How has your life been changed by the people who trained you, taught you and coached you? These individuals have more of an impact on our lives than we can ever imagine.
As adults we remember the ones who took the time to coach us as children. Even as we go through life as adults, we’re inspired by the people who listen to us, advise us and motivate us.
Could you be someone like this?
There are many ways to get into the rewarding career of coaching, from coaching programs to personal blogs of suggestions. Today we’re going to investigate several tips for a great coach and consider why this career is such a rewarding vocation. If you want to be the one who inspires others, learn more here!
The Three P’s – Preparation, Problem Solving and Positive Reinforcement
Preparation is key – know your audience, believe in your message and get ready to answer any questions. Arrive early and prepare the environment; taking this time to plan is a small sacrifice to make and the benefits will outweigh any inconvenience caused.
It helps to show your audience that you take your role seriously and confirms your genuine interest in them to succeed. When issues arrive, a mind attuned to problem solving will help you to come to efficient solutions quickly and reassure any concerns of your audience. It builds trust, strengthens relationships and reminds others of your competence and knowledge of your subject.
Furthermore, positive reinforcement is essential to encourage progress and motivate your listeners. Giving genuine praise for the effort exerted or the improvements made goes a long way in spurring your listeners on to continue in their success.
Try to Be Humble and Always Be Yourself
You might consider yourself an expert, but you will always have a lot to learn. Build on your experiences, ask other experts and view your clients as teachers too. They will give you a rich plethora of experiences that will make you a better coach.
Be humble with yourself and accept your limitations, knowing that you won’t always have the answers. It’s not always easy, but if you’re asked a question that you don’t know how to answer, your client will appreciate your modesty in taking time to research, rather than endeavouring to answer the question and end up giving inadequate help.
Additionally, people are attracted to honesty. Work hard to remain original, authentic, completely and 100% yourself. When you speak from the heart, you will reach other people’s hearts too. Your clients will sense your genuine passion for your subject and will therefore be able to put their confidence in you and your abilities.
Listen, Adapt and Communicate
You might think coaching is all about talking, but in reality, the majority of your time should be spent in listening. Really listening. This isn’t just passive listening; this goes beyond just hearing and nodding. It involves intuitive listening, showing some perception and looking beyond the surface.
Try to read between the lines so that you can really find the areas that your clients need the most help. The more you listen, the more you will learn about your clients and as such be able to adapt your coaching style or techniques to best fit your audience.
Be your own worst critic and don’t be afraid to admit your mistakes and learn from them. Adjust, be flexible, and your clients will thank you for it. When you can clearly communicate your expectations to your customers, they will readily understand what they need to do to reach their goals.
Keep the lines of communication open and make yourself available to help. Being approachable will greatly assist in building strong relationships with those you are coaching and as a result they will feel more able to talk to you about their problems and concerns.
Be Patient
Remember, Rome wasn’t built in a day and similarly, changes won’t come overnight. The people you’re helping and training may have deeply entrenched patterns of thinking and behaving, which will take time to overturn.
We live in a fast-paced society that expects instant results, but this often isn’t realistic. Many lack self-confidence in their own abilities and it will take time to convince them of their own self-worth. Clients will come to you with their goals and dreams and it’s your job to help them reach them – yet it won’t always be plain sailing.
Don’t be surprised when obstacles arise, and don’t let your clients stay down when they fall or trip. Help them to get back up again and continue in their progress.
Why Coaching Is Worth the Effort
Coaching is such a wide and varied career, as there are so many different paths available to take. Life, business, health, relationships – these are just some common forms of coaching and new niches are always evolving.
The coaching industry continues to boom and as such, so do the opportunities for a successful, rewarding and enjoyable career. With the ability to work independently, you can enjoy the variety and flexibility that comes with having your own business. You can choose your hours, your location and even your hourly rate.
By helping individuals and businesses to succeed and reach their own goals, there is a great deal of satisfaction to be found in this line of work. If you’re someone who always wants to keep learning and progressing, coaching can do just that for you. You always need to keep up to date with your topic and stay relevant.
Not only is coaching emotionally rewarding, but it’s also financially rewarding too. It’s a rapidly expanding industry with huge potential to earn a healthy wage. In 2017, it was estimated that the global coaching industry was worth two billion dollars and it’s only increased since then.
Your success as a coach will depend on your level education. While no qualifications are required, having training and holding a certificate will improve your chances of becoming successful and give you the self-confidence you need to become an inspirational coach.