August 2021

The life coaching market in Australian is booming.

Awareness of the benefits of using a Life Coach or Mentor is becoming more widespread. And organisations that offer Life Coaching training and accreditation seem to be popping up everywhere.

But being a Life Coach or Mentor is not without its legal risks.

Do Business Coaches or Life Coaches need a license or certification?

No. In Australia life coaching is generally unregulated and anyone can call themselves a Life Coach, Personal Coach, Business Coach, Professional Coach, Mentor, Holistic Health Coach, etc.

However, in order to differentiate themselves, the more professional coaches have taken courses and graduated from coaching programs that are accredited. Then to maintain these credentials and keep up-to-date, these coaching programs dictate that their coaching graduates must also undertake continuing education courses that they run.

Who regulates or accredits Business Coaches and Life Coaches?

Should I use a Coaching Services Agreement with my clients?

Yes. You need to have a signed Coaching Services Agreement with each of your clients – this is the most important document you should use as a Coach or Mentor.

You need to make sure that your client has acknowledged and agreed to your terms. This is for your legal protection. They can acknowledge your terms with any of these methods:

  • Signing your Agreement using an eSignature service
  • Signing, then scanning/photographing your Agreement and returning by email
  • Acknowledging your Agreement by email, or
  • Acknowledging your terms by ticking a box during your online purchase process

Each of these methods offers a different level of protection. But if you have no proof of a contractual agreement, your terms may be invalid and not able to be relied upon to protect you.

What clauses should my Coaching Services Agreement include?

Your Coaching Services Agreement should include, at minimum, clauses that cover:

  • Detailed description of the coaching services you are providing
  • Payment schedule and term or length of your engagement
  • Intellectual property protection for your own materials
  • Confidentiality and privacy of personal information
  • Termination, cancellation and refunds
  • Dispute resolution
  • Indemnity with Limitation of Liability, and
  • Governing law

Your Coaching Services Agreement should be tailored to each specific client, detailing the services you are providing to them. A well written Agreement will not only provide you with legal protection, it will also help manage your client’s expectations.

How can I be sure my client’s expectations match my Coaching service?

Misunderstandings between you and your clients can easily arise, particularly regarding exactly what you are delivering or your client’s expectations of results. The best way to avoid mismatched expectations is through full and frank discussions with your client. Then follow up these discussions with an email clarifying any key points.

Remember, a paper trail might be helpful down the road if your engagement does not go as planned!

How can I protect my IP and coaching materials from being copied?

If you’ve spent time developing your coaching materials and intellectual property, you need to protect them from being copied, shared, used or sold by your clients, or other coaches, without your permission.

Make sure that your Coaching Services Agreement has suitable intellectual property protection clauses – so your client is aware that your coaching materials belong to you and should not be shared, published or used in a manner you have not authorised. In addition, active monitoring of the Internet can catch any plagiarism or unauthorised use of your materials. But you’ll need to be vigilant and follow up with Copyright Infringement Notices and Google take-down notices, etc. – all of which takes time.

Should my website include my coaching services Terms and Conditions?

Normally your website is for your general visitor and e-commerce Terms and Conditions. Your specific Coaching Terms are usually provided to clients only. You can still publish them on your website, but hide the link and only provide it to clients when they engage your services. You should also have an Agreement available that you tailor to your specific services and provide to your clients.

You need to make sure that your Terms are easily found and not hidden from website visitors or potential clients. The norm on the Internet is for your website legal notices (Disclaimer, Privacy Policy, Terms & Conditions) to be linked to from the footer of your website – and available from every page on your website.

What Terms and Conditions should my website include?

The Terms and Conditions you publish on your website should include clauses that cover:

  • Your compliance with the Australian Competition and Consumer Act
  • How your handle returns and refunds
  • Intellectual property protection and Copyright
  • Indemnity with Limitation of Liability, and
  • Governing law

Again, make sure that your Terms and Conditions are easily found by linking to them in the footer of every page on your website.

What Privacy Policy should I have if I collect personal information?

It’s likely you will collect personal or confidential information about your prospects and clients. This means you will have to comply with Australian Privacy law and publish your Privacy Policy on your website.

Your Privacy Policy notice should include:

  • What personal information you collect and store
  • How the personal information is collected and stored
  • Why you collect and how you use this personal information
  • When is the personal information updated or destroyed
  • When you might have to disclose this personal information
  • If the personal information is shared with overseas recipients
  • If the information is shared overseas, in which countries are the recipients
  • Your business contact details

And remember, you need to abide by your Privacy Policy. For example, if you say you purge your customer database every year of non-current customer information – then that is what you should do.

