All coaching is, is taking a player where he can't take himself. - Bill McCartney
We all have dreams. To achieve those dreams, sometimes we need the help of others. A Coach is a person who guides us, trains us, works on our weaknesses, motivates us and makes sure that we achieve whatever we desire.
Coaching as a career has a large number of possibilities. Sports coaches may be popular but coaches also enable professional growth, emotional development etc. The job of a Coach is dynamic, and sometimes you might have to adopt unorthodox methods to get the best out of your client/player. Coaches have a lot of experience and knowledge about the subject they Coach. So for example, if you’re a Voice Coach for a theatre actor, you need to be specialized in the field of Voice Modulation and should know how to use your voice to convey feelings and emotions.
What does a Coach do?
The main priority for any coach is to improve the performance of the client in every area that needs improvement.
He understands the intent of his client and charts out a road map to get him there. A Coach knows the mind set of his client in terms of how much improvement does he expect in his performance through coaching. This helps the Coach plan for the future.
A Coach figures out the gaps between where his client is and where he wants to go. Addressing these gaps is the job of a Coach.
A Coach works with a strategy or a plan, which he carefully customizes as per the needs and requirements of each individual/group.
A Coach identifies all the possible obstacles that can end up slowing down the route to progress for the client. He finds ways to prevent the obstacles or eliminate them as and when they come.
The Coach not only works on his client’s weaknesses, but also on his strengths. One of the most important jobs of a Coach is to constantly motivate and encourage. A Coach has to motivate his client to perform and work hard on his weaknesses. At the same time, he has to make sure that the client does not lose his confidence.
Types of Coaching:
The field of Coaching has massively expanded in the past 15-20 years. Today, there are Coaches in all possible fields and disciplines.
Sports Coaching is one of the most popular forms of Coaching. It involves working on an individual or a team and motivating them to perform better and win as many matches as possible. This involves studying the opponents and devising strategies to defeat them.
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Life Coaching is a fairly popular form of coaching. It derives its principles and methods from a lot of other subjects such as Psychology, Sociology, Career counseling etc. The main purpose of life coaching is to motivate individuals or groups to identify and reach their personal goals.
Business Coaching is a form of coaching that is extremely popular in big corporate houses. In this, the client is motivated and trained to maximize his potential within a business setting.
Career Coaching is a form of coaching that mostly benefits students. This type of coaching helps them identify careers of their interest and devise plans for them to work towards their goals.
Financial Coaching is a very popular form of Coaching. It helps the client overcome financial difficulties and reach his or her financial goals.
Art – related Coaching is a form of Coaching that is very useful for artists. Art – related Coaches can teach painting, acting, singing etc. Their main job is to improve the artistic performance of their client.
How to become a Coach?
The field of Coaching is very vast and the road to becoming a Coach is different for every discipline. But there are some common aspects of coaching that are present in all forms of Coaching.
One of the most important things you need to do before you can become a Coach is to gain as much expertise and knowledge in that particular field. If a Coach does not know more than the client, he’ll be useless. You need to work in the field, know how it functions and understand the culture.
You can become a coach in your area of specialization. Most sports coaches are ex-players. There are a wide variety of certifications available to train you to become a coach.
If you want to become a coach, you can study Psychology and counseling at the undergrad and or post grad level. This will give you an in-depth knowledge of the art of Coaching.
It is advisable that you should also formally study Motivation and Leadership as they are extremely important in the field of Coaching. You can never be a successful Coach if you cannot motivate your client.
What are the skills required to become a Coach?
A Coach’s life is more about other people than his own. He needs to have the ability to understand other people and be a good observer. He needs to be able to motivate and influence people to perform in a positive manner. A good Coach should know how to build confidence amongst his clients. He should always be encouraging and positive. He should be able to spot weaknesses and strengths of a person easily. A Coach needs to be patient and realistic. He should be able to adapt his methods and tactics as per the needs and requirements of his client. And most of all, he should be able to build a strong bond with his client and establish trust.
Is this the right career for me?
The life of a Coach is all about the life of his client. You have to be able to counsel, motivate and provide clients with emotional support. At the same time, you need to work on the skills of your client.
So if you want to be a leader and motivate people, improve their lives, impart knowledge and help people earn accolades, then this is the job for you.
