cards and advertising your services.
Not to mention, your online presence is a necessary tool to grow the business.
Buy a domain name, design engaging landing pages, and consistently strive to boost traffic and conversion. Consider getting the ball rolling with PPC ad campaigns and make sure all of your messaging is aligned from the start.
This will help your SEO strategies over time.
If this sounds like too much work, don’t get discouraged. You can outsource all of these processes or learn how to market your business for yourself.
7. Handle Business Specifics
Somewhere along the way, remember to update your tax identification and register your business. You may choose to operate as a sole proprietor, contractor, or even an LLC.
Also, make sure you have resources in your network for legal counsel and accounting services.
Consider getting liability insurance as well, especially if you plan to work in health or personal coaching.
You may even seek out your own business coach to look over your company goals and service prices. This comes with the added benefit of experiencing the other side of coaching and gaining unique insight for the future.
Get Certified to Get Clients
Ready to begin your journey and become a life coach?
All the tools you need are waiting for you upon enrolling for our program!
Enjoy learning the ins and outs of this industry at your own pace. No matter if you are juggling a full-time job and a family or if you’re starting your business young, this is the course for you.
Contact us today to get started or for the answers to any questions you may have.