What business structure should I use to sell my Coaching services?

In Australia, there are generally 4 options for structuring your business:

  • Sole trader
  • Pty Ltd Company
  • Partnership, and
  • Trust

The best business structure for you will depend on your personal circumstances – and getting this decision right is very important. So talk to your accountant about the pros and cons of each option. Here’s a quick summary of each option.

Being a Sole Trader is the simplest and least expensive option. Designed for business owners who are the sole proprietors of their companies, this structure doesn’t give you much protection if things go wrong. Your personal assets are unprotected from any claims arising from your business.

Incorporation (i.e. forming a Proprietary Limited Company) effectively makes your business a separate legal entity from you. This structure involves quite a bit of paperwork and can be more expensive to maintain but it offers your personal assets protection from liability. Only your company assets are at risk in the event of any legal actions and company debts.

Creating a Partnership allows you to go into business with multiple people and share income. Partnerships are easier and less expensive than Companies to set up. However, all partners together are personally responsible for business debts and actions against the Partnership. And each partner is individually liable for debts incurred by the other partners. This means you have unlimited liability, unlike a Company structure.

Trust isn’t an organisation at all, but instead a legal structure to hold assets. For example, you might set up a Trust to hold your business assets, then appoint a Trustee to manage them. Commonly, the Trustee is a Company and the Trust provides asset protection and limits liability from operating the business. Trusts are very flexible for tax purposes. However, a Trust is a complex legal structure and establishing a Trust costs significantly more than a Sole Trader or Partnership.

For more detailed information on each of these business structures, see our feature article: How to Choose the Right Business Structure in Australia.

Should I register my Coaching business for GST?

If your Coaching business has annual revenues of over $75,000 then you must register for GST. If you have annual revenues of less than $75,000 then talk to your accountant about your options.

Here are the legal agreements and notices that we recommend you use in your Coaching business:

  • Coaching Services Agreement: This clarifies the details of the coaching services you are providing, including payment terms, cancellation policy, intellectual property protection, limitation of liability, disclaimer for reliance on advice, etc.
  • Website Disclaimer: Protects you from claims by website visitors for relying on information on your site and incurring losses. Additionally, you must include a copyright notice to protect your Intellectual Property.
  • Privacy Policy: If you collect any personal information, such as email addresses, physical addresses, telephone numbers and credit card numbers, your website needs a Privacy Policy statement.
  • Terms & Conditions: To clarify service expectations with potential clients, show you comply with the latest Australian Consumer Law, protect you from frivolous lawsuits and show you’re a Professional organization.

None of these legal forms are complicated – and using them will show you’re a professional operator.

How do you deal with change?

Sometimes life can throw unexpected challenges at you that help you look at things from a different perspective.

Sharon Lawton found a new perspective when she left her corporate career and unexpectedly found coaching.

For those wishing to help families, parents and all those who have an impact on young people’s lives – you can’t miss this story. Read on!

It was a life-changing event 23 years ago, which caused me to change focus.

Do you like change? Some people prefer the comfort of the known evil while others constantly look for change and can’t seem to stay put.

23 years ago I chose to leave the corporate world behind. I didn’t see myself working in that fast-paced environment anymore. This is not something new, the past one and a half years especially opened our eyes to what’s truly important.

My husband and I had recently welcomed a new baby into our lives and this sparked my interest in child development and family dynamics. As I had decided a change needs to happen, I was looking for new career opportunities, and like many of our graduates have, I came across The Coaching Academy’s then Introduction to Life Coaching training.

A career change and a new mother’s perspective had lead me to coaching at a time in my life when I didn’t know this opportunity existed. It allowed me to put my family first but still working on something I loved – helping and empowering other families, just like mine.

It wasn’t a change that I looked for, but it came anyway. You might have experienced similar changes in your life. The whole world went through a big change with the pandemic and it’s not slowing down. I got a chance to look at life in an unexpected way and with it, I found my path within Coaching Parents and families. Coaching is a powerful tool that raises awareness in ourselves and others. A tool that helps us be aware of our habits and mindset that could be either helping or hindering us to flourish and become who we are born to be. Working with families and coaching within the wider education system has given me the flexibility to bring my skills to an industry that can benefit so much from the tools of empowerment that coaching offers.

