You can become a life coach by learning some of the key skills required by a successful coach. Some of these skills are listed below: Active listening, accepting people for who they are, keeping biases and judgments out of the coaching equation, and choosing a focus area. The skills listed above are not the only ones required for success as a life coach, but they are among the most important ones.
Active listening:
When you practice active listening as a life coach, you can distinguish between different types of clients. Goal-oriented clients are motivated and driven, while balanced clients are confident and seek stability and equilibrium. In addition to these differences, you can use active listening skills to understand the inner motivations of your clients.
Accepting people for who they are:
As a life coach, you must assume the best in all your relationships. Assuming the best in others is a beautiful attitude. When you approach a relationship, you must give people the benefit of the doubt and assume their best intentions. Ask questions, receive honest answers, and never express your opinion. This includes clients, colleagues, and coworkers. As a coach, your attitude should be one of acceptance and cooperation.
Keeping biases and judgments out of the coaching picture:
Keeping biases and judgments out of the coaching picture is important for two reasons. First, unconscious bias often leads to unequal treatment and is the source of discrimination. It affects all aspects of our lives, from our health to our recruitment and selection processes. Research shows that people tend to gravitate towards similar candidates – a male candidate might be more competent, and vice versa. People may even associate a black-sounding name with aggression.
Choosing a coaching area of focus:
When starting as a coach, many people put too much pressure on themselves to know everything at once. Think of it like deciding on a major in college: some people arrive at university knowing what they want to study, and others explore many possibilities before settling on one. When you’re starting, give yourself time to figure things out and try to enjoy the journey along the way. These are some great tips to become a professional and reliable life coach.