Training to become a Life Coach

Duncan Coppock

This is a great time to take some coaching skills training if you are thinking of setting up as a life coach or adding coaching to your present profession. It can also be helpful if you want to develop a more coaching based communication style as you work with others, whether as a teacher, manager, social worker, business owner or whatever.

What do we mean by coaching?
While some people calling themselves coaches may be more directive in their approach, the majority of established coaching organisations emphasise that the client knows best what is right for them and can, with the support of their coach, find and act on their solutions. So coaching is more about empowering the client and drawing out their own wisdom rather than telling them what to do. The context of coaching is of raising awareness and responsibility in the context of taking action. So coaches need to balance creating a safe space for exploration with an expectation of action and forward movement.

So who makes a good coach?
When you talk to coaches in training, you frequently find that they have a history of informal coaching and that others are naturally drawn to them when they need to clarify a situation or make a decision. Coaches tend to be naturally curious and optimistic about life and have a general belief in people’s potential. If this sounds like you then coach training can further enhance your ability to make a positive difference.

What will you get from coaching training?
You will develop various core skills including rapport, listening, questioning, intuition, encouraging, direct communication, visioning, planning, goal setting and accountability. In addition you will learn different coaching models and paradigms to support your clients with.
If you take a quality training then, in addition to helping you support others, you are likely to go through your own journey of personal development and acquire the invaluable tool of ‘self-coaching’ yourself through your own life and work challenges and opportunities. You will also be likely to find yourself connecting with a fine group of people doing the same thing. Coaches tend to be great people to hang around with.

Duncan Coppock is one of the top ten UK life coaches (Observer Magazine) and has been working with people for over 20 years. As well as running his own coaching business and training programmes, he is a trainer and professional mentor coach for Coach U international and an external assessor for the Academy of Executive Coaching. Find out more at www.self-factor.com .