Three Things Most Life Coaches Won’t Tell You
Posted on January 09, 2012 by Andrea White, One of Thousands of Entrepreneurship Coaches on Noomii.
Let’s face it, life coaches are a dime a dozen these days. How can you make an educated decision about who to hire? Read more!!!!
Bored? Miserable? Exhausted? Confused? Maybe, even a little bit angry? These are all emotions that let us know we are out of “balance” with who we are and what we want. These create the perfect opportunity for change in our lives. A life coach can be a tremendous help during times like these. But, unless a friend has given you a glowing recommendation for a life coach, you may find yourself frustrated in the process of finding one. Even if you have a recommendation, perhaps that won’t be a good fit for you.
Many people call themselves a “life coach”; just go to any networking event and you’ll find several. Here are a few things that not all life coaches will tell you.
- There’s An Accredited Association for Coaches*++
Attorneys are required to pass the BAR exam before practicing law and building contractors are required to be licensed to build structures. Even manicurists maintain a state license to apply nail polish. Coaching also has an accreditation body. It’s called the ICF, or the International Coach Federation.
The ICF is the largest worldwide resource for professional coaches, and the source for those who are seeking a coach. They are a nonprofit organization formed by individual members-professionals who practice coaching, including Executive Coaches, Leadership Coaches, Life Coaches and many more, from around the world.
You can be ensured you are hiring a professional if they are accredited by the ICF. They will be accredited as an Associate Certified Coach (ACC), Professional Certified Coach (PCC) or as a Master Certified Coach (MCC) if they are accredited by the ICF.
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It’s true! Every day, a new book is written on how YOU can change your life. Some even have step-by-step instruction. Having said that, there’s nothing like un-biased feedback from a 3rd party professional who can help you to see past what may be holding you up today. Let’s face it, the whole reason you’re reading this article is because you’re stuck.
A professional life coach is trained to listen between the sentences, help you clear the fog that is creating confusion and imbalance, and navigate towards exactly what you currently can’t see or understand.
A book will never question you, listen to you and provide you with feedback. It just “ain’t gonna happen.”
- A Coach Is A Coach Is A Coach*++
Read this part carefully because this is probably the most important piece of advice we can give you.
NOT all coaches are alike. As we mentioned in #1, not all coaches are properly trained. Not all coaches are gifted in understanding people and not all coaches will resonate with you personally. Finding a coach who helps you feel comfortable enough to truly open up and share core issues is critical to your success.
Interview the coach you are considering. Any coach worth their weight will offer a free session and this is a perfect time to kick the tires, so to speak. Make sure they have the personality, training and program that “feel” right to you.
Trust your intuition. You already have all the answers. Your life coach will simply help to see them and move powerfully toward them.
