Essential Skills Of A Life Coach
At Life Purpose Institute, we believe that coaching should be a balance of skills and intuition. Our comprehensive training programs are aligned with the ICF Core Competencies and are designed to prepare coaches with the essential skills needed to support their clients. Here are eight essential skills that every coach should master, and are taught in our training programs:
1. Creating Sacred Space
Creating sacred space is a fundamental principle taught at Life Purpose Institute. This practice involves establishing an environment where clients feel safe, respected, and free to express themselves. Coaches are taught to encourage openness and vulnerability, which are crucial for meaningful dialogue. Our training emphasizes the importance of trust and confidentiality, ensuring that every client feels valued and heard.
2. Establishing Coaching Agreements
At Life Purpose Institute, we teach the importance of clear and well-defined coaching agreements both for the coaching engagement as well as in each coaching session. These agreements set the stage for a successful coaching relationship and create a path that guides the coaching process and ensures mutual understanding and success.
3. Listening Actively
Active listening is a cornerstone of the Life Purpose Institute’s coaching methodology. This skill involves fully engaging with the client, reflecting back, understanding their words, emotions, and underlying messages. Our coaches are trained to listen beyond the surface, picking up on subtle cues that can lead to deeper insights. Active listening fosters a strong connection and demonstrates genuine empathy and respect for the client’s journey.
4. Asking Powerful Questions
The ability to ask powerful questions is a critical skill taught at Life Purpose Institute. These questions are designed to provoke thought, challenge assumptions, and inspire deeper reflection. Our training helps coaches craft questions that are open-ended and thought-provoking, enabling clients to explore their beliefs and discover new perspectives. This skill is pivotal in facilitating breakthrough moments and driving transformative change.
5. Managing Your “Fixer”
One of the key principles at Life Purpose Institute is the understanding that effective coaching is not “fixing” clients but empowering them to find their own solutions. Our coaches are trained to resist the urge to provide solutions or advice. Instead, they focus on guiding clients towards their own answers and fostering self-discovery. This approach builds independence and confidence, helping clients develop the skills they need to navigate challenges on their own.
6. Acknowledgement
Acknowledgement is a powerful tool that our coaches use to reinforce clients’ work and insights. This practice involves recognizing and affirming the client’s efforts, achievements, and inherent qualities. At Life Purpose Institute, we teach coaches to consistently acknowledge their clients, which helps build confidence and encourages a growth mindset. Positive reinforcement is key to sustaining motivation and progress.
7. Designing Actions
Designing actions is an essential skill emphasized in our coaching programs. This involves working collaboratively with clients to create a plan of action that is specific, measurable, achievable, realistic, and time-bound (SMART). Our coaches are trained to guide clients in identifying actionable steps that align with their goals and aspirations. Effective action planning is crucial for turning insights into tangible outcomes and ensuring steady progress.
8. Accountability
Accountability is the backbone of the coaching process. At Life Purpose Institute coaches are taught to ask clients how they will hold themselves responsible for their commitments and progress. This practice ensures that clients stay focused and motivated, while also providing opportunities to celebrate successes and address obstacles. Fostering a culture of accountability helps clients remain committed to their personal and professional growth.
Life Purpose Institute is dedicated to equipping coaches with the essential skills needed to make a profound impact on their clients’ lives. By mastering the art of these 8 skills, our coaches are prepared to guide their clients towards lasting success. Our comprehensive training programs ensure that every coach is well-equipped to foster growth and transformation in their clients, embodying the principles and practices that define effective coaching.
Ready to transform your coaching practice? Join Life Purpose Institute today and master the essential skills that will elevate your coaching to the next level. Enroll now and start your journey towards becoming a truly impactful coach!
Fern is the Founder and Director of the Life Purpose Institute, Inc. Before working as a coach; she was a mental health counselor, social worker, and career counselor. She developed her unique coaching method in 1984 and has assisted thousands of people in her coaching practice in making positive life and career changes. Fern developed a strong and compelling vision to help people discover their purpose, move forward in all areas of their life, and create a life they love.
After serving for many years as a Life Coach and licensed therapist in her private practice, she began training coaches internationally to perform this important work. Fern wrote and developed comprehensive manuals and materials for the Life Coach Certification and Spiritual Coach Training Programs.
Want to learn more about the programs at Life Purpose Institute? Schedule a Free Consultation to speak one-on-one with a Program Specialist and get all your questions answered.