A career in life coaching is a great choice if you are looking for different fulfillment out of your job and life. Not only are you impacting and transforming people’s lives, but you are also in charge of when you work, where, and how often. It gives you the flexibility to work on a schedule that fits your lifestyle and location. Consider the answers to these most asked questions about becoming a life coach:
1. Do I need to be certified to practice as a life coach?
You don’t require certification to practice as a life coach,
however, having credentials adds to your creditability and legitimacy as a
coach. Some professional organizations require certification from one of
the self-regulated coaching bodies such as the International Coaching
Federation (ICF).
2. Are there other coaching modalities?
There are many coaching modalities in addition to life
coaching. If you are in a corporate role, you could benefit from leadership
coaching, teams, career or executive coaching programs. Or consider a career as
a family or business coach. This is part of your own development journey in
finding your niche in which to launch your business.
3. What does transformative coaching mean?
While traditionally tactical coaching has been useful for
troubleshooting, problem solving and optioning, transformative coaching focuses
on deepened learning, giving the client a fresh perspective, new directions,
and positive possibilities.
How do you create sustainable and lasting change? How can
you spark that desire from within the client to learn, self-learn, and iterate
that approach for themselves?
4. What if I have another job? Can I be a life coach
part-time?
Absolutely! I know so many people who have multiple business
ventures, still employed in a full-time or part-time capacity, or take up the
coaching volume right for them. I'd be happy to share my story and journey as
I'm still engaged full-time as I launch a personal coaching business!
5. What is the benefit to starting a coaching business?
When you choose a career in coaching, you are in essence
your own boss. You can set your own hours and choose to work from home or
wherever is convenient for you. I have clients all over the world, across
multiple time zones and with the uptick of technology, it's becoming easier and
quicker to connect with clients globally.
If owning your own business doesn’t appeal to you,
corporations as well as a privately-owned coaching companies are always looking
to hire great coaches. There are organizations that employee coaches and offer
that as a service to their own corporate clients as well.
Whether you choose to work for yourself or for someone else,
the choice is yours. There’s both freedom and independence to excite and
inspire you as you take the first steps towards becoming a life coach.
6. How much can I make as a life coach?
The average salary in the first year can range between
$40-$50K USD, with the average at $47,000. This should not be a deterrent as it
takes time to build skill and clientele. With every new business venture, there
is a building phase, which requires time and patience as you grow your
capabilities and your new coaching business. However, this conversation of how
much should I charge clients, especially as new coach always comes up and happy
to address your business questions and opportunities! We have a wide community
of up and coming coaches as well where you can engage and get best practices on
how to launch your business.