Life coaching training online is available from many different coaches and organizations. It’s the main source of coaching information and training for a lot of new coaches and would be coaches. A lot of it is free promotional material and there are also many paid programs costing anything from $27 for some small piece to thousands of dollars for something more comprehensive. But what do you need to know to make the best use of the life coaching training online resources that are so numerous right now?

Decide on your favorite providers of life coaching training online

The number of people and organizations providing online training for coaches is huge and growing. With affiliate marketing and many coaches promoting other coach’s training, it’s very easy to end up on way too many lists and have a ridiculously large number of email offers for free information, ebooks, teleseminars, etc. Especially when you are just starting out and not sure what direction your coaching will take, it’s tempting to sign up for everything that looks like it might be useful. Beware. It’s a trap.

If you’re already signed up on multitudes of lists, get yourself off. You will not have time to read, listen to, and watch everything you’ve signed up for, no matter how interesting or useful it may be. Choose one or two coaches whose style resonates with you and whose information is fresh, useful, and provided in a format that works for you. Unsubscribe from the rest. As your practice matures, you can add other sources and topics of  life coaching training online if and when you need them.

Is life coach training online right for you?

Are you a person who will actually follow through with coaching training material that’s provided online? Or do you need an in person experience to motivate you? A lot of coaches waste a lot of money on programs that probably have fine content. The trouble is, they buy the programs then never actually look at them again. Don’t spend your money on life coach training online unless you know you will schedule the necessary time and keep a commitment to yourself to do the work.

Experience is the key to becoming a great life coach

One major missing piece from  life coach training online  is the actual experience of coaching. You won’t be a good coach unless you practice your coaching skills on live people. If you choose to commit to an online training, make sure you also commit to coaching as many clients as you can. All the “book learning” in the world, whether online or off, can’t substitute for experience.

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Dorine G Kramer
JTS Advisors Strategy and Accountability Coach