Becoming a coach is an important decision. One that holds the potential to be absolutely life and career enhancing. Imagine for a moment, being able to bring your whole self into your work, in service of others. Envision the possibilities of being able to help others, leveraging your experience, knowledge, skills and expertise to help 1 to millions, being who you are at your best.
With the right coach training program and coach training institute, you’ll not only be able to create a rewarding career or coaching business for yourself, you’ll be well positioned for success on your terms. Authentically aligned with your ideal clients and enjoying a thriving career or business.
Finding the best coach training program for you is no easy task…
Twenty years ago, there were only a few coach certification training programs.
Today there are 1000’s of options.
When I first trained to become a coach in the early 2000’s there were only a few coach training program options. Today, there are literally 1000’s of schools, that run the gamut from 4-hour certifications to Ph.D’s.
As the founder of Coach Training World and creator of Whole Person Coaching, it is my intent to share valuable information related to choosing a coach training program.
I’ll provide you helpful questions that you can ask yourself, as well as the prospective schools you are considering. Knowing what to ask will give you a jump-start on the clarity you’ll need to make the right decision for you. I will also share information about our school, programs and learning community as well.
If we aren’t the right fit, then may you find the school and program that work best for who you are and what you want to do with your developing coaching capacity.
Many have asked why I’d go to such lengths to give so much information that could potentially lead prospective students such as yourself to another resource.
And the short answer is: Only you know what is best for you. I can’t tell you what is right for you. But I can help you with a process that will lead you to the clarity and confidence you’ll need to make the right decision for you. You deserve to invest in the program that resonates most with you and meets your needs – better yet, exceeds them.
My sincere hope is that you’ll feel good about your investment and that you’ll be an active change-maker in the world – sooner rather than later. The world needs your gifts and I’d rather see you out there making your difference than spending countless hours feeling confused and frustrated on how to get started.
Dr. Kim Kutsch
“I came to Coach Training World (CTW) and coaching as a matter of need…I was trained in dental school to identify holes in teeth and fill them. And I was trained well. I was trained to tell a patient what to do, brush and floss twice a day, and educate them on how to floss properly with those techniques. But what I wasn’t trained to do was create behavioral change in their life, their dental care, and have it be a sustainable habit. I had no clue how to do that.”
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7 Key Factors: Choosing Your Ideal Coach Training Program
There are 7 key factors to take into consideration when choosing the right coach training program for you and your future. These factors are both personal and professional, in many ways, they are about aligning to who you are and what matters most to you.
#1 Credibility
The first factor is a no-brainer. But since many prospective students are still unaware of the professional standards for the coaching profession, I’m going to mention them.
The International Coach Federation (ICF) is the largest and most well-known credentialing organization in the world. Since 1995, they have been credentialing coaches and accrediting coach training programs alike.When choosing a coach training school, I highly recommend the ICF’s database as a starting point to ensure the program you are choosing meets the highest standards for professional conduct and performance.
How do you know if the school you are considering is Credible?
The International Coach Federation (ICF) has established a number of standards that an coach training program must pass to earn ICF accreditation.
The International Coach Federation (ICF) offers three levels of rankings for schools:
- Accredited Coach Training Program (ACTP)
- Approved Coach Specific Training Hours (ACSTH)
- Continuing Coach Education (CCE)
If it’s not obvious, the Accredited Coach Training Program (ACTP is the only program that is truly accredited by the ICF. In short this means that the school has taken every measure to align to the global gold standard of the ICF in it’s programs. These programs are also from start to finish and provide you with everything you need to take your final test with the International Coach Federation.
What about the instructor’s? How do you know if they are credible?
The International Coach Federation (ICF) has established a number of standards that an individual must pass to earn ICF coaching credential. These requirements also ensure familiarity with the established best practices and standards of the coaching profession. Each level has a different set of requirements for number of hours in training, coaching and mentoring.
