Every day, life coaches work to uplift, inspire, motivate, challenge and develop people from all walks of life. Quality life coaches are literally transforming lives for the better, one client at a time.
In my opinion, a lot more are rather desperately needed! We live in a turbulent world, in which a large, and steadily growing number of people, lack the real clarity, direction, motivation and purpose that life coaching can offer.
A bright future beckons for life coaches who are masters of their art and for all those bold enough to use their services to break the shackles of the mundane and mediocre.
However, there is much that needs to be done if we are to maximise the reach and impact of life coaching for the benefit of our world as a whole!
Two ‘Buckets’
After 15 years working to promote this life transforming industry, I’ll admit to a persistent, ongoing frustration.
Amongst the broader general public, life coaching remains widely misunderstood, and its profoundly positive effects largely understated.
I’ve spent a great deal of time reflecting on why this is and I believe there a number of factors that play a contributing role. For the sake of simplifying the message, I’ve lumped these in to two general “buckets”.
In the first bucket we have issues of integrity and consistency relating to the training on offer. Responsibility for these issues can be laid squarely at the door of our very own industry.
The second ‘bucket’ contains issues that are less straightforward and more of a reflection on the current human psyche and the obsession with finding what I call ‘silver bullet’ solutions to ‘problems’ (that simply serve to mask the symptoms).
Let’s tackle the first ‘bucket’ in this post and I’ll follow up with a discussion about the second \’bucket\’ next time.
1. Lack of appreciation of what it takes to become a life coach
Quite recently, I was chatting with an interested prospect. Her first concern seemed to be the duration of training. It was clear that she wanted to become a life coach in the minimum amount of time possible.
I explained that our training programme is self paced but, realistically, she should be prepared to invest the best part of a year, perhaps more, to complete what is a comprehensive programme and certification process.
There was an awkward silence before she responded: “Why so long? I’ve seen other courses that you can complete in six weeks or even less. I\’ve got loads of life experience. I mean, surely I don\’t need much training to become a life coach?”
And therein lies a two-headed problem monster.
The first head is representative of a misplaced view that life coaching is simply a form of mentoring. The reasoning goes that if you\’ve been through the school of life you are ideally placed to be a life coach and pass on your superior wisdom, advice and experience to others.
Wrong!
Life coaching does not involve mentoring or advice giving. And, without proper life coach training, your extensive life experience can easily translate into entrenched views and opinions, which subconsciously get passed on to your clients.
The second head of the monster is representative of manipulative marketing, driven solely by the profit motive.
Such marketing targets a growing number of people who are looking for what I call ‘quick fix’ qualifications, and has spawned a confusing array of life coaching courses, many of which – at best – can be said to do no more than superficial justice to life coaching.
One recent graduate of our certification training programme made what I thought was a telling comment in his post certification feedback: “I never knew life coaching could be so complex.”
I don’t want to talk for him … but I’m fairly certain that what he really meant by “complex” was “in-depth”.
Life coaching is certainly not complex. But there is a great deal to learn and practice when it comes to human motivation and the various tools, techniques and processes that can be brought to bear in circumstances that differ widely from client to client.
Let’s face it, life coaches are tasked with the critically important duty of helping transform the lives of their clients for the better. Designing a highly effective coaching intervention requires two things:
- A deep understanding of the unique requirements, nature, and frame of reference of each individual client; and
- A finely tuned ability to explain, get ‘buy-in’ and then help each client apply the appropriate tools and techniques for best effect.
This life coaching capability is founded on a well developed sense of self awareness and an authentic commitment to act ethically, in the client’s interests, at all times.
A few weeks, or even months of exposure to a short course with limited, if any, opportunity for practical application and reflection, simply won’t cut it!
Client results will inevitably be substandard, and this spells disaster for any coach in an industry where word of mouth is by far the most potent marketing tool.
Look at it this way. Would you build your dream house on substandard foundations, simply because it is cheaper and quicker to do so?
Of course not!
