Many people feel lost and uncertain about their lives. They may not know where to turn for help; this is where life coaching can step in. Many people today are looking for help that life coaching can give. This may include helping with setting and reaching goals, developing better habits, improving communication skills, and managing stress.
The market size, measured by revenue, of the Life Coaches industry is $1.4bn in 2022. The market size of the Life Coaches industry in the US increased faster than the Life Sciences sector overall. So if you’re thinking of starting a life coaching business, there’s no time like the present.
To get started, here are 5 steps you can take:
Decide what services you want to offer
Do you want to help people with goal setting? Do you want to help them develop better habits? Are you passionate about a specific topic you feel you could help others with?
Focus on one or two areas you are confident in and feel called to help others with. Life coaches are not therapists. You are not here to fix people but to help them find their own way. There are skills you will need to be a life coach; here are some key ones:
- Empathy: You need to understand their feelings to help them work through them.
- Active listening: You must listen to what your clients say, both verbally and non-verbally.
- Goal setting: Setting goals that are realistic and attainable. This includes breaking down those goals into smaller, manageable pieces.
- Action-oriented: Help clients take action towards their goals. This includes things like providing accountability and support.
Find your niche
When you know what services you want to offer and what skills you need to be a life coach, you can start to focus on who you want to work with. Do you want to work with corporate clients? With stay-at-home moms? For people who are facing a significant life transition?
Think about who you are and who you feel called to help. That is your niche. When you know your target market, you can start reaching out to your targets and let them know what you have to offer.
Create a brand
Your brand is how you will be known in the life coaching world. It includes things like your name, your logo, your website, and your social media presence. Your brand should reflect who you are as a coach and what you want to be known for. If you want to be known as the “no-nonsense” coach who helps people get results, ensure that comes through in your branding.
If you want to work with stay-at-home moms, your branding should reflect that. Use bright colors and images that evoke feelings of warmth and comfort.
Your brand should be consistent across all platforms. That means using the same logo, colors, and exact language on your website, your social media accounts, and any other marketing materials you create.
Get certified
There is always the risk of unscrupulous individuals attempting to take advantage of unsuspecting clients. This is why it is so vital for coaches to establish their credibility before beginning to work with clients. While this is not always necessary, it can give potential clients peace of mind knowing that you have the proper training and credentials.
If you don’t want to get certified, ensure you have alternative methods of demonstrating your trustworthiness to potential customers. Show your credibility through your work experience. If you have worked as a therapist, social worker, HR professional, consultant, or entrepreneur, you likely have the skills and knowledge necessary to be a successful coach. Finally, testimonials and references from friends, family, and coworkers can also go a long way in demonstrating your credibility as a coach.
Represent it very well
As a life coach, you need to take care of yourself to take care of your clients. One of the top reasons why first meeting the client fails is because you fail to physically represent your life coaching business. Clients expect you to have a healthy lifestyle since you are in the business of helping people achieve their goals.
The major turn-off that will speak a lot about your lifestyle, but is often neglected, is seeing your dental health in a poor state. Having a crooked tooth will not only make you look unhealthy, but it will make you look unprofessional as well. Some clients are sensitive about their dental health, so seeing a life coach with unhealthy teeth will only make them uncomfortable.
This is why orthodontic services are a must for life coaches suffering from a dental problem like this. Invest in your smile by getting braces or Invisalign to fix crooked teeth. These solutions will give you the confidence you need when meeting new clients and give you a good impression of potential clients.
To conclude
So if you are passionate about helping people and want to make a difference in the world, starting your own life coaching business may be the perfect way to do just that. It can be a lot of work, but it is definitely worth it if you can help people achieve their goals and reach their full potential. The world needs more life coaches committed to making a difference in other people’s lives.