The three ICF credential levels for coaches are:
- Associate Credentialed Coach (ACC)
- 60 hours of coach training, 100 hours of coaching experience, ICF mentor coaching, evaluations at ACC level or better.
- Professional Credentialed Coach (PCC)
- 125 hours of coach training, 500 hours of coaching experience, ICF mentor coaching, evaluations at PCC level or better.
- Master Credentialed Coach (MCC)
- 200 hours of coach training, 2500 hours of coaching experience, ICF mentor coaching, evaluations at MCC level
In addition to their credential, inquire about the instructor’s background? How long have they been coaching? If you are attending an ICF Accredited Coach Training Program (ACTP) then your instructors will be ICF certified coaches. It’s required.
Ideally, the people leading your training courses are both professionally trained “trainers” and active credentialed coaches who are in the trenches and can answer questions beyond just the basics of coaching. Questions that include how to work with challenging coaching scenarios and getting clients.
Masterful coaches became masters at coaching through experience with a wide variety of clients and coaching contexts. And there is a big difference between someone who can lecture and someone who can model masterful coaching who has traveled the path before you. You will want it all: the knowledge, modeling and mentoring so that the skills become natural to you. And, again learning from someone with deep knowledge of how to get clients both leveraging traditional forms or marketing and digital, place you in the forefront of success.
About Us: At Coach Training World, our Whole Person Certified Coach are ICF Accredited Coach Training Programs (ACTP). Our Coach Training courses are taught by ICF Professional Certified Coach (PCC) or ICF Master Certified Coach (MCC) instructors. We’ve been offering public coach certification trainings since 2005 and, prior to this, offered our transformational programs within organizations and other institutions in the form of leadership, communication and motivation trainings.
Other Considerations…
It is important to note that I’ve been talking about credibility in terms of the coaching certification program and instructors. But if the school you are considering is also offering a specialized type of coaching, like health coaching, stop and consider what other standards might apply for the non-coach specific portion of the trainings. Are the instructors qualified to deliver the curriculum? Will you be able to use this training to build upon your own experience, knowledge and wisdom?
If a coach training organization is similar to ours, a lot of the students attend because they want to start a coaching business of their own or partner with other coaches to create a coaching firm. In these scenarios, you’ll want to find out about the street and academic credibility related to the instructors as well as the curriculum for the business and marketing course programs they’re offering.
There is nothing that beats the wisdom and experience that come from having navigated the entrepreneurial path. It not only provides time-saving shortcuts, it also serves as a critical dose of inspiration. Because if someone else has done it, so can you!
About Us: At CTW, all of our business coursework is taught by seasoned coaches who are also entrepreneurs with a minimum of five years experience in the business of change.
Key Interview Questions:
- Is the school ICF accredited?
- Are the instructors ICF credentialed and at what level?
- What kind of experience do the instructors have? Are they internal coaches? Do they have their own businesses? Are they successful?
- How long has this school been operating?
- Is it possible to speak with some of the graduates or instructors?
Key questions to ask yourself:
- What kind of coaching are you most interested in? Life Coaching? Business Coaching? Executive Coaching? Holistic Coaching? Health Coaching? Spiritual? Your own specialized niche?
- Who are your most ideal clients? People with a particular goal (such as Life, Purpose, Health, or Relationships)? Or are you interested in more specialized areas such as Life after Cancer?
- What kind of coaching method would best support your ideal clients’ needs and desired outcomes?
- Do you prefer a singularly focused training or a more holistic approach?
- How would you like to work with your clients? By focusing on one aspect of their life or all aspects as they relate to their ability to generate results?
- What is most important to you: Gaining a lot of knowledge (information) or skills to create change? Could your coaching process be elevated by a combination of both?
Stephanie Plymale
She’d hit the point many people eventually confront in their lives: she simply didn’t love her work anymore. Believing it was time for a new start, Stephanie decided to explore coaching as a possible profession. But as everyone who undertakes training for any form of Whole Person Coaching learns, the experience requires a great deal of self-work. As a result, it’s a process that trickles into every other aspect of your life… with results that are often unexpected and always powerful.