A recent report from Ofsted looking at the effect of the pandemic on education showed that many children are thought to be at least 6 months behind where they should be. A new survey conducted by Education Technology suggests that ”the events of the last year have had a profound impact on the teaching profession, with the vast majority – 85% – claiming that having to give lessons remotely has left them feeling anxious or overwhelmed.

This tells me that there has never been a better time to raise awareness of the power of coaching in this sector.

There is no doubt that coaching transforms lives, and it also shapes outstanding leaders. Those leaders or role models come in many forms; • School leaders • Teachers and educators at all levels • Parents/carers • Youth workers

Think back now to when you were a child or young person. • Who was an inspirational leader or role model for you? • What was it about them that made an impact? • Why was that life-changing for you?

The pandemic has been a life-changing event for so many of us.

However, the impact on our young people could potentially last a lifetime.

So imagine having the skills to be able to coach school leaders with new and dynamic tools to shape and engage their school community and raise awareness of wellbeing. What if you had the tools to support teaching staff to achieve that all-important work-life balance so that they can reduce their stress, step into the teacher they were born to be and become that all-important role model in a student’s life – be that one person who believed in them and was the difference that made the difference! What about parent coaching?

Coaching parents also impacts young people.

It provides parents with that non-judgemental space to reflect on their parenting style, their family values and the way they interact as a family. Coaching empowers parents to see if those values are in alignment with what they are modelling to their children.

Transformational in itself!

I passionately believe that regardless of whom you coach within the education sector; parent, school leader, university lecturer, early years or youth worker, parents or the young people themselves this will impact tomorrow’s adults to positively shape their outcomes. For me, that’s an exciting thing to be part of.

So what about those questions earlier about the role models in your life – what if you could be that someone?

What if you were that person who inspired someone to flourish and become their best self?

What if you coached someone to be that inspirational leader who could change lives for the better?

That someone who changed was transformational in someone else’s lives?

www.lifecoachingacademy.edu.au

ICF-ACC/Wellness & ADHD Specialist (Certified Professional Coach) / Active Training Consultant (Certified and Registered Yoga Teacher – RYT500 & Pilates Teacher & Registered Exercise Professional) /Ayurveda Holistic Nutrition Specialist/MA/BEc

Coaching Journey:

*More than 350 ICF recognized training hours with 2 ACTP programs – All Inclusive& Accredited Coaching Training Programs; Passed CKA (Coaching Knowledge Assessment) via ICF; Was assessed with PCC Marker&Level via Exit Interview already.

*Coached more than 200 hours for more than 60 individuals globally both in English & Chinese via Zoom, being coached more than 150 hours by different coaches globally

*ADHD Advanced Trained Coach (ADD Coaching Academy, NY, USA)- ACTP path – 163.5 ICF Training Hours – Simply ADHD, Personal Transformation certified via ADDCA, Graduate candidate at Advanced Professional ADHD Coaching training, and working on ADHD coaching Credential via PAAC(The Professional Association of ADHD Coaches);

*Experienced in coaching clients in Executive and Management Roles, Bachelor degree in Economics, Accounting and Business Background etc

*3 years’ onside/online nutrition experience

Global Virtual Professional Coaching & Consulting Service:

*ADHD Coaching & Consulting

*Holistic Ayurvedic Nutrition Consulting

*Wellness and Life Coaching & Consulting

More About Luke:

*Love food, volunteering, trains, museums, knowing people around the world with a diversified background, personal development, etc;

*Travelled, lived, and worked in more than 20 countries;

*Originally from China, based in New Zealand as a kiwi (New Zealander) with global experience, but serving clients and associating with friends /peers around the world;

*Top Strength: Love of Learning, Curiosity, Creativity, Honesty, Judgement (From VIA)

*Global Thinker and Trip Seeker/ Multicultural/Bilingual (Chinese & English) /International

*ADHD/ENFP/Aquarius

*Professional Strength and Passion – coaching, training, and teaching

*Respect individual’s uniqueness and brilliance and not into comparisons

*Rule of 150, Hedgehog’s Dilemma, Boundary sense

*Varied Hobbies

*Used to work as a qualified massage therapist, accountant, and teacher etc. Have varied other working & volunteering experience (very ADD)

*Full scholarship for Master Degree study, sponsored official visit overseas (On local newspaper), had publications

*Awarded “Toastmaster Of the Year” in 2016 / Sergergent at Arms/ Contest Chair etc

*Registered and Been Training with Tony Robbin’s UPW, Wealth Mastery, Business Mastery, Life Mastery, Date with Destiny, Time of your life, etc (TonyRobbins’ Mastery University) , Personal development is Luke’s huge passion

 

