School is back in session!
Are you a Coach? Are you considering becoming a Coach?
Well one thing that is important to realize so you can be successful as a Coach is that there are gaps between what you learn(ed) in coaching school and the actual practice of coaching. (Oh dear, I just lost all of the respect of my friends who run coaching schools…) But it is true. One coaching school can’t possibly teach you EVERYTHING you need to know about the art of coaching. I want to try and help reduce the gap between where you are right now (here) as a Coach and where you want to be in the future (there) as a Coach.
That gap may be masked by thoughts that sound like, “I don’t like selling myself” or “I don’t like social media, but I know I need to use it to market myself” or “I don’t know where to find clients.” It is not that these aren’t happening for you, but I am going to challenge you to ask if there is a chance that a touch of Imposter Syndrome is keeping you from being able to do the marketing and the selling? And is that Imposter Syndrome from the gap between what you learned in coaching school and what it takes to be a coach? Is it because you don’t know what to do or is it because deep down, you feel like you aren’t ready to become a Coach because you didn’t learn EVERYTHING you need to know as a Coach?
Coaching schools, International Coach Federation (ICF) certified or not, are powerful tools to help you with effective communication tactics, as well as motivation skills and techniques. Specific classes or training sessions will depend on your program, but an example of what you’ll learn may include:
* Results-driven life coaching and the life coaching process
* Goal setting and action steps
* Developing professional client/coach relationships
* Record keeping and confidentiality
* Ethics
* Business topics for building a life coaching practice
For most people, they enroll in coaching courses because of these main reasons:
* To ensure they have the coaching skills they need
* To be part of a support network
* To get coaching/business opportunities
* To get certification so they can “officially” call themselves a coach and become a coach
* To establish credibility among clients, potential clients, and others in the industry
Ultimately, your end objective should really to be a powerful Coach, so focus on what makes you a powerful Coach. Don’t get hung up about courses and qualifications – they are a means, not an end.
Here is a fact, no one gives a shit about your coaching certification.
No, really. They don’t. The only people who have ever asked me where I went to coaching school or if I was certified was another Coach. Not the CEOs, Directors of Billion Dollar Businesses, or VPs of Human Resource who hire me to support them or their teams. Coaches only care where other Coaches have gone to school or what their certification level is. At a dinner party I went to, pre-COVID, I was asked what I did for a living by one of the other guests. I shared that I am a Coach and she immediately asked, “where did you go to school?” I was about to blurt out my education journey and lists of certifications when I suddenly realized, she was a Coach. So, I asked her, “where did you go to coaching school?” She smiled and told me, then paused and said, “wait, how did you know I was a Coach?” I said, “because the only people who ever ask me where I went to coaching school are other Coaches.” She reflected for a second (I could see her brain work overtime to find someone who wasn’t a Coach who asked her about her coaching school) and said, “oh my gosh! That is sooooo true. How funny!”
But I am an ICF Mentor Coach because I do believe that attending coaching school is important for all of the reasons listed above AS WELL AS for those who love to learn, there is no better to mix learning a skill and about oneself than coaching school. BUT attending coaching school doesn’t mean that you are ready to coach or have ALL of the skills you need to be a successful Coach.
My own personal experience in coaching school was VERY powerful and I am so grateful for what I learned, their support, and the community that became my tribe. HOWEVER, it wasn’t until I started coaching hundreds of clients that I learned a few powerful tips and skills that completely changed how I Coach. And increase my clients’ success rate.
I am not saying this is ALL you need to become a successful Coach, but these are great lessons to learn whether you are a year, five, or ten years out of coaching school OR if you are considering attending coaching school. My goal is to provide you value that was hard earned by me – making so many mistakes, I am hoping that my lessons learned in those mistakes help you to learn faster than I did. And help your clients make powerful change in their lives.
This class is focused on the skills of coaching – not the marketing or running the business. That is for later classes. Why do I think this class needs to happen first? Because it doesn’t matter how much you market, how focused your ideal client aviator is, or how much you charge – if you don’t feel like you know how to Coach, you won’t be successful as a Coach.
The class includes:
* 4 Pre-Recorded 30-Minute Modules that cover weekly topic.