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#2 | Coaching Methodology
When it comes to coaching, there are best practices on how to work with your coaching clients. The International Coach Federation’s Core Competencies outline these best practices and professional standards in great detail. An ICF accredited coach training program demonstrates that their curriculum and methods honor and teach to these criteria. As someone who is in the business of changing lives, it is important to obtain your training from a professional school to establish your own credibility as well. This brings us to the second factor in choosing the right coach training school for you: the difference in their coaching methodology and its applications.
How do coach training schools differ? Yes, it seems everyone sounds the same, until you look beyond the website and marketing.
There are essentially three types of coach training programs.
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- Foundational Coaching Skills Programs, which offer essential ingredients for those wanting to add “coaching skills” into their personal or professional toolkit.
- Specialty Programs which focus on particular populations or specific challenges or opportunities that a client base would possess.
- Specialized Process Programs that offer a coaching method that is unique and has a wide variety of applications and client-types, such as our Whole Person Certified Coach (WPCC) Training Program.Would you like to learn more about the evolution of Whole Person Coaching?
Foundational Coaching Programs
Some coach training programs are very similar. They teach the basics as outlined by the ICF and provide foundational skills necessary to create awareness, invite action and manage accountability and progress with others. They also teach powerful inquiry, listen actively, direct communication, and how to build rapport. It’s worth noting that all of these skills are necessary and foundational to coaching success.
People who attend these programs usually want to learn the basic coaching skills, as opposed to becoming a full-time professional coach and creating transformative change in individuals and organizations. These programs are often ala carte and not accredited.
Specialized Population Programs
Other schools build on these basic coaching skills and specialize based on a particular population often motivated by the trainer’s own life experiences. Some programs focus on working with groups of individuals such as Breast Cancer Survivors or those with ADHD for example.Within these settings, your training infuses the curriculum with specific knowledge, content or processes related to that particular client need. Additional examples are executive and other specific types of health coaching to name a few.
Regardless of the group dynamic, specialty programs are designed to focus on a certain population or problem. They typically don’t work with all aspects of someone’s life or the whole person. Those who enroll within these programs often pre-select who they want to work with, identifying their specific areas of interest.
Knowing what kind of coaching you want to do is a great way to filter through programs. Who do you want to serve? If you don’t know, don’t worry. Many of us prefer to work with a wide variety of people and maintain a wide base of application for our skills.
Those who are interested in the Whole Person Methodology are often seeking to become life or holistic life coaches. Many come with skills and life experience that they are blending with their coaching skills to work more effectively with their clients in all aspects of their lives. Our past graduates include life coaches, holistic life coaches, wellness coaches, cancer coaches, communications & conflict coaches, spiritual coaches, emotional intelligence coaches, yoga coaches, creativity coaches, fitness coaches, business coaches, non-profit leadership coaches. Some specialize in working with teachers, patients, and students whereas other work with a wide variety of people. These coaches are seeking a transformational and highly creative approach that produces sustainable results. They want an integrative approach that works with the whole person.
Specialized Process or Proprietary Methods Programs Specialized programs, such as our Whole Person Coaching® methodology, offer unique tools and techniques as well as a proprietary approach for evoking change and working with clients. Instead of focusing on a single population or specific situation, a school that focuses on a particular method allows you to work with more people using a proven process that can be adapted to a wide variety of people. The process itself is unique and often known for how it works to produce results in others, as opposed to the types of clients it serves.
In other words, a specialized process program although appropriate to a larger population and a wider variety of applications, is very specialized in its technique and philosophy.
Depending on what you want to do with your coaching (such as who you want to coach and how you want to coach them), you’ll want to give careful attention to this consideration.
Schools that offer a unique process are teaching you a particular “way to evoke change.” They have spent years researching and developing a particular coaching intervention method.