Qualifications
*ICF-ACC (ICF Certified & Credential Coach & Member of International Coaching Federation) – USA

*Certified Wellness & Professional Life Coach (The Life Coaching Academy) – Australia

*ADDCA trained Advanced ADHD Coach & Consultant (ADD Coaching Academy) – USA

*ACO’s List of Professional ADHD Coaches (ALPAC) – ADHD Coaches Organization- USA / Member of AADPA- Australian ADHD Professional Associations / Professional Member of CHADD (Children and Adults with Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder)

*Registered / Certified 500 Hours Yoga Teacher(RYT500 – Yoga Alliance) – USA

*Studio Pilates International Certified Pilates Teacher (PMA Teacher member) – Australia & USA

*Certified Personal Trainer & Registered Exercise Professional – Exercise Consultant, Group Exercise Own Choreography, Yoga Teacher (REPS New Zealand)

*Ayurvedic & Holistic Nutrition Consultant (Certified in Human Nutrition & Ayurveda specialist) – Australia & USA

*MA, BEc(Master Degree in Anthropology, Bachelor Degree in Economics) – China

Professional Organizations Verified Links For Qualifications & Credentials & Registrations :

(1) International Coaching Federation
http://bit.ly/ICF-ACC-LukeGao
http://bit.ly/ICF-Member-LukeGao
https://apps.coachfederation.org/eweb/CCFDynamicPage.aspx?webcode=ccfsearch&site=icfapp

(2) ADHD Coaches Organization and CHADD
https://www.adhdcoaches.org/index.php?option=com_mcdirectorysearch&view=search&id=2000611#/

(3) Yoga Alliance
https://www.yogaalliance.org/TeacherPublicProfile?tid=263599

(4) Pilates Method Alliance

Home

(5) New Zealand Register of Exercise Professionals

REPs – Register of Exercise Professionals

CERTIFICATIONS
Luke Gao’s Professional Coaching Qualifications & Credentials

Luke Gao’s Yoga Qualifications & Credentials

Luke Gao’s Pilates Qualifications & Registrations

Luke Gao’s Nutrition & Ayurveda Qualifications

Luke Gao’s Fitness Qualifications & Registrations
https://vimeo.com/644884513

“Now that I recognize where my self-doubt comes from, I don’t let it control my actions. I have the power to take action despite my fear.”

“I have become less dependent on what other people say and instead look for validation internally. It’s like I have become my own best friend.”

I received these comments from professional women after a year-long coaching relationship. At the end of the coaching program, rolled-out as a part of the company’s commitment to achieving a gender-balanced workforce, the participants were asked to identify the areas where coaching had been most beneficial. The top three of those areas were:

  • “Recognizing what prevents me from achieving my full potential.”
  • “Developing empowering strategies for achieving my career aspirations.”
  • “Becoming more resilient.”

These three areas might look like they have nothing in common. But what contributed to the improvement in all three areas was each client’s work on identifying the source of self-doubt. 

Despite the structural and cultural challenges women face in the workplace, women have significant power to build personal strategies for self-empowerment and how to step into their professional and personal vision. Learning to manage your fear is the starting point.

Fear can be useful – the rational kind keeps us from a chasing lion; fear based in survival. But that fear is different from irrational fear, which is fed by doubt. This kind of fear blocks our growth, prevents us from stepping up in our professional and overall vision of our lives.

How can coaching help?

If you or your client expect to be free from fear, you will be disappointed. In my experience, fear will hardly ever go away. It’s part of being human. But you can act despite fear. This is what I call courage.

Courage can be developed with three steps:

  1. Facing fear
  2. Befriending fear
  3. Activating the hero within

1. Facing Fear

When clients reflect on the stories they tell themselves, they can see the difference between the facts and illusion. Naming a fear and recognizing it takes away some of its power. By doing so, fear stops being treated as truth and is seen for the illusion it is.

The most common types of fear I’ve seen clients recognize through coaching conversations are:

  • Fear of success
    Often overlooked but very common, this fear is about the consequences of success. Success makes you more visible and, as a result, more vulnerable. The expectations for continued success are higher, making women assume there is no time to rest, no forgiveness for mistakes, no room for weakness. Fear of success is often about anticipating how other people will react to your triumph. It can be equally as paralyzing as the fear of failure. You choose to avoid success rather than face the negativity.
  • Fear of other people’s opinion
    I met many women who had been stuck for too long in careers they didn’t like, relationships they didn’t value or settling with life choices that didn’t fulfil them. All of them were delaying their decisions because they worried about being judged. Women have a strong urge to respect inherited social norms, worrying about what other people think of their choices. We all care to a certain extent about what other people think of us, but excessive worrying can become one of the greatest obstacles to our growth and progress.
  • Fear of disappointment
    I meet women so afraid of disappointment that they fail even to dream. One client said to me: “If I aim too high, I get my hopes up. I don’t want to go through the pain and, at the end, be a loser.” Many women recognized that the greatest disappointment only occurs if they give up. When you are committed to your deepest desire and career vision, there is no giving up.

