There are many types of life coach certifications and designations.
Join me below and learn everything you need to know.
This article covers the different types of coaching certifications and designations + high ticket coaching niches.
Let’s get started!
Which Life Coach Training Program Is the Best?
If you are eager to become a life coach to help other people understand themselves better and help them improve, you need to become a certified life coach.
In order for you to obtain a certification, you need to undergo a life coach training program.
There are many programs available and it can get quite confusing on choosing which one suits you.
Although there are many options, there is no single training program that suits everyone.
To make it easier to choose a program, you need to determine if it is accredited by a legitimate organization.
This way, you can be assured that you will have comprehensive learning about techniques, motivation skills, and communication tactics that will be useful for coaching.
There will also be specific training for goal setting and life coaching ethics. These life coach training programs can take up to 100 hours depending on the program that you choose.
You could opt for a shorter or longer program, whatever your preference is. If you don’t have the time to go to an organization, you could also enroll in an online program.
Types of Life Coach Certification
Do you want to become a life coach?
If you have already decided, then you need to become legitimate in the eyes of other people.
What better way to do that than to be a certified coach?
You can enroll in an online coaching program or in an organization to get a certification. Depending on the life coaching path you will take, you can attain certifications such as:
- ICF Coaching Federation
- Certified Life Coach (CLC)
- Certified Self-Esteem Coach (CSEC)
- Certified Empowerment Coach (CEC)
- Certified Passion Coach (CPC
Getting a certification will cost time and money but if you’re really committed to mentoring and helping other people be the best version of themselves, then being certified should be a priority.
Can You Be A Life Coach Without Certification?
Technically, anyone can be a life coach without certification.
There are no specific educational requirements in order for one to be a life coach since it is not a regulated industry.
However, being a certified life coach does have its advantages
If you are certified, it means that you have undergone a legitimate coach training program. You need to have the right skills in order to become an effective life coach.
One of the most well-known certification bodies is the International Coaching Federation (ICF).
Aspiring life coaches will have to complete a specific coaching program to get a certification.
Once you have become a certified life coach, you will be perceived by others as credible.
People will be more comfortable to get a life coach who has the credentials to back him up.
You will also have connections with other professionals especially if you have trained under an organization.
This is a great way to build your network and eventually your own brand.
Having these professional connections would also let you learn more about life coaching.
They could act as your mentor who will guide you throughout your experience as a coach.
Types of Life Coach Designations
As the leading coaching organization, ICF offers three designations:
- Associate Certified Coach (ACC)
- Professional Certified Coach (PCC)
- Master Certified Coach (MCC)
Each of these ICF designations requires a certain number of live training hours and actual client coaching to achieve.
People undergo rigorous training and education in order to get these credentials.
Being an ICF-Credential holder means legitimizing the coaching profession so many coaches aim to get it.
Related: How Much Does It Cost To Become A Life Coach?
What Type Of Life Coach Should I Be?
Choosing what life coaching niche can be difficult. You may think of trying every specialization but that is not a good idea.
Think of the area you know most and what you are interested in.
What do you love?
What are your skills and knowledge?
What are you good at?
How and why do you want to help other people?
These are the questions that can serve as a guide on finding the right niche for you.
When choosing a life coaching niche, you need to think about it carefully. Don’t rush things as you need to be clear on your purpose and what you want to achieve.
What Do Life Coaches Do?
Life coaches aim to uncover a person’s potential, identify their personal goals, and detail action steps for them to follow through.
They will help analyze a person’s current situation and encourage their self-growth and development throughout the whole process.
Life coaches should be active listeners in order to understand their clients better.
By asking the right questions, they provide unbiased feedback and offer practical advice.
What Is Your Coaching Style?
People might think that all coaches have the same treatment, however, that is not the case.
There are different coaching styles for every type of situation.
A coach should know how to read the environment before implementing a coaching style that suits the moment.
He should also know when to listen, when to give directions, or when to be assertive.
There is no single coaching style that you should adapt to all your sessions. Instead, your coaching style should depend on the given situation.
Related: 10 Best Life Coach Certifications Online ICF Accredited
What Are The Six Leadership Styles?
In the book “Primal Leadership”, authors Daniel Goleman, Richard Boyatzis, and Annie McKee listed six different leadership styles that can be applied in different situations.
The book also states that great leadership stems from having high emotional intelligence wherein a leader is aware of the environment and is able to use the appropriate style for addressing the needs of others
It is important to note that there is no single style or approach for all situations as these can be used interchangeably.
1. Visionary or authoritative
In this leadership style, a leader moves the members towards a common goal or shared vision.
If a team is stuck in a certain situation, an authoritative leader steers them in a new direction. However, the challenge for this type of style is to make other members understand and take action towards the goal.
2. Coaching
In a coaching leadership style, a leader focuses on guiding employees so that they could understand their strengths and weaknesses and how they would be able to use them in contributing to their company’s goals while also achieving their own personal objectives.
3. Affiliative
An affiliative leader brings harmony to the workplace.
This leadership style allows the leader to connect employees together and resolve conflicts. Members don’t always work together smoothly so whenever there is tension among them, an affiliative leader can step in
4. Democratic
In a democratic leadership style, the leader allows the members to participate in decision making, getting valuable input from them that will be useful in attaining their goals. Rather than directing, the leader listens to others.
5. Pacesetting
A pacesetting leader sets the goals and expects the members to fulfill them.
All members are expected to give their best and this could be very demanding for them. But in order to make it less stressful, a pacesetting leader should recognize their efforts and remind them that it will be temporary.
6. Coercive or commanding
A coercive leader is like a dictator.
In this type of leadership, fear is used to jumpstart changes in the workplace. There is also the threat of punishment in order to have control. This could be used during times of crisis but it should be used with caution as this could lead to employees feeling demeaned.
What Are The Qualities Of A Good Coach?
For coaching to be effective, you need to possess important qualities that will let you form a meaningful relationship with your client.
Trust should be created between the coach and the client and it wouldn’t happen if you come off as aggressive and uncaring.
So what makes a good coach? Here are the qualities.
- High emotional intelligence
- Observant
- Empathic
- Has strong communication skills
- An active listener
- Knows how to reflect and clarify
- Has strong questioning skills
- Provides constructive feedback
- Honest
Life Coach Specializations & Niches
Life coaching is a very diverse field.
Life coaches can focus on one area such as wellness or business depending on their interests and skills.
High Ticket Coaching Niches
As a life coach, you would want to make your clients avail your services over a long period of time.
In order to do this, you should know how to entice them with various offers that lead to great results.
People want things that will greatly benefit them in the long run. In life coaching, here are some niches that have potential for high-ticket coaching.
- Health
- Business
- Finance
- Personal Development
- Career
Most in Demand Coaching
Nowadays, health and fitness coaching is the most in demand.
A lot of people are mindful of having a healthier lifestyle which is why they look for a health/fitness coach to help them get motivated.
Health problems can either be physical or not and can affect a person greatly.
Starting or shifting to a healthier lifestyle can be stressful and health/fitness coaches are the best people to condition the mind and body for great results.
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