In the past few years, you’ve probably noticed a number of programs referred to as “Body-Mind.” This can mean different things depending on the theoretical frameworks and philosophy of the school and its programs. Typically, a “Body-Mind” approach works with the interconnectedness of the mind and body and may work with emotions. But it often won’t address the spiritual and social aspects of the individual and their life.
There are also numerous schools that center their training on the “mind,” focusing specifically on mind-mastery as their way of evoking change. Although this approach can be very effective for some people, it doesn’t focus on the other aspects of the person, leaving both the client and coach ill prepared when a person becomes overwhelmed and unable to focus on mental or mind shifts.
In the same way, there are schools that prioritize spirituality, relationships or even just general health, providing intervention methods as the main gateway through which they work with their clients. Other schools are performance oriented and focus on action steps and accountability as opposed to the underlying challenges and motivations the individual is confronted by. Some schools give you a lot of specific information (such as hundreds of established diets or neuroscience data points) then tack on some basic foundational coaching skills, so you have some basic communication skills.
When considering these options, it might be appealing to have a one-stop shop. But remember: information is available everywhere. And for most people, information alone does not create change. If it did, then the coaching profession wouldn’t be proliferating like it is.
Successful coaches are successful when they leverage a process and an empowering relationship, helping others leverage their valuable knowledge and apply it effectively to produce sustainable results. It’s not uncommon for people to become highly educated in topics like nutrition, fitness or even unique aspects of business such as marketing. These leaders become a wealth of knowledge for others. As experts, they realize they offer volumes of information. But they also quickly discover they need specific communication, relationship-building and change mastery skills to motivate people to make the changes that result from this new point of view.
At CTW, we’ve trained doctors, yoga and fitness instructors, dentists, teachers, attorneys, nutritionists, holistic healers, speakers, therapists, physical therapists, performing artists and other resource-rich individuals who have attended our programs to learn how best to leverage their wisdom. In doing so, they’ve been able to help their clients make their desired changes and generate the results they knew were possible.
Our graduate population isn’t just limited to these people; in fact we’ve seen everything from parents, divorcees, to cancer survivors and many more who wanted to employ their own life skills and personal experience to help others. To be totally honest, I didn’t study to become an entrepreneur, I learned in on the streets. Your personal experience and the wisdom you’ve gained from the “school of life” is valuable it to help others as well.
#3 | Leveragability
A new career or life change is never easy. And no one wants to start at zero. That’s why the coach training program you choose must allow you to build on your past experiences, as well as the skills and expertise you’ve gained along the way.
Many people use their past experience to pursue work as a coach or as a starting point for their own coaching businesses. For example, let’s say you have worked for seven years as a yoga teacher. Now, you want to work one-on-one with your clients and lead coaching workshops and programs to supplement your services. Or maybe you’re coming from a corporate or business arena. You may want to build your own business to work with others like you by leveraging your expertise as an “outside” coach or consultant.
Whole Person Coaching is a powerful asset that builds upon what you already know. It emphasizes that you are a core part of the co-creative change making process. In doing so, WPC generates exponential results by enabling you to bring out your best while teaching you to leverage the best in others. This building process is also what keeps you on track and helps prevent any losses in pay, credibility, and status.
Individuals from all walks of life have successfully incorporated Whole Person Coaching into their coaching practices or service-oriented careers. Our students have ranged from entrepreneurs, teachers, luminaries, and holistic practitioners to marketing and IT professionals, sales professionals, senior leaders, designers, hair stylists, doctors, dentists, therapists, and survivors.
Some had previously invested time, energy, and money into other trainings. Others had applied the wisdom of self-help books on their own or served as an informal coach without getting paid for their services. Yet despite the diversity of their backgrounds, the one thing that was common between each was a true commitment to helping others and working holistically with their clients. Each individual had been “coaching” for a long time and was ready to step into the profession without going backward in status or pay.
