A common misconception about coaching sometimes keeps a lot of potentially amazing coaches from taking the plunge and pursuing their dream to help others make lasting, positive change in their lives. Can you guess what it is?

It’s the idea that if you want to be a coach and help others, you’ve got to have your you-know-what together 100% of the time. We at Health Coach Institute are here to tell you that that’s a myth!

Contrary to popular belief, you, my friend, do not need to be a perfect human who has every area of your life together in order to be a Life Coach. You are allowed to have flaws, to not have everything figured out, to be a work in progress with your own unique challenges.

At Health Coach Institute, we often tell our students that coaching isn’t about being a perfect role model…it’s about being on the path. It’s about growing, evolving, and striving to become a better version of yourself than you were yesterday.

Here’s something else to know: your future clients don’t actually want a perfect coach. They want a real person who has real struggles. They want someone who’s relatable, who can identify with them, who can understand their experiences, and can even share some of their own challenges. They want YOU and the guidance you can share…not some ideal version of you. Because trust, connection, and authenticity are what make for an amazing coaching experience.

There’s another awesome side bonus to enrolling in a Life Coach training program: while you’re training, you’ll also learn techniques to help you address and work through your own personal stumbling blocks and challenges.

Interested in learning about HCI’s Life Coach training program? Click here to speak with a Clarity Coach now.

Do You Have What It Takes to Start Life Coach Training?

Now that we’ve gotten the biggest deterrent for would-be coaches out of the way, let’s take a look at what you really need to begin training to become a Life Coach. In actuality, Life Coaching has nothing to do with the state of your life and everything to do with your intuitive skills, passions, and desires. Here are 9 characteristics you should possess before beginning a Life Coach training:

  1. A passion for helping others. Because, at the heart of it all, coaching is about empowering others and giving them the tools to create the life they desire.
  2. An interest in personal growth. Life Coaches help their clients see a new vision for themselves and then step into that vision, so it’s a definite plus if you already enjoy exploring personal development topics.
  3. A desire to grow, learn, and be stretched to be your best self. At Health Coach Institute, we have a saying: first for you, then for others. What we mean by this is that transformation begins with you. Before you can help others as a coach, you’ve first got to understand how to create change in yourself. We also believe that coaches should always be students first, with an interest in constantly building on and up-leveling what they already know.
  4. Strong interpersonal skills. As a coach, communication and the ability to build rapport are extremely important. So, if you’re the go-to person in your circle others frequently come to for advice or you find even strangers open up to you naturally in conversation, that’s a good sign you’d make a great coach.
  5. Excellent listening and observation skills. Piggybacking off of #4, if you’re an attentive listener and a keen observer, check this box off too. Life Coaches use both skills extensively to identify what’s preventing their clients from achieving their goals and to offer insightful guidance to help them grow.
  6. Empathy and compassion for others. Great coaches care deeply about their clients and what they’re going through. They are sympathetic and deeply invested in their clients’ outcomes.
  7. Patience. Progress isn’t always linear. Your clients won’t always do what you advise or be receptive to your coaching (it’s just a fact of the business). Patience will help you navigate some of the more challenging client relationships you’ll inevitably encounter in your career.
  8. An inquisitive mind. A Life Coach’s true skill isn’t in providing all the answers for clients. Their true skill lies in asking probing questions that cause clients to really examine their motives, desires, and challenges and to uncover concealed truths and limiting beliefs that are holding them back from what they want.
  9. A heart-centered work ethic. A great Life Coach brings an open heart to every client interaction, and leads with integrity, trustworthiness, and professionalism.

As you can see from the list above, nowhere does it say “Your life must be in perfect order to be a coach.” If you have the above 9 traits, you’ve already got what it takes to ace your Life Coach training!

The Facts of Life Coach Training

Looking for more cold, hard facts on training to become a Life Coach? Click here for lots more information about Life Coach training and here to learn more about how the industry is projected to evolve in the coming years. We also recommend checking out our post on accreditation and why it’s important if you haven’t already.

Training to be a Life Coach is about wanting to help others improve their lives while also learning how to improve your own in the process. It’s about making incremental progress…one day at a time. So choose to feel GREAT about where you are right now and know that your Life Coach training will put you on the path to becoming the best you there ever was!

Dual Health and Life Coach Certification in 6 Months with HCI

Coaching is a great career that you can help others, while also learning how to help your own personal growth. Health Coach Institute’s dual health and life coaching certification program is designed to accommodate your schedule. Join our Become a Health Coach program and begin coaching in 6 months! If you are already a coach and want to advance your skills, check out HCI’s Coach Mastery program. Feel free to get in touch with with one of our clarity coaches directly, by calling 1-800-303-2399.

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Health Coach Institute provides aspiring Health and Life Coaches with the tools, training, and support to make a great living transforming lives.