The list of possible fears is much longer: fear of being exposed as an “imposter”, fear of saying the wrong thing, making the wrong decision or fear of growing responsibilities.

2. Befriending fear

Resisting fear can only strengthen it. When clients find their strategies to befriend their fear, it becomes a source of valuable insight.

After helping a client recognize their fear, the next questions you may ask are:

  • What is your fear teaching you?
  • How can you dance pleasantly with your fear?
  • How can your fear help you grow and push you beyond your comfort zone?
  • What would you lose if you never befriended your fear?

This exploration helps clients to understand their fear, sit with it and embrace “growth fear” instead of becoming paralyzed by it.

3. Activating the hero within

Coaching helps women take the steps needed to embrace their inner power.

The experiences and circumstances that push women through their fears lead them to discover unimagined internal strength. In my experience, they’ll start to:

  • Rely on inner wisdom
  • Seek validation internally
  • Filter criticism

When clients develop strategies to act despite fear, they become courageous and open to limitless possibilities. As they push through discomfort, they become more resilient on their journey to professional and personal fulfilment.

One last, personal note – ironically, the biggest fear I personally encounter in coaching conversations (and one of my greatest fears) is the fear of not leaving your mark on the world. Coaching can help everyone, not only women, handle self-doubt and grow into a courageous leader who pushes through fear and makes a significant positive difference.

BE PRODUCTIVE

Establish a routine. Chelsea Rivera, head of content of Honest Paws, a 100% remote company, suggests that you have a routine—similar to the one you had before WFH. She says, “Set an alarm and have a consistent morning habit or ritual.” She also recommends getting dressed as if you’re going into the office. “Even put makeup on or fix your hair if you like. Anything that gives you the sense that you are not home in your PJs.”

Create structure. WeLab CEO Simon Loong adds that setting up a place at home where you exclusively work, and committing to consistently working there (your mini “home office”) will make you more comfortable and productive when you’re working remotely. Patty Morrissey, Mercari’s Chief Organizing Expert, suggests that you structure your office and your time as well, “creating a list of 1 to 3 action items for the day. Make room before you start your day,” she advises. “Clutter can get in the way of productivity.”

Move around. Career coach and author Roy Cohen says, “When we have an office to go to, we get exercise simply because of the commute. It is easy to grow lazy, sloppy, and discouraged when you have no place to go. So plan in some physical activity between your Skype calls.” Sondra Dryer, global head of brand and attraction at Alexander Mann Solutions, goes one step further. She recommends taking conference calls moving around your house. “If I don’t have to be running a presentation or referring to a document, I’m typically walking around my house. I actually find when I’m delivering an important presentation, or pitch to a client, standing up and moving around as if I’m presenting on stage strengthens the impact of my delivery.”

Reduce stress. Stress is inevitable, especially in the wake of the coronavirus. The ever-present news outlets spewing data about outbreaks and deaths can be paralyzing. Of course, the stress of COVID-19 is compounded when you have had to completely change your work environment. Change is hard for most people—and that challenge is amplified when it’s in the middle of a global crisis. Your productivity will suffer if you’re in a constant state of stress. So first, turn off the TV and avoid visiting news sites while you’re wearing your work hat. Avoidance can be a powerful stress reducer. Next, “Identify your favorite and most convenient de-stressor,” says stress coach and creator of the CalmCast stress reduction appJordan Friedman: “Stress management is personal. For some, listening to music or the sound of rain on a tin roof is relaxing. For others, deep breathing exercises or watching funny videos does the trick. It’s important to know your stress reduction preferences and have at hand the tools you need.”

BE CONNECTED

Part of the productivity challenge of WFH comes from the loss of the human connection you have with your colleagues, your team and others throughout the company. Buffer’s 2018 State of Remote Work report revealed that the biggest struggle remote workers experience is loneliness. It can be hard to build and maintain relationships from afar.