As you consider your options, ask how the program complements your existing experience, knowledge and skill base:
- Will the program teach you how to leverage your passions, experience, knowledge and wisdom as part of the transformational process? Or will you need to figure that out on your own?
- Considering all of the experience you possess, including the knowledge and wisdom you’ve gained, does the program feel like it will increase the value you already offer?
- Will you need anything else to start a coaching business in terms of street cred or academic knowledge?
- Will the coaching method you learn enable you to work with your ideal clients in a fashion that is unique to you?
Kelly Albers
“Coaching is 99 percent of what I do,” Kelly says. “I do so much interpersonal work with people! I would not be where I am today – both in my personal life and from a financial/business standpoint – without those tools.”
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As you interview schools, inquire as to what kind of business development and marketing and sales support they offer. If they teach such courses:
- Are the classes taught by profitable coaches who own businesses?
- How long are these classes?
- Is there one-on-one time available for business mentorship?
- Are you clear on everything you need to know to discern if the business program is the right fit for you? Will you learn how to magnetize your audience to you and convert them into paying clients once they arrive at your door?
- Do they focus on online or offline marketing techniques? Or Both?
Amy Earle
Can coaching provide the confidence necessary to move past fear? Yes says Amy! By examining the aspects of our personal stories, we can redefine how we show up and, in doing so, shift the outcome we have on others – a tool that’s especially useful for those in sales.
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#4 | Business Development Trainings & Mentorship
In the business of change, there are two types of change. The first is positive change. It happens when our clients achieve their results. The second is monetary change. This is the necessary component that enables us to stay in business doing our good work. If you are considering working inside an organization as a coach, this latter factor may not be relevant in your decision-making process. But if you are considering starting your own business or working for a coaching firm where you’ll be selling your services, this is definitely for you!
Marketing coaching services, programs and products
Many people have trained to become professional coaches with the dream of opening their own businesses. They become amazing coaches and are insanely good at supporting their clients to get the results they want. Unfortunately, they are frequently overlooked, and their great talents go unused because nobody knows about them. They become the “best kept secrets” to those who were lucky enough to discover them. But they can’t earn the dollars they need to enjoy the lifestyle they deserve.
Word of Mouth marketing isn’t enough for most coaches. In fact, many clients won’t share your name. I’ve learned to not take it personally. Because even though it has a negative financial impact on you as the coach, the underlying reason is usually highly complimentary. For example, here’s what I’ve heard from my own clients: “I appreciate the exclusivity of our conversations and feel awkward talking to others about the work I’ve done with you.” Or “I don’t want you to get so busy that you won’t have time for me or raise your rates.”
Since there will always be clients who are uncomfortable spreading the word, you’ll want to know how to market yourself effectively and attract your audience to you. But that’s not all. You’ll also need the skills and confidence to convert your prospects into paying clients.
Selling coaching services
My bias is going to be strong here. And I own it! Selling coaching services isn’t anything like selling products or even other services like accounting or graphic design. Here’s why: as a coach you are selling the client on a future result that requires their participation. It’s far less tangible to the inquisitive mind than buying a car, groceries, or flowers. Even when hiring an accountant to do your taxes, you (hopefully) walk away with a refund.
Coaching is different. It represents an internal change that, although it can have an enormous positive impact on an individual’s life, the end results are often months or even years in the future. This fact alone makes it difficult for some people to grasp the value. This is why it’s important that you learn how to market and sell yourself and to stand out from other coaches who have successfully sold their services.
Go online and you’ll see a lot of advice. Here in the United States, we have small business centers and other free or very low-cost services. These are great for business basics such as ‘what kind of business entity should I start’ or ‘how much can I deduct from my taxes’. While they address the general nuts and bolts of running a business, they won’t teach you the necessary elements of creating your brand, positioning yourself as the go-to-expert for your ideal audience, or how to convert prospects into clients. So please budget time, money and energy into marketing.
I’m blessed as my first career was in marketing, communication and sales. I love this stuff. But I also realize not many others are as passionate about this part of owning a business. For this reason, I strongly advise you to get coach-specific business training and have a mentor, so you don’t waste time, money or effort.
