Becoming a professional life coach is easy – there are no specific exams to take, no specialist qualifications and no experience necessary. It sounds like a dream job – especially when you consider the rates that some life coaches charge! However, for those looking for an effective coach this can raise a whole host of problems. There’s a lot of choice when it comes to finding a life coach these days and, when searching, the term ‘professional’ can be the key part to look out for. Given that working with a life coach can be a serious financial commitment, there are some important factors you should consider before signing up for their services.
The method
An experienced, professional life coach will be able to offer a clear structure and plan outlining what they do. This is important, so take the time to ask what their methodology is, and what they base their techniques on. Coaching is a proactive profession; it’s about being a sounding board and you need to ensure that your coach will provide this aspect of the service for you.
Service testing
It’s rare that you’ll get the chance to “try before you buy” with a life coach – although more reputable coaches may well have a book or two available that will offer a great deal of insight as to how they deliver results. However, trying before you sign up to an expensive coach is certainly to be recommended; an initial consultation can be a good plan in this case. Generally, a professional coach will be interactive in this session, offering you advice on what they feel they can achieve for you and how they can help you to improve your lifestyle.
What are your qualifications?
Credentials matter, and a coach’s background and personal achievements are important indicators of their ability. Since the recession, there have been a large number of individuals opting for coaching as a career path. This doesn’t mean they have relevant experience or have developed effective coaching techniques! Individuals with a clear career path, qualifications and achievements in their own field offer a more effective service in coaching than those who have recently started working in the industry. Many coaches will have many years of experience in both coaching and associated fields – check out their credentials and any memberships of professional bodies before signing up to that first session, or a longer contract.
It’s all about you (no, really, it is)
Coaching needs a lot of input from you; you need to be at a stage in your life where you are ready to make changes, take on challenges and (quite probably) move out of your comfort zone. A good coach will help you through this process, offer support, motivation and realistic goals, but without commitment on your part the process is missing an essential ingredient. Being sure that you are ready to work with a coach is the most important factor to be clear on before you begin the process.
Doctor Sanjay Jain, M.D. is a qualified medical doctor, professional life coach and author of a number of health and wellness books. Having had his fair share of failures and challenges in life, he shares his own personal experiences with others, teaching them the principles he has used to transform his own life.