Build trust. Kevin Borders, co-CEO of Collage.com (a 100% remote company) says, “It isn’t the separation itself that makes building trust difficult, but the fact that separation makes it harder to show vulnerability, which is the basis of trust.” He suggests “creating a mistake-friendly culture, the cornerstone of a healthy remote workplace where people can express vulnerability in a culture where it’s okay to share mistakes.”

Be friendlySondra Dryer schedules virtual happy hours with her team, which is based all over the country. “You bring any beverage of your choice (alcoholic or non), usually around 5 p.m. on a Thursday, and there are only two rules: 1) be on video and 2) do NOT talk about work!”

Have a best friend at work? Keep that relationship going. You normally check in with each other—sometimes a few times a day when you’re both in the office. Don’t ditch that routine. Gallup research determined that one of the biggest drivers of workplace engagement is having a best friend at work.

It all adds up to a quest for balance. On one hand, you need find ways to stay focused when you WFH. On the other hand, you need to find ways to stay connected with your fellow humans. As you hit your stride, you’ll be able to play a positive role in transforming corporate culture for a new virtual era.

 

Written by William Arruda for Forbes

 

Click on the link below to see what the ICF have put together for Coaching during Covid.

COVID – 19 Resources for Coaching

 

Click on the link below to see the ICF 2020 Annual Report – Defying Challenging Times

Defying Challenging Times

 

What an amazing achievement!  Well done Toleen!

 

https://www.linkedin.com/posts/toleen-badawi-30794626_my-arabic-interview-with-bloomberg-asharq-activity-6831577079063027712-4wsn

https://www.theexecutivemonk.com/

 

 

 

What is a Life Coach?

A Life coach is a professional who helps people achieve their goals.

A life coach supports in overcoming various situations in life by guiding them through life transitions. They help in making decisions based on rationality rather than emotions. On the other side, they are also a life learner. They bank on their personal experiences in problem-solving and decision making. They do so, so they can help the client explore their abilities and leverage them for achieving their goals in a facilitative role.

How do I know if a Life Coach can Help Me?

Life coaches help you take stock and set goals of what is important to you. They work with you on prioritizing tasks and helping you form plans to achieve them. Life coaching can be very helpful if you are feeling stuck in certain situations or want to make big changes but don’t know where to start. They are there to walk with you and help you tackle your obstacles leading to a more meaningful life.

They offer support, insights, and guidance to help you navigate today’s challenges more effectively, to learn from obstacles, all leading to produce a better outcome.

Who Needs a Life Coach?

For People who Want to Make things Better

For those who are Stuck in the Rut

For those who want Non-Judgmental/Objective Perspective

Types of Life Coaches

 

Due to Life Coaches being accountability partners in a facilitative role and not offering opinion or advice, they are able to brand themselves or market themselves in a niche that is of interest to them and allowing them to work with clients around that niche area.

Some examples of areas you can add supplemental skills and tools to your foundation of coaching are:

Wellness Coaching

NLP Coaching

Business Coaching

Executive Coaching

Transformation Coaching

Relationship Coaching

Mindful Coaching

Cognitive Behavioral Coaching

How to Become a Life Coach

Life coaching has long been considered to be one of the most lucrative and flexible professions. However, becoming a life coach can seem very daunting at first since it requires not only thorough knowledge but also skills that can help people overcome their problems with ease. Here are some tips on how you can become a professional and a successful life coach.

Education and Qualifications

 

The first thing you need to do is, of course, attend a program that can teach you what it takes to become a life coach.

Make sure it is overseen by a governing body that is recognised.  National Recognition in Australia is imperative.  Many organisations create their own recognition’s which dont hold much value.

Due to the ICF (International Coach Federation) being the only global body that oversees coaching worldwide, it seems very obvious that you would ensure a program is accredited with them.  To avoid lengthy and costly processes to get onto Global credentialing ensure the program is ACTP accredited which means it is all inclusive training making you stand out from the rest and considered to be an elite coach.

Excellent Communication Skills

Empathy

Patience

Good Listening and Observation skills

Willingness to learn

Passion for Life

Be positive and forward thinking

Life coaching is a process and journey that can be tailored to fit the needs of each individual. It’s not just about getting advice on how to live your best life; it’s also about developing an understanding of who you are as well as the skills necessary for living up to your potential- all while having someone there with you every step of the way.

If you’re feeling stuck in your personal or professional life, it might be time for a new perspective. A coach can help guide you towards reaching the goals that are most important to you by addressing any challenges and barriers along the way.

If you feel you could be a coach and help people have light bulb moments of clarity and empower people to make life changing decisions, you should get in contact to find out about our Life Coach Training programs

 

 

Thinking of Life Coach Training?