This is probably one of the biggest setbacks within the profession. More often than not, it’s the lack of business training and marketing expertise that send many coaches back into a job or career they don’t love. You need to know this if you are planning on opening doors to your own business! If you choose a school that doesn’t offer full business and marketing support, as well as instruction on how to profit from your coaching business, plan on finding those services elsewhere.
Because we believe so strongly in the business of change and your ability to succeed, we created CoachPreneur Academy for our graduates. This online school is specifically for those who are committed to opening their own coaching businesses and want every advantage for attracting their ideal clients, booking themselves solid and filling up their coaching programs and workshops.
#5 | Network & Community
This next factor is important to those who value long-term personal and professional relationships. If you aren’t interested in building relationships with your school and peers, you might skip this section. But if you’re looking for a reliable network that can provide resources and support, this is definitely not to be overlooked.
As with any business or organization, your coach training school has a culture. That culture is shaped by the vision, mission and values of the school as well as its leadership, instructors and attendees. If you are someone who likes to be around people that resonate as like-minded or like-hearted, you may want to learn more about the school’s vision, mission and values. You can often find that information on a website, although it’s helpful (and often more accurate) to have a personal conversation with the school’s leadership, instructors, and even a past graduate or two.
Let’s be honest: it feels really good to be learning alongside those you resonate with. So take time to learn about the community by asking who attends. What has drawn them to the training? Inquire about what the school does to maintain relationships after the program ends.
A school that values a lifetime relationship with its graduate population, such as ours, will put effort into ongoing communications, events and trainings. This allows students to continue to grow in an ongoing, supportive relationship with the school and their peers.
We recognize that some people are more interested in learning the content and are less interested in who’s there or what the learning experience is like. That is perfectly OK! But if you are someone that is very relationship oriented, you’ll want to feel at home with your tribe.
When it comes to networking opportunities, some schools boast that they’ve trained tens of thousands of coaches, whereas others are smaller boutique training agencies. Many people assume that with a big network there will be many opportunities to associate with other coaches. This may be true, especially if you love cold-calling people and are comfortable reaching out. But if you prefer to develop deeper relationships, you might enjoy a closer-knit community. Only you know what you like!
At Coach Training World, we deeply value relationships. As a community of global change makers, we offer monthly opportunities for students and graduates to connect. We also offer bi-annual events for students to gather and grow together through advanced teaching and networking opportunities.
But not everyone who attends our programs stays involved with the community. Many only check in every few years. Others are constantly busy out in the world making their difference. So while we’d love all of our students to be active members of our global family, we also honor the unique needs and difference of our students.
One thing is true: we often hear stories of our graduates partnering with each other and many visiting each other in other countries. We see our school as a hub where rich and meaningful connections are made easily. How you wish to grow those connections is up to you!
Oh! And we are an eclectic group of people. Our entrepreneurial spirit is high. And the desire to make a difference leveraging a holistic process is prominent.
Our past graduates all have several things in common. They are mavericks and love to be champion change-makers. They are devoted to helping others and being at their very best as warm-hearted individuals. And most important, they are devoted to using their skills, knowledge and expertise to make the world a better place.
Here are some key questions to consider:
- Do you prefer to be in a school that has trained masses of people or one that hosts smaller groups with deeper connections and more opportunities for deeper interactions?
- How important is it to have a like-minded community to grow yourself and your business with?
- Who are the people you want to be surrounded by?
- Is it important for you to have a “home base” to fall back on after you graduate?
What are your needs?
Delivery Method
- Do you prefer in-person, phone or online video classes? Another way to look at this is: how do you learn best?
Timing
- Are you looking for a fast-track approach to coach training? Or something longer, such as 4 to 12 months?
- Does the school you’re considering offer different speeds at which you can certify?
- Will the dates and times for the classes work with your schedule?
