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Working As A Coach After Your Qualification – Bitesize

Working as a Coach

Working As A Coach After Your Qualification – Bitesize

Earning a coaching qualification is a milestone for any aspiring coach, and it opens the door to a world of possibilities for working as a coach. 

However, the next step—deciding how to apply your new skills—can be daunting. 

There are six main career avenues you can explore, each one offering a unique way to use your coaching expertise. 

For a more indepth article on this question, read:

Read: 5 Ways to Work as a Coach after Qualification (With Real-Life Examples)

Also, read: Understanding the 9 Kinds of Coach

Becoming an Independent Coach

As an independent coach, you’re your own boss. You have the freedom to choose your clients, set your hours, and build your brand. You can coach one-on-one or run group sessions, either in person or online. 

To succeed, you need to market yourself effectively. Develop a strong online presence, build a network of contacts, and collect testimonials from satisfied clients. 

However, you should also be prepared for challenges, including the uncertainty of self-employment and the need for continual self-promotion. 

More:

Watch: Taking a Leap of Faith From a Safe Life to a Career That’s Truly You with Marcus Stone PCC

Read: How to Get Coaching Clients – A Marketing Primer for Coaches

Read: Find Your Coaching Niche with the INSPIRED Model

Working as an Internal Coach

An internal coach works within an organisation, supporting its employees. 

The goal might be to improve performance, increase morale, or manage change. 

The advantages include regular work, a steady income, and the chance to make a real difference within a single organisation. The challenges can include internal politics and a lack of impartiality. 

To land a job as an internal coach, focus on building a network of contacts in your chosen industry and prepare for interviews by researching the company culture and its goals. 

Freelance Associate Coach within a Larger Organisation

As a freelance associate coach, you’d work as a contractor for a larger coaching organisation such as BetterUp.

You’d benefit from the organisation’s reputation, but still maintain some independence. 

This might involve travelling to different companies or individuals that have hired your organisation’s services although, nowadays, it is more usually virtual. 

The challenge is to find the right balance between independence and commitment to the parent organisation’s ethos. 

Watch: With Courage and Commitment comes Success with Nisha Vyas PCC

Watch: Associate Coaching: What does it really look like? An Interview with Niki Misokefalou ACC

Adding Coaching to an Existing Freelance Service or Business

If you’re already a freelancer, consider adding coaching to your list of services. 

Whether you’re a fitness trainer, a business consultant, or wellness practitioner, coaching can complement and enhance your existing offerings. 

The main challenge here is to integrate coaching seamlessly into your current services and communicate its value to your clients. 

Watch: Building a Portfolio Coaching Practice – Creative Business and Life Coaching w/ Sarah Longfield ACC

Using Coaching Within Your Workplace as a Manager or Leader

Even if you’re not a coach by profession, you can still use your coaching skills in your current job, especially if you’re a manager or leader. 

Coaching can enhance your leadership style, improve your team’s performance, and create a more positive work environment. 

The challenge is to find time for coaching amidst all your other responsibilities and to get buy-in from your team. 

Volunteer Coach for Social Impact Work

Finally, coaching isn’t all about making money. It can also be about making a difference. 

As a volunteer coach, you could support individuals and communities that might not otherwise have access to coaching services. 

This could be anything from helping unemployed people find work, to supporting young people with their mental health. 

The main challenge is finding the right opportunities and making a sustainable commitment. But the rewards—seeing the direct impact of your work—can be enormous. 

Animas is central to a number of projects that enable coaches to volunteer their coaching.  You can find more on our coaching partnerships page.

Conclusion

In conclusion, gaining your coaching qualification is just the start. The real journey begins when you choose how to use your new skills. 

Whether you work independently, within a company, as a freelancer, a manager, or a volunteer, you have the power to change lives. 

So, take some time to reflect on these options, and then take the leap. Your coaching journey awaits.

About Bitesize Articles

Our Bitesize Articles are designed to give you key information in less than 1000 words and to act as launch pads for further exploration. We encourage you to explore the links that take you deeper into other blog posts and videos from our YouTube channels.

Author Details
Justin is a professional writer and researcher and explores topics of coaching, coach training and personal development.
Justin Pickford

Justin is a professional writer and researcher and explores topics of coaching, coach training and personal development.

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