Want to be Nationally Recognised and Internationally Accredited at the highest level ACTP?

Want to be considered to be an ELITE coach?

More importantly, want to Empower clients to reach their full potential?

Want to know you are facilitating a life transforming session?

The LCA is celebrating the 20th Birthday this month and looking forward to another 20 years in this ever growing billion dollar industry 🙂 Check www.training.gov.au and www.coachfederation.org to know if your future is in the best regulatory bodies hands!

The future of coaching is strong.  Here are a few insights into the world of coaching in 2021 and beyond:

  • Virtual Coaching and Virtual Coach Training will become dominant
  • The Strong Demand For Results
  • The need for Accountability
  • Focus On Positive Outcomes and Forward thinking
  • The realisation that Coaching Will Become the Norm in all sectors
  • Specialty Stream Coaching will gain traction
  • The Coaching Methodology will be used in many facets of personal and professional life
  • With the ever increasing demand for coaching, Regulations will be come, giving ethics and standards to the industry and allowing certified coaches to stand out and be proud of their qualifications
  • Coaching is not a fad, coaching is a method and a process helping clients reach tangible goals
  • Experience Will need no explanation 
  • Digitization Of Coaching will give more people opportunities to engage a coach of their choice
  • Coaching Across Borders will become advantageous with the correct accreditation
  • Internal or In-house Coaching will become a corporate norm

What does this all mean for coaches?

  • 1. Highly-trained coaches will survive.
  • 2. Coaches will have to develop skills such as cultural competence, multilingual, and have additional specific training such as neuroscience.
  • 3. More time to be spent on self-learning.
  • 4. Coaches will need to adhere to coaching regulations.
  • 5. Command on virtual coaching practices.
  • 6. ‘Super coaches’ will widely employ Social Media marketing to spread their messages.
  • 7. The experience will play a vital role.
  • 8. The relationship-driven approach will build successful coaches.
  • 9. The future of coaching looks extremely bright!

Think you are ready to be a part of this billion dollar industry having an actual positive influence?

Get in contact today and get started!

Shared from ICF (International Coach Federation)
Posted by Rebecca Willis 2021 on www.coachfederation.org

As generational change and economic dynamics continue to influence our world, rewards and challenges will be equally present in the coach profession. To help you make sense of what is yet to come, this article focuses on three major trends that will shape the future of coaching. After reading, you will get a better sense of the direction the global coaching community is moving toward, so that you can be ready for these changes and adapt strategically.

1. Increased Demand for Coaching Services

Increased demand for coaching services is the number one trend expected to influence every coaching sector. To prove this point, let us take a look at the numbers. Back in 2019, the estimated market size of the coaching industry in the U.S. was$15 billion USD. If the predictions are correct, with the average yearly growth rate of 6.7%, the value can grow to $20 billion USD in just three years.

This colossal market size growth can be explained by the following factor – the changing global perception of coaching. Previously coaching was considered a luxury available only to senior leaders. Now, it has transformed into being perceived as a significant contribution to the success of an organization, in which all stakeholders can participate.

2. Great Coaching Opportunities in Niche Sectors

Coaches specializing in niche sectors will see more employment opportunities on average than coaches who don’t specialize. This trend is particularly important for niche professionals as it reinforces the coach’s brand value, brilliance and uniqueness.

Your ability to monetize this trend will largely depend on your professional experience and the demand in a particular niche. For example, retirement coaches enjoy a surge in popularity as more baby boomers reach the age when they want to maximize their life after retirement. The very same example applies to other niche sectors, such as weight loss coaching, nutrition coaching, financial coaching and others.

Your experience will play a particularly important role in the years to come because of the greater complexity of the challenges that individuals and organizations face. As more companies throughout the world grow and become more globalized, so do their day-to-day operations. Therefore, it is expected that there will be a higher demand for experienced professionals who can keep up with new industry trends, news and knowledge. So, if you want to keep up with the competition, make sure to continue expanding and advancing your expertise in your target niche.

3. Confirmation of Qualifications

Coaching remains an unregulated industry, but it is moving toward becoming more mainstream every day. For this reason, quality assurance is becoming a priority for businesses and individuals who hire coaches.

When coaching was initially on the rise, credentials and qualifications were an optional bonus rather than a requirement. Now, this tendency has shifted as more clients request confirmation of qualifications when hiring coaches.

The International Coaching Federation(ICF) is the main credentialing body for the global coaching community. Most professionals applying to become a coach—at least in an organization—are required to hold an ICF Credential or other international qualification.

