What is First in Becoming a Coach?

I want to become a coach!

Once you commit to becoming a professional coach and doing the work, get started with gathering information, creating strategies, designing actions, and implementing your plan.

Which is first, training or a job search?  It makes sense to be aware of possibilities for jobs and for training.  Do you want to get the training and then look for a job, or research job possibilities first and then get your coaching certification?

  • The advantages of coach training before you know the job or business possibilities include the usability of coaching skills in all capacities, the coach training itself opens doors, and that the opportunities are different at different times. Often coaching certification motivates creating opportunities for yourself too.
  • The disadvantage of coach training before you know the possibilities is that choosing coach training may be based on having an opportunity. 

Which is first, training or business planning?  Knowing the opportunities for a business and for coaching certification is smart.  Will you do your market research and business planning before or after your coach training?

  • The advantages of coaching certification before business planning include having the research you will do as part of class, being coached during class helps with the planning, colleagues to share ideas with, insights from the program, and access to the resources for business planning given to graduates.
  • The disadvantage of coaching certification before business planning is that your research and planning may determine whether you will go ahead.

An interesting thought: when you complete your coaching certification you will find ways to make it part or all of your job, or you will be empowered to build a business.

Another important thought: coaching skills help in most jobs and in your personal life too.

Cathy Liska

For content specific to coach training and coaching, guest blog posts are welcome.

Most blog posts here are written or curated by Cathy Liska, Guide from the Side®, CDP, MCC.

Cathy is CEO/Founder of the Center for Coaching Certification, CCC. As Guide from the Side®, she is a sought-after trainer and coach with over 30 years of experience in business management and ownership. Cathy built her diverse team at CCC that includes trainers, customer service, and coaches. She was Co-Leader for ICF’s Ethics Community of Practice, on the Leadership Team for the review and updating of the Code of Ethics in 2024, and active in the Ethics Water Cooler. To ensure she stays current in related areas of expertise, Cathy has earned the following: ICF’s Master Certified Coach (MCC), Certified Coach Trainer, Certified Consumer Credit Counselor, Certificate of Excellence in Nonprofit Leadership and Management, Grief Support Group Facilitator, Certified in the Drucker Self-Assessment Tool, Certified Apartment Manager, Certified Civil and Family Mediator, and Certified in DISC.

Cathy’s clients range from attorneys to corporate executives, government to nonprofit, entrepreneurs to children, under or unemployed to newly retired. She specializes in communication, management, conflict, and leadership. Her personal mission statement is “People.” Cathy is known for her passion to serve others so they achieve the results they want.

Podcast: https://www.coachcert.com/podcast.html

Publications: Coaching Perspectives (a series of books with chapters by coach training graduates) https://www.coachcert.com/resources/recommended-reading/coaching-perspectives-series-by-the-center-for-coaching-certification-and-more.html

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