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Speaking of coaching (as I was last week), I know several people who have parlayed successful careers into nice “retirement” jobs as coaches. People with lots of life experience can make great coaches, helping people over the rough spots of business and personal life.
If you are interested in learning more about coaching, check out the International Coach Federation or CoachU (CoachU was founded by Thomas Leonard who they state is the “father of coaching,” in 1992). Most coaches these days are credentialed, meaning they’ve passed a series of courses to learn how to coach effectively. Sure you can do it yourself, but the credentials make you more credible, and they give you more information and, yes, coaching, than if you were to start out yourself.
The International Coach Federation has a list of “core competencies” for coaches, including:
- Ethical actions - You are learning intimate details of people’s lives, and you must treat them with dignity and respect.
- Integrity, as in doing what you say you’ll do, showing up when you’re supposed to (by phone or in person), making sure your actions support your credentials.
- An capability to get people to Know-Like-Trust you. The trust part is obviously crucial.
- Excellent communication skills, including active listening and being a “powerful questioner.”
- Fantastic coaching skills, like an capability to create an awareness (my term “urgency”) in the client, skills in helping people craft goals and plans, and then tact and persuasiveness in making sure they’re accountable.
The accountability thing is probably the most difficult, since it means you have to be firm with people. They won’t grow and change unless you hold them accountable. That’s why they’re paying you the massive bucks. There’s lots more on web page, if you’re interested.
Tags: baby boomers, coach federation, coaching, life coaches, success coaches
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