#2 Learning about coaching - where to start
Once I decided that I want to learn more about coaching and do more, I was overwhelmed with the amount of information out there.
There are so many groups and programs and types of coaching and books that I thought I will never be able to learn all of this. And what should I choose or which program I resonate with and is worth investing in? And should I decide from the start a niche? How do I get started?
And how to position as a coach? Because news flash, coaching programs can be very expensive and lengthy! But, oh so very rewarding in the end. π
Here are some things I did at the beginning and some of them I am still doing today:
It HELPS A LOT to talk with someone who is into coaching / did some coaching in the past - they can guide you and they can be your sounding board too;
Most programs would have a community /group so use that, find others who are on the same path as you are, and reach out to them;
I follow WBECS and you can register for their pre-summit sessions - some of them are free so you can observe and listen about different models and frameworks - take plenty of notes!
Podcasts! They are a great resource to listen to experts in the field and figure out the style of coaching you prefer, but make sure you listen from life coaching, to career, leadership, neuroscience, transformational coaching and so one - some of my favorites: The Life Coach School, At the Table, Squiggly Careers;
Do some morning tasters - most of the programs would have a webinar/workshop talking about their programs, learnings, and costs, just to get a taste of it and see if that's something you want to follow - it's a great way to network, but also learn something new;
Sign up for a course that sounds interesting to you and would teach you the basics of coaching - they usually have a practice component, so you will get to coach and get coached during the course;
Have a look at the ICF website - it provides details on how to become certified and lists of training programs you can enroll in, they don't offer directly training for becoming a coach;
Reading books and articles are no brainer and most of them are free - if there is a book I don't feel I get any value out of it, then I stop reading it and pick up another one - I'll make some recommendations in another article ;)
When researching various coaches and programs, most of the websites would offer some free resources and tools - download them all! It will help you diversify the tools/techniques you can use in your sessions, but also will help with your learning too;
They always say "coach, coach, and coach some more" - which is true to some extent, so don't be afraid to start coaching your friends or colleagues (always ask permission to do that!), get feedback, do some reflection after the sessions to see what you need to improve, and repeat.
I know it's quite a lot and you don't have to do everything from the beginning, just start with what makes sense to you. Also, it depends on the amount of time you can dedicate to learning.
As an idea, my journey started with a course, then I've found a mentor to share more resources and books with me, then reading books and listening to 2 podcasts from time to time. Later on, I did my own research, found a coach in training to help me with my learning, and started offering coaching sessions. At some point, you will find what works for you, but make sure you set realistic timelines for yourself. And everything you read about, try to put into practice ;)
If you would like to know more or you're considering becoming a coach, but not sure where to start, do drop me a note - I would be delighted to help and pay it forward π
Hope this helps!
Flo
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