Unleash Your Passion for People

HOW TO Become a Life Coach

What it takes ... and other important questions YOU MAY HAVE

A question we get asked regularly is:
"I want to know how to become a life coach ... what does it take?"

We've done our best here to provide honest answers to some of the key questions behind this one.

We've also produced a detailed report in the form of two information-packed life coaching ebooks that you can download and read in your own time.

WHY SHOULD I BECOME A LIFE COACH?

lady imagining what it is like to become a life coach

Before we tackle the issue of how to become a life coach, you may still be wondering whether it is a career you'd like to pursue?

You may even still be wondering what life coaching is and what life coaches do?

Well, frankly, life coaching must rank as one of the most – if not the most – fulfilling careers for people who have a passion for working with people.

As a life coach you'll be responsible for helping your clients to live their best lives by developing their self awareness and inner growth. You'll watch them grow and develop and achieve things they never thought possible.

In doing so, you'll be making a real difference in our world . How wonderful!

But there are many other reasons:

For one thing, when you train to become a life coach, you'll experience amazing personal development and growth in self awareness.

As a professional life coach, your work will never again be boring. Each client is unique, with his or her own view of the world, hopes, dreams and obstacles to growth.

And then there's the unrivalled flexibility of the career. You choose the hours you want to work, when you want to work, what types of people you want to have as your clients, and so on.

Very simply, becoming a life coach will give you access to one of the very best home based business opportunities.

DO I HAVE WHAT IT TAKES TO BECOME A LIFE COACH?

Do I have what it takes to be a life coach?

When it comes to the question of how to become a life coach, you may be surprised to know that pre-qualifications are not necessary or required.

You don't necessarily need:

– A degree or other academic qualification.

– To be in a specific age group (although we recommend you be over 23 years of age).

– To lead a perfect life (such a thing doesn't exist, anyway!)

However, there are a few very important qualities or attributes that you should ideally possess if you want to succeed in this field. Some honest self-assessment is required here.

Do you:

Have a real PASSION for working with people?

Have impeccable HONESTY and INTEGRITY?

Possess an OPEN, ENQUIRING MIND, ready to learn about what makes you and others 'tick'?

Generally possess a NON JUDGEMENTAL attitude towards others?

Believe in the importance of committing to your ONGOING PERSONAL DEVELOPMENT?

WHAT FORM OF TRAINING DO I REQUIRE?

What training is required to become a life coach?

This is where it can get confusing for those researching how to become a life coach.

Life coaching is an unregulated profession and training quality varies greatly.

However, if you are serious about becoming a certified professional life coach, we recommend you get the very best training you can afford.

Life experience alone is not sufficient to qualify you as a life coach. In fact, without proper training in the various life coaching tools, techniques and systems it can even work against you!

Success in the life coaching industry is very much word-of-mouth driven. So your ability to deliver great results for your clients is far and away the most important outcome you want from the training you choose to invest in.

Be sure to look for a substantive training programme that is:

		COMPREHENSIVE It should covers both theory and practical application in depth.
		BROAD BASED Training should focus on all aspects of life coaching, not just niche techniques. You should consider further short courses on specific niches of interest once you are certified - not before!
		REPUTABLE It should offer a suitable structure and/or system that has proven to deliver results over an extended period. Local and international accreditation is often a sign of good repute. Also look for marks of high quality training such as that proferred by the CPD Standards Office.
		PRACTICAL TO APPLY Ideally you want a programme that promotes practical application rather than one that is overly academic and theoretical in nature. Life coaching is more heart-based than head-based!
		SUPPORTIVE Your want to ensure great support all the way through your certification period and, preferably, beyond that.

Click here for more on our certification training

WILL I NEED TO GIVE UP MY EXISTING JOB TO DO THE TRAINING?

Life coach training with unsurpassed flexibility and convenience

No, not if you choose to train with New Insights.

Our Life Coach Training & Certification Programme is specifically designed for people who are currently in employment or holding down important time consuming responsibilities, such as stay-at-home parents for example.

With us, you can train in your own time and at your own pace.

We recommend that you start coaching for reward only when you feel completely ready, then do so in your part time until you have established your practice and feel ready to go full time with your great new career.

That way you have the flexibility to control your destiny without taking unnecessary risks.

WILL I HAVE TO TRAVEL ANYWHERE FOR TRAINING?

No. At least not if you choose to train with New Insights.

The home study nature of our training is designed to work equally well for you, whether you live in London, the Outer Hebrides, Mallorca or Bali!

Although New Insights has companies registered in London and Cape Town, we do not run conventional training centres. You study, practice – and even write the theory exam – from your home or destination of choice.

You don't need to travel to us or anywhere else - ever!

You have total flexibility and control over your training agenda. But we are always there to support you by phone, email or through our innovative online Forum .

HOW LONG DOES IT TAKE TO BECOME A CERTIFIED LIFE COACH?

In researching how to become a life coach you may have come across courses that promise to turn you into a practising life coach in just a few weeks or months. Needless to say this is unrealistic marketing hype.

Be very wary of short courses that make such claims. Most who complete superficial courses like this end up disappointed and asking themselves "So, now what?"

Don't skimp on quality. Look for a comprehensive, in-depth and accredited programme that involves both theory and practical elements.

The New Insights Life coach Training & Certification Programme involves some 300 hours of study and practice in total. It offers very thorough preparation to become a life coach including everything you need to build a successful practice.

The programme is self paced so the time you take depends on the time you can give, but as a general rule you should allow between 9 and 18 months to complete it if you can allocate roughly 4 to 8 hours a week to it.

WHAT SORT OF EMPLOYMENT CAN I LOOK FORWARD TO AS A LIFE COACH?

Generally speaking, life coaching is not a career for those who prefer being in the employ of others.

The great majority of life coaches start their own life coaching practices rather than look for employment.

And why not?

This is a wonderfully flexible career that can be operated from home if you wish.

When you become a life coach with your own practice you are in control and you decide your hours and the clients you prefer to work with.

Life coaching practices share very few of the challenges associated with other small business start ups. They require minimal capital outlay, are generally low cost to operate and carry little risk.

CAN I EARN A GOOD LIVING FROM LIFE COACHING?

Yes, of course!

Good life coaches are in great demand. After all, they help people to achieve their goals and dreams, so why wouldn't they be?

Fees vary dependent on experience, target market, client type and so on but most coaches charge in the range of £35 to £350 per session (UK currency).

Sessions generally take anywhere between 60 and 90 minutes and can be run either face-to-face or remotely (via telephone/Zoom/Skype etc.).

Don't forget that operating costs are very low. You can even supplement your income significantly by, for example, giving motivational talks and running personal development workshops.

NOW THAT I KNOW HOW TO BECOME A LIFE COACH, HOW WOULD I GO ABOUT FINDING CLIENTS?

Life coaching is very much a word-of-mouth driven business. If you prove that you can deliver great results for your clients, you'll never lack for referrals ... and that is a coach's lifeblood!

When you first become a life coach and are just starting out, finding new clients can be a little more challenging.

If you train with New Insights you'll be exposed to a number of practice clients, each one of which is likely to refer other friends and colleagues to you, thereby helping to build your pipeline of clients.

New Insights also offers other key advantages for life coaches who are just starting out. You receive substantial, proven support to plan your practice, promote your services and sustain a successful practice.

You also have the option to license our fully 'done-for-you' Life Coaching System with all of the coaching and client notes you require to run a transformational programme of 15 sessions. This way, you can hit the ground running as a new life coach!