Your Investment & Financing
- How much does the training cost?
- What is included in the training?
- What other expenses might you expect?
- Does the school offer a financing plan?
- Do they help with procuring employer, state or outside funding? Scholarships? Work study?
Classroom Size & Diversity
- How big are the classes you’ll be attending?
- How much one-on-one time will you receive?
- Will you have opportunities to work with past graduates? Who attend the program?
#6 | Logistics: The Details
You probably already know this. Therefore, I won’t dwell here except to say that life gets in the way for all of us. I can’t tell you how often prospective students fall in love with a programs only to discover that the format for the courses don’t work with their busy lives. I believe if there is a will, then you’ll find a way. But that can take more time and effort than some are willing to invest. So here is my quick checklist when it comes to the details:
Delivery Method. Do you prefer in-person, phone or online video classes? Let’s say you find the perfect school, but they don’t offer classes in your city. Will it work for you to attend online? Another way to look at this is: how do you learn best?
Timing. Are you looking for a fast-track approach to coach training? Or something longer, such as 4 to 12 months? Does the school you’re considering offer different speeds at which you can certify? Will the dates and times for the classes work with your schedule?
Your Investment & Financing. How much does the training cost? What is included in the training? What other expenses might you expect? Does the school offer a financing plan? Do they help with procuring employer, state or outside funding? Scholarships? Work study? The average cost for professional coach training runs between $4,000 and $12,000. Please note: I am quoting professional, ICF programs. Since there are different levels of certification, one way to compare programs is by the number of ICF approved coaching hours, the number of mentoring hours, and additional coursework such as business courses. In most cases, you won’t be comparing apples to apples here. So even though a cheaper program may sound good, stop and look at the actual number of ICF–applicable core competency credits you’ll have available at the end of the training. But don’t stop there what else is included?
At Coach Training World, you can choose the program that works best for your budget and desired outcome. Here are just a few options:
- Become a Whole Person Certified Coach (WPCC)
- Earn an ICF Credential as a Whole Person Certified Coach (WPCC + ACC/PCC)
- Train to become a Board Certified Coach (BCC)
We also help students procure funding through their employers or state agencies. To learn more about these possibilities, please schedule a free consultation for details. Although we truly believe in scholarships and work study positions, we are currently not offering these types of financial aid. We help our students recoup their academic investment by positioning them to start charging for their services as soon as possible. It is not uncommon for students to begin charging after their first course and to fund the remaining portion of the training with just a handful of clients.
Classroom Size & Diversity. How big are the classes you’ll be attending? How much one-on-one time will you receive? Will you have opportunities to work with past graduates? Who attend the program?
I personally believe that each person should receive plenty of individualized support. If you are looking to be in a big room with a lot of people, we aren’t the place for you. We value the depth and intimacy that comes from keeping the numbers such that people can really grow together. We also embrace and celebrate the depth of learning that’s only possible through a rich and varied community. Our students reflect the full range of cultural diversity. This includes race, gender and nationality, as well as sexual orientation and religious preference. All are welcome. The one common denominator you’ll find is a deep devotion to making a lasting difference in our lives and the lives of our clients by employing a holistic method that encompasses the whole person.
#7 | Resonance
Does the coach training program align with who you are and what matters most to you?
This is one of the biggest, most important differences you’ll discover when comparing coach trainings. And it’s one to watch out for. Some programs are simply a recollection of the methods and approach that worked for one person and their select client base. These are often based on the experiences of that individual and used to create a cookie-cutter program.
While others may be able to duplicate that success in part, the odds that they’ll be able to achieve the same results, let alone greater success, are almost nonexistent. Why? Because the values and beliefs that went into the initial stages of development and design were not yours. As I mentioned before, everyone is unique. And change requires a holistic approach that integrates all aspects of the person to create sustainable, transformational level changes. The big question here is: how are you feeling about the program you are considering? Does it feel like “home” to you, or are you still questioning if it’s the right fit? How well do you resonate with the programs creator and what they stand for?
