How to become a successful life coach?

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As a life coach, you’ll have the opportunity to help others achieve their goals and make positive changes in their lives. It’s a rewarding and fulfilling career that enables you to make a difference in the world. However, becoming a successful life coach takes hard work, dedication, and a willingness to learn and grow constantly.
The term ‘life coach’ used here is a very broad term, and it encompasses many coaching specializations.
We’ll educate you on all the aspects of training to become a certified life coach and setting up a business as a professional life coach.

Qualifications and Requirements

Unlike other professions, becoming a coach does not require any education requirements. This is mainly because of the non-regulation of the coaching profession.
However, what you need are traits that make a successful life coach. While there is no specific degree or certification required to become a life coach, it’s important to have a strong foundation in the principles and practices of coaching.
Anyone can become a coach. But a successful life coach:
  • follows an ethical code of conduct,
  • is qualified to provide coaching,
  • possess qualities such as openness, empathy, approachability, and curiosity
  • has undergone extensive training and supervision and has great experience with coachees

Get the right education and training

You can become a coach from any program, or you can become a globally recognized coach with strong credentials. There are always two paths. The most highly recognized training organization across the globe is International Coaching Federation (ICF). (MasterMyLife is accredited with ICF and recognized as a Level-2 organization) European Mentoring and Coaching Council and Association for Coaching are two other training organizations.
The best first step is to get trained by an institute accredited with ICF or other bodies as they govern the standards of coach training.
ICF certifies coaches in three stages based on the amount of training and the number of hours of experience they have. The levels are:
Coach Levels Hours of Coaching Education Hours of Coaching Experience
Level I - Associate Certified Coach (ACC)
60+ hours
100+ hours
Level II - Professional Certified Coach (PCC)
125+ hours
500+ hours
Level III - Master Certified Coach (MCC)
200+ hours
2500+ hours
Note: These hours are categorized by the ICF by the number of equivalent student contact hours, aka, ICF’s Level 1 Approved Coach Specific Training Hours (ACSTH) or ICF’s Level 2 Accredited Coach Training Program (ACTP).

Look for a reputable coaching school or program that offers comprehensive coaching education & training in areas of the coaching process, coach core competencies, PCC markers, coaching business, life skills, and leadership skills. A few of the coaching schools also offer coaching practice and coaching business development support that can certainly help you in getting hold of your coach career during the launch phase. Read through our resource on how to choose the right coaching institute.

What does it cost to become a life coach?

The initial investment to make to become a recognized and successful life coach is worth it as you progress in your career or business.

The fees of a life coaching program can range from USD 2,000 to USD 15,000, depending on the coaching school & the program level, whether level 1 or level 2, and whether including mentor coaching assessments or not. MasterMyLife, a Level – 2 ICF accredited institute a level 2 coaching education program including mentor coaching, assessment & business development support for less than USD 5,000. Download MasterMyLife’s brochure to learn more about the program details, duration and other important information.

Foundational 4 Steps to getting certified and starting your business as a professional life coach

Step 1 - Choose a Coaching School & Complete a Training Program

To become a good coach, good training from a good training institute is essential. Or the best, you choose. As we mentioned earlier, the best way to go is to work with an organization that’s accredited by the best in the industry such as the ICF. Formal education and training in coaching can provide a strong foundation of knowledge and skills that will help you be more effective as a coach.
The course duration can be min. 3 months to up to 12 months, based on the program you choose.

Step 2 - Choose a Coaching Niche

NICHE DOWN! As they rightly say.
No matter what the profession, specialization is important. Similar with coaching. Picking a coaching niche that suits your goals and aspirations best will go a long way for you. You will be recognized instantly as a ‘life coach’ and not just a ‘coach’.
Picking a niche also gives you the ability to provide support to a certain category of individuals and gain expertise in the area. Some of the specialization areas available for life coaches are:
  • Career transition and job search
  • Relationships
  • Academics & student-life
  • Spirituality
  • Business
  • Work-life balance/professionals in employment
  • General wellness

Step 3 - Earn a Credential and parallelly Set-up your Coaching Business

Getting a credential enables you to be recognized and have a strong reputation in the coaching community and industry.

You can apply for certification once you have completed the training program and completed the necessary coaching practice hours. Associations such as ICF and IAC provide credentials based on your expertise and demonstration of high work standards. The possibilities for a certified life coach are numerous

  •  access to high-quality people,
  • great communities and
  • like-minded individuals
Once you have your credentials, you can set up your business as a life coach.

Step 4 - Establish & Promote your Personal Brand

Your personal brand is the way you present yourself to the world, including your website, social media presence, and overall image. By building a strong, professional brand, you’ll be able to differentiate yourself in the market and attract the right clients.

Extra tips

Stay current and continue learning

The coaching field is constantly evolving, with new techniques and approaches emerging all the time. To be a successful life coach, it’s important to stay current and continue learning and growing. This could mean attending conferences, taking additional courses or workshops, or simply staying up-to-date on the latest developments in the field.

Invest in your own coaching

Just as you would with any other skill or profession, it’s important to invest in your own coaching as you work to become a successful life coach. This could mean working with a mentor or coach yourself, attending workshops and conferences, or participating in ongoing professional development. By investing in your own coaching, you’ll be able to continuously improve your skills and knowledge, which will ultimately benefit your clients as well.

Build a strong support system

Building a successful coaching business can be challenging and it’s important to have a strong support system in place. This could include a network of colleagues and mentors, a coach or mentor of your own, and a supportive partner or family. Having a strong support system will help you stay motivated and focused as you work towards your goals as a life coach.

Choosing a coaching specialization involves gaining a lot of clarity. Have more questions? Have a Clarity call with Expert Coaches

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Deepak Varma is the creator of the accredited diploma in Speakology™ program. An Ikigai™ Coach, Deepak is a renowned keynote speaker and also a healer who has developed the healing technique, “Healify” which taps into the subconscious of the individual to holistically heal his clients. His free e-book on Ikigai can be downloaded at bit.ly/iki-ebook

He has conducted more than 3000 workshops across 10 countries, trained 35000+ individuals from more than 75 organizations. He has authored the best selling book “The Joyful Quotient” in 2019. Deepak is a master Udemy trainer with 4000 students, and growing every second, spread across the globe. He is also the co-founder of Entrepreneurs International, a learning and networking platform with executive members from 30 countries across the globe.

His Free and Paid learning courses can be viewed at www.deepakvarma.in

Associated with MML : Faculty Member
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Anita Sachdev is an Intercultural consultant, leadership coach and a thought partner A globally seasoned business professional and an Award Winner ICF-PCC certified coach. Anita’s versatile leadership experience spanning over four decades across multiple industries, countries, and cultures to enable coachees to bust through their mental blocks and transform them into dynamic, confident decision makers. Besides coaching business leaders, I support clients during life transitions, ignite ambition, and propel growth by freeing  their minds to boldly embrace new opportunities with unwavering certainty.  My  group coaching programs support “Career Pathfinders” and Women to “Step into the Spotlight” have gained global recognition.

Associated with MML : Faculty Member/ Coach
Organization Name : I’ve Made it
Focus Area : Executive, Leadership and Career Coach, Cross Cultural Cultural Consultant

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