Final Thoughts

As the estimated market size is expected to reach$20 billion USD by 2022, the coaching industry is one of the fastest growing sectors in the world. With more organizations and individuals using coaching services, there is an increasing demand for specialized expertise. In fact, it is predicted that specialized expertise will play an increasingly prominent role in the success of coaching in the coming years.

Hopefully, this article has helped you to prepare for what is about to come in the coaching industry. Remember that continuous learning will add value to your professional self regardless of what is trending in the coaching world.

 

 

Most of us have learnt to become our own worst critics.

Its time to change the way you talk within yourself so that you can turn that Inner Critic into an Inner Coach.

Learn to Self-Coach for ongoing Personal development!

Encourage Yourself:

Your inner voice and conversations will determine your thoughts and feelings, you can talk to yourself negatively.  That negative voice will keep replaying itself.  If you can catch yourself doing this you need to replace that with positive chats within yourself.  Be kinder to yourself and give yourself some space to learn instead of beating yourself up for not getting it right first time.

Ask yourself:

  • What can I do differently?
  • Am I being negative about myself or positive?
  • How can I coach myself through this?
  • Am I making assumptions about myself or the situation that I need to rethink?

Remember:

  • Your inner voice affects your behaviour
  • Your inner voice can be used to be your best
  • Your inner voice can have humour
  • Try not to ignore your inner voice
  • Dont dwell on the negative thoughts about yourself or others
  • Try not to be hard on yourself about a particular issue

If you are interested in learning about how our thoughts affect our behaviour and our reactions consider how NLP would benefit you as a coach and how to use the skills to help your clients.  Help them to overcome limiting beliefs and negative thoughts.  Help them to re-frame those mindsets so they can move onwards and upwards.

Professional Coach ICF ACTP NLP might be the program for you to investigate for a future as a coach specialising in NLP!

Watch this sample of a NLP coaching demonstration webinar to get an idea of the process.

 

 

Online learning during this hard time has emerged as the most effective option for students/trainers. This is being achieved through digital classroom software or online assessment software plus digital video platforms to connect.

Educational institutions have quickly responded to the pandemic during lockdown restrictions. These Training Organisations deserve nothing less than a pat on their backs. Because of their efforts, there has been a spate in online classes for learners in all the fields.

There is no doubt that online lessons have helped all educational institutions to beat the CoVID-19 lockdown to move ahead with the academic calendar.

Studying online gives you more flexibility. You can work and fit your work schedule (and your hobbies) around your coursework more easily; even more so if you are taking an asynchronous class: an online class where you don’t have to log in at a specific time for a live session but you can study and interact with your instructor and your fellow classmates at your own pace through, for example, the discussion forum.

By studying online, you choose your own learning environment that works best for your needs: be it your bedroom, your study, the café across the street,  listening to your trainers recorded webinar or joining a live and interactive webinar. Isn’t that awesome?

Taking an online course also means that you don’t have to commute to class, which means less time spent on the bus and more study time sitting on your couch, the sound of a crackling fireplace in the background.

An online course requires just as much work as an on-ground format, and the amount of time you dedicate is also about the same. However, the online format—just as a virtual workplace—affords you more flexibility. As long as you meet your deadlines and communicate with your instructor and peers, it doesn’t matter where or when you fulfill the requirements.

Adjusting to an online learning model could be a challenge at first, but once you adapt to the format, there are numerous benefits to be realized. No matter the reason you choose to pursue online education, earning an online qualification can help prepare you for career advancement and demonstrate key skills to potential employers or create an entirely new career for yourself.

Flexibility and Self-Paced Learning

Not many people have the ability to take time off from work to commit to a full-time program, and others often travel for work. For those who still need to juggle working and going back to school or homeschooling their kids, the flexibility of an online program provides individuals with the opportunity to learn while still working, running a household and growing professionally.

You can learn on your own schedule. That flexibility allows you to more easily balance work, life, and qualify in something you have always been interested in doing.

Learning online, you can revisit past material or stop the webinar to perform additional research or organize your notes. You can work through the lesson plan at your own pace to ensure you’re really mastering the material before moving on to the next section. This added flexibility allows online learners to move through the course work at their own speed and get the most out of the program.

If you are considering Life Coach training and have always considered it to be a face-to-face in person pathway, you can get started online and make the most of the ever growing and transforming way people are choosing to study.

Contact us today to learn more

1800 032 151

or info@lifecoachingacademy.edu.au