If you wish to pursue life coaching as a career, it is essential to build a strong foundation for your future success by exposing yourself to training that is comprehensive, broad based and subject to rigorous assessment.
You will ultimately be working with some clients over a period of many months to bring about the fundamental transformation in their thinking and behaviour, that\’s necessary to achieve exciting yet challenging goals.
It should be clear that to do so effectively, you will need to have been through a similar process yourself, only in a lot more depth, and over a longer duration.
To cut to the chase, the quality of training and preparation required to be a successful, professional life coach should never be underestimated!
As an industry, it’s obvious we need to do a lot more, and do a lot better, in communicating this.
Brilliant post, thanks Bill
Thanks Sujit – much appreciated 🙂
I agree Bill. It took me some time to find New Insights but I knew instantly that it was for me as it connected so well with my own ethos and I could see how thorough it was. Now having completed Module 7 and ready to finish the final elements it has been a revelation not only with the amount of knowledge that I have had bestowed upon me but the impact it has had on my own personal development. So thorough and inspiring. Looking forward to completing and sharing with others. Thank you.
And thank you too for those kind and inspiring comments, Denise 🙂
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Bill. Well said. Thanks for the post.
When I started out looking for a new path to work with people to bring positive, effective, lasting change into their lives and make the world a better place, I was looking at various ways or careers that might enable me to do so. Life coaching just did it for me! To follow that up, I was looking for an institution that was solid and would give my the tools and confidence to be a highly effective and successful life coach. After some research, New Insights was my definite choice! I read the eBooks you mentioned in one of your comments above and it was a confirmation to me – I was like “Yes! I’m at the right place!”
As I’m busy preparing for my exam I can add that this post also relates to Module 1 in the training where we deal with what life coaching is etc. and that brings even more alignment to the subject.
Thanks again Bill!
Great reflections – thank you Raymond!
Hi Bill,
Thanks for the blog. For years I have not put my coaching to use. I think I did the course to help my self, but over the years, I was so involved in business, I never put any of it into practice. Now being at the receiving end of retrenchments, I really had to search deeply about my future, setting goal etc. I now see the value of the coaching course, I had to put into practice in my own life. I now believe I am ready to coach, as I have first hand experience of the value of of what the course offers, so I would be able to tell clients with authority that the tools outlined in the course work. It would not just be hear say. Thanks
Hi Chris,
Thanks so much for the contribution! I think that what you learn in life coaching always stays with you at some level even if you are not actively coaching.
I’m so glad that you are able to use it to coach yourself to look at the opportunities that are presented by retrenchment (even though it may not seem like this at the time!)
Good luck and keep connected 🙂
Thanks for the great insights l have greatly benefitted from the course and using it to empower myself and others. It’s unfortunate that most people do not regard coaching as important in their lives. Once you mention a fee they back out but it’s never to give up. Once the few clients are satisfied and begin to tell others, your customer base will grow
I have been wondering for years if I am good enough/ cut for studying and become a life coach. While I am still not sure if I should/ might decide to pursue this one day, I do I know for a fact that if I do I will use New Insights. As mentioned in a previous comment, New Insights is nothing like any other courses out there, which is why I keep coming back to it and make time to read your posts every couple of weeks. I don’t know what the future holds, but for sure New Insights will stay a part of it one way or another.
Thank you kindly Stephanie. We greatly appreciate your support!
I’m not sure if you have availed yourself of the free life coaching ebooks that we make available from our website? In eBook 1 on pages 17-18, you will find two useful ‘mini-questionnaires’, which should go a long way to helping you decide whether you are cut out to be a life coach 🙂
Good day Bill that’s one reason I want to study with New Insights because you get in-depth knowledge and exposure to what Life coaching really is about unlike other short courses that cut corners and give you lesser in depth knowledge and training
Thanks Mompoloki.
We do our best to offer value for money training that provides the best chance at becoming a successful, professional life coach who can make a real difference in the world.
We sum up the core elements of our training with the acronym ‘AKSE’ (Awareness, Knowledge, Skills & Experience)
I agree wholeheartedly with you, Bill.
Thank you Karen!