* 4 Live Zoom Live 60-Minute Discussion Groups to unpack weekly module. Will include unpacking concepts, live coaching sessions and break-outs.
* Connections between Discussion Groups and Coaches through an invite only Facebook Community Group.
* Laughter, Knowledge, and Imposter Syndrome Bashing within a collaborative community!
* Results-driven life coaching and the life coaching process
* Goal setting and action steps
* Developing professional client/coach relationships
* Record keeping and confidentiality
* Ethics
* Business topics for building a life coaching practice
For most people, they enroll in coaching courses because of these main reasons:
* To ensure they have the coaching skills they need
* To be part of a support network
* To get coaching/business opportunities
* To get certification so they can “officially” call themselves a coach and become a coach
* To establish credibility among clients, potential clients, and others in the industry
Ultimately, your end objective should really to be a powerful Coach, so focus on what makes you a powerful Coach. Don’t get hung up about courses and qualifications – they are a means, not an end.
Here is a fact, no one gives a shit about your coaching certification.
No, really. They don’t. The only people who have ever asked me where I went to coaching school or if I was certified was another Coach. Not the CEOs, Directors of Billion Dollar Businesses, or VPs of Human Resource who hire me to support them or their teams. Coaches only care where other Coaches have gone to school or what their certification level is. At a dinner party I went to, pre-COVID, I was asked what I did for a living by one of the other guests. I shared that I am a Coach and she immediately asked, “where did you go to school?” I was about to blurt out my education journey and lists of certifications when I suddenly realized, she was a Coach. So, I asked her, “where did you go to coaching school?” She smiled and told me, then paused and said, “wait, how did you know I was a Coach?” I said, “because the only people who ever ask me where I went to coaching school are other Coaches.” She reflected for a second (I could see her brain work overtime to find someone who wasn’t a Coach who asked her about her coaching school) and said, “oh my gosh! That is sooooo true. How funny!”
But I am an ICF Mentor Coach because I do believe that attending coaching school is important for all of the reasons listed above AS WELL AS for those who love to learn, there is no better to mix learning a skill and about oneself than coaching school. BUT attending coaching school doesn’t mean that you are ready to coach or have ALL of the skills you need to be a successful Coach.
My own personal experience in coaching school was VERY powerful and I am so grateful for what I learned, their support, and the community that became my tribe. HOWEVER, it wasn’t until I started coaching hundreds of clients that I learned a few powerful tips and skills that completely changed how I Coach. And increase my clients’ success rate.
I am not saying this is ALL you need to become a successful Coach, but these are great lessons to learn whether you are a year, five, or ten years out of coaching school OR if you are considering attending coaching school. My goal is to provide you value that was hard earned by me – making so many mistakes, I am hoping that my lessons learned in those mistakes help you to learn faster than I did. And help your clients make powerful change in their lives.
This class is focused on the skills of coaching – not the marketing or running the business. That is for later classes. Why do I think this class needs to happen first? Because it doesn’t matter how much you market, how focused your ideal client aviator is, or how much you charge – if you don’t feel like you know how to Coach, you won’t be successful as a Coach.
The class includes:
* 4 Pre-Recorded 30-Minute Modules that cover weekly topic.
* 4 Live Zoom Live 60-Minute Discussion Groups to unpack weekly module. Will include unpacking concepts, live coaching sessions and break-outs.
* Connections between Discussion Groups and Coaches through an invite only Facebook Community Group.
* Laughter, Knowledge, and Imposter Syndrome Bashing within a collaborative community!
Should I become a Coach?
Does trying to figure out if you should become a Coach feel like you are on a twisted road with tons of turns and you are unclear of how even to start?
Well, if you are intrigued by the idea of coaching, that’s a great place to start. You likely have some natural aptitudes that draw you toward coaching including the curiosity that is popping up when you think about coaching. Because staying curious is the key to coaching. So you are already off on the right foot!
Well, if you are intrigued by the idea of coaching, that’s a great place to start. You likely have some natural aptitudes that draw you toward coaching including the curiosity that is popping up when you think about coaching. Because staying curious is the key to coaching. So you are already off on the right foot!
Your Future. Brighter.
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