We often need to let go of our relying only on our “head” when making a decision and tap into our heart, especially when it comes down to choosing a coaching program or any other form of developmental growth work. That process can work differently for everyone. If you look within and ask your heart ‘is this right for me’, what does it say? If you are more connected to your gut instincts, tap into that wisdom. If you need to wait a day or two for clarity to present itself, that’s another option too. Start by asking the schools you are considering how you can get exposed to the content, the community, and to graduates. This provides one of the best ways to learn more and get a “felt sense” of whether or not the school you’re considering is the right fit for you.
At Coach Training World, our coach training and business development programs naturally align with who you are, your past experience and personal wisdom. They have been crafted uniquely for change makers who value simplicity, structure and a proven strategy, both in change mastery and the business of change.
Our programs have been designed to incorporate how you think and feel into the process, making each application unique. Staying true to yourself and the unique principles that comprise your integrity, our programs celebrate you and your ways of navigating the world. It’s a win-win.
You build on your core tenets and your clients reap the benefits through a process that can be tailor-made to each individual.
Whole Person Coaching is a thought-provoking process that is coupled with experience-oriented, transformative learning. This specific combination assists both you and your clients in the process of masterminding life, thereby transitioning into and manifesting what is most desirable. Not for the faint of heart, our approach is bold. It addresses the real reasons people struggle to make changes, confronts them, and gets results that last for life.
At Coach Training World, we focus on who you are and what matters most to you. You will be invited to honor and embrace all of who you are – especially the part of you that requires financial stability yet desires an income earned through a meaningful life of your choice. We encourage you to incorporate your personal values and beliefs into our coaching model, leveraging all aspects of who you are: mental, emotional, physical, social and spiritual.
Far more than just a standard coaching process, Whole Person Coaching is a way of being. It offers an evolutionary process through which the whole of who you are emerges. With WPC, you design, manifest and live your dream-come-true life. Our customized approach makes you highly effective in all areas of your life by tapping into your core values and embracing your own wholeness. By doing so, you create a way of being that allows you to operate from the depth and meaning of your authentic self. Serving as a role model for your own clients, your devotion to yourself is a testament to your devotion to your work.
Simply put: Whole Person Coaching begins and ends with who you are and what matters most to you. Why? Because it’s the easiest, most direct way we’ve found for enabling you to make your difference while achieving the fulfillment and success you deserve being at your best – highly motivated and joyful about your work and life as a whole.
Becoming a coach is an important decision; it is a way of being, acting as an influencer in the world. The unique benefit of coach training is found in who and how you approach relationships with others. It is about who you are and how you communicate with yourself, others and the world as a whole. Yes, you will learn specific skills, tools and best practices that teach you how to interact with others and how to be highly influential and motivate masses. But in the end, those who fully embrace the practice of coaching are choosing to embody the most powerful life-success-skills on the planet.
These life success skills are applicable to all aspects of your life. Graduates have shared time and again that becoming a coach was as much as about a new or enhanced career or business move as it was about becoming a more effective person. Some became a better leader, parent, partner, listener or communicator. Others increased their self-confidence, empathy, or compassion.
I wish you the very best in finding the right coach training school and program for you. A number of our students have taken trainings elsewhere and have joined us for our advanced, holistic coursework. No matter where you are in life, our door always remains open.
As someone who wants to make their difference in the world, I encourage you to step up and step in. Your audience awaits. The world needs many, many more coaches, light-workers, luminaries, and change artists (just like you!) – unique individuals who are dedicated to the professional skills that elicit the very best life has to offer. Be Your One and Only Brilliant Self (Everyone else is already taken…)
Feroshia Knight, MA, MCC
When it comes down to making the right choice for you…
- What do you value most in a training program?
- What is on the top of your list of priority in a program & school?
- How do you want to feel once you’ve made your decision?
- What are your MOST IMPORTANT questions to ask when interviewing potential schools?