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8 critical questions to ask yourself before you train to be a coach

By Nick Bolton

Republish: EasyPublish™
Published: 24Jan2009
Word count: 800
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Training to be a coach is a wonderful experience but it is no small step. It requires time, money, work and commitment. So it's critical to get your decision to become a coach right first time.

It's too easy to waste your time and money by making a mistake. But you can avoid this...

Ask yourself these eight questions before you make a decision to train and you will be sure to make the right decision.

1) Is coaching right for me?

Take a look at the following questions:

Am I a people person?
Do I love personal growth and learning continuously?
Do I want financial independence in my life?
Do I believe people can change their lives?
Am I open minded?
Am I a good listener?
Am I ready to take action which creates my own success?
Am I self-motivated and willing to learn business skills?

If you can answer "yes" to these questions then coaching could be ideal for you.

2) Do I have time to commit to training?

Qualifying to be a coach could take anywhere from six to twelve months and require a few hours work per week.

Before embarking on the training, ensure that you have taken this into account and that you have the time to commit.

3) Is the financial investment worth it for me?

Like any business investment, you are taking a calculated risk that the course is going to be worthwhile for you and will pay you back in learning and the earnings that come from it.

If the training gives you what you need to be successful and you have the determination to do the right things to create that success, then you will recoup your money many times over.

But make sure that you know what you want from coaching and whether the cost of the training is worth what you get out of it.

4) What is training to be a coach going to give me?

Coaching can offer a real change of lifestyle and a huge sense of excitement in your career and business development. You need to decide just what it is that coaching will offer you and why that's important to you. Is it:

The independence? The financial opportunities? The ability to help people improve? The chance to learn and grow? The networking with likeminded people? Maybe all of them. Maybe somethng else.

It's important to know why you are making the choice to be a coach as this will support you through the training process.

5) How do I know the training company I choose is credible?

Although coaching is unregulated, reputable training companies will be accredited by an independent body.

This gives you peace of mind that the course is high-quality and gives your training credibility to future clients. The course may be accredited by one of the coaching bodies such as ICF, ECI, ECCM, AoC or a training institute such as ILM, ITOL or CIPD. Google these for more details.

6) What kind of training style suits me?

When you look at a training course, check how it's delivered.

Is it face-to-face or distance learning? Practice based or written assessment? Are the groups large or small? How many students per trainer are there? What are the training facilities like? These aspects will all have an impact upon the ultimate quality of the training and outcomes for each coach.

7) What do I learn on the training programme?

There is no standard content for a coaching course but there are some fundamental things you should learn.

Check that as a minimum you will receive training on:

- At least one identifiable coaching model
- Goal setting
- Giving feedback in coaching
- Behaviour change
- Psychological dimensions to coaching
- Understanding and working with values and beliefs
- Business coaching issues
- Managing the coach/client relationship
- Training on how to gain business and grow your practice as a coach
- Practice management skills

8) What support do I receive?

Check how the training company support you through the training. Is there mentoring support for you? Is there regular contact? Do they assess your progress as you train or only at the end when it may be too late?

Similarly, after qualification what happens? Are you left to own devices or is there some structure to support you becoming a successful coach?

In conclusion

These questions can ensure that you don't waste your time and money. Take your time with them and only take action when you are sure about your wishes and the training company's ability to get you where you want to be.

Coaching is remarkable journey of self-discovery and a great opportunity for a flexible, rewarding and exciting business and the key to it all is to make sure that you make the right decision for you.

Nick Bolton is the founder of The Smart School of Coaching in London. He has coached individuals and groups for over eight years and mentored numerous trainee coaches through accreditation. If you found these 8 questions helpful, why not take the next step to learning more about coaching by attending a FREE 2 hour introductory seminar in central London. To book a free place visit http://www.thesmartschool.co.uk

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