Do you think you have what it takes to help others unravel the complexities of their own life or business? If you exude charisma, have expertise or natural talent in a particular field or management style, and have a strong desire to help others, then life coaching could be a great opportunity for you. Helping people to make sense of their lives and plan for the future can be a very rewarding experience for you. Here are some of our tips on getting started as a professional life coach.
Choose Your Focus
Try to decide on a particular area of expertise and stick with it. Of course, don’t be too niche, but remember that there are a lot of people out there that claim the title of “relationship coach” or “business coach” so understand that you’ll have a lot of competition down that route. At the same time, you’ll certainly be tackling lots of different aspects of someone’s life, not just the particular topic you’re well-versed in. Most things in our life are intertwined—our personal life can have an impact on our business and vice versa.
Get Qualified
This isn’t entirely necessary as life coaching isn’t a medical science or anything. There are no laws in the USA that state you require a certificate to coach someone on their life or business. However, to boost your credibility, we recommend finding a certified coaching organization that can provide you with good quality training to become a trusted life coach. This not only means you’ll be able to provide better help, but you’ll also attract more clients as appear more trustworthy.
Get Your Name Out There
You’ll now want to register your own business and do some planning. Set out your budgets and identify what resources you’ll need to purchase and then get started on a marketing plan. Utilise social media to push your name out into the world, using eye-catching designs. Treat everyone who approaches you the best you can, as word of mouth will be a huge supplier of business to you. Get signed up for a good online coaching platform too. Websites like “A Guide For Your 20s” are a brilliant way to encourage people to enquire about your coaching services, with minimal work in advertising from you.
Figure Out Your Finances
At the end of the day, you’re primarily going to be doing this to make a living. Whilst it’s an amazing feeling to help others through life, you’ll not last long if you can’t look after yourself too. Decide on a reasonable sum to charge your clients and even consider different payment plans and options to diversify the types of help you offer.
Keep On Learning
Even as adults there’s never a point where we know enough. As society changes and new ideas emerge, so should we embrace those changes and absorb new knowledge into our way of thinking. Keep up to date with the organization you get your training from and stay in touch with other like-minded coaches. Don’t be scared to challenge yourself by discussing your methods with other coaches that teach in different ways.
