I was having a conversation with a friend and the topics shifted from sports to do you need to be certified to be a life coach? The answer was easy, but not really simple. You see, you don’t actually need to be certified. You do need to have credibility in order to influence others and that is what a good life coach does, influence others. As a coach, do I need to have a certification or be a certified coach who focuses on life issues?
Professionals Often Ask Me, Do You Need To Be Certified To Be A Life Coach?
As a coach, I often answer this question with a question. Would you want your heart surgeon to be a board certified surgeon if he was to perform open heart surgery on you or simply a family medicine doctor? Now, don’t get me wrong, they is nothing wrong with family medicine doctors. They will keep you healthy and if you consult with them on a regular basis, you should live a long and healthy life.
This is the case of do you need to be certified to be a life coach? No, but if you want to be a professional and help people get down to the root of the issues or problems, it would be best if you actually were a certified life coach. This allows for professional training, in-depth understanding of human dynamics and behavior modification.
It’s All Just Conversation, right?
Yes, it is. However, I did need to be certified to become a life coach. It was about creditability for me. In order to build the confidence beyond the friendship advisor, I needed to become a professional coach. Once I completed the training it became easy to move from the friendly conversation of helping friends and relatives to actually being able to acquirer paying clients as a life coach. So you be the judge, do you need to be certified to be a life coach?
By the way… you’re invited to claim your FREE step-by-step “30-Days to Become a Coach” video toolkit. Just go HERE now to get your 30-day coaching blueprint videos
Mark Rabbitt
JTS Advisors Accountability Coach
Thanks for the free tips! 😉
Hi Mark,
I make a distinction between getting training to build skills versus to build credibility. The first has some merit, the latter is unnecessary.
A potential client has to believe they will get their outcomes from hiring a coach and that’s where most coaches fail in their communication, whether online or in person. The problem isn’t certification, the problem is most coaches do not know how to attract and obtain clients.
Starting a coaching business with friends and family is a rough way to start and I think you are the exception in being able to succeed with that market, in terms of obtaining paying clients.
Training doesn’t create credibility. Good marketing creates credibility.
Starting a coaching business using friends and family is indeed a rough way to start, but for most coaches who have no sales or marketing expertise, it’s actually the most probable way to long-term success. They build coaching skills in a safe environment. They get free sessions set regardless of the interest level of the prospect. They get referrals. Most coaches won’t get ANY of those results outside of their friend, associate, and family sphere of influence.
If you show me a new coach who is highly trained as a salesperson and/or marketer… then, yes, friends and family isn’t the best approach for them, but the reality is that most coaches aren’t good at these two things, and they need the time and energy logged in to learn these skills. The only way they’ll do that (generally) is by starting with friends, family, and business associates.
Starting a coaching business isn’t just achieved by getting paying clients, it’s achieved by getting going with your coaching, gaining confidence in your abilities and skills, learning to sell and market coaching, etc.
All those things LEAD to paying clients. If a new coach only thinks about paying clients in their first quarter of coaching, then they’ll quit before the end of that time.
Jeff
Hi Mark i just wanted to say hi from a long time ago friends you look great and I just found your link I just wanted to say i look up to you and miss Ya Ok friends 4 ever take care Mark : ) 7-12-11
I would have to say that your clients testimonials and feedback is what shows if you are a creditable life coach or not.