How to Become a Leadership Coach

Being promoted at work often involves leading a team of people, but if you haven’t received any leadership training, this can be a tricky transition. Leadership coaching (also known as executive coaching) helps to smooth the way by offering tailored advice, support and strategies on a one to one basis. We take a look at how to become a certified coach.

What Qualifications Do You Need to Become a Leadership Coach?

Because leadership coaching qualifications are offered by a variety of learning providers, the key to finding the right course is to make sure that it’s properly accredited or approved. We recommend choosing coach training that’s accredited by either the Chartered Management Institute (the CMI) or the Institute of Leadership Management (the ILM).

Both of these organisations offer coaching programs from level 3-7, and there are three types of qualifications on offer:

Awards – which take 1-3 months to gain
Certificates – which take 3-6 months to gain
Diplomas – which take up to a year to gain

If you opt for an alternative training program, it’s best to pick one that has been approved by an independent coaching body. These include:

The Association of Coaching
The International Coach Federation
The European Mentoring and Coaching Coucil
The British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy

When you’re looking for the best leadership coaching courses in the UK, you’ll find that many of them are self-paced and can be completed online with support from a tutor. Courses cover a range of topics, including leadership development, coaching models and theories, leadership styles, coaching skills and techniques, the impact of leadership coaching, and personal development for leaders. Level 7 executive coach training programs also develop the competencies you’ll need to coach at a strategic level.

Both of these organisations offer coaching programs from level 3-7, and there are three types of qualifications on offer:

Awards – which take 1-3 months to gain
Certificates – which take 3-6 months to gain
Diplomas – which take up to a year to gain

As a Beginner, Where Should I Start in Leadership Coaching?

While qualifications are important for aspiring leadership coaches, experience is equally valuable. So before you begin your coach training, you’ll need a substantial amount of work experience, including some management experience.

Skill Set Required for a Leadership Coach

It’s not just experience and qualifications that will help you on your way to becoming a successful leadership coach. You’ll need soft skills, too – for example:

A high level of emotional intelligence
Great time-management skills
An aptitude for problem solving

Excellent communication
A strong code of ethics
The ability to stay calm under pressure

What Does a Leadership Coach Do?

Leadership coaches provide personal and professional development for people in leadership roles. They work with anyone who has responsibility for a team, including team leaders, supervisors, managers, executives, and business owners.

£0,000

Average Salary for Leadership Coach

Typical Duties for a Leadership Coach

If you become a certified coach your role is likely to vary depending on your client’s requirements, your coaching style and whether you are working with individuals or team coaching. However, your coaching sessions could include:

Enhancing your client’s leadership skills
Building their team leading skills
Sharing strategies for managing change
Exploring styles of leadership with them

Identifying solutions for work related issues
Enabling them to deal effectively with team members and workplace conflict
Identifying areas that need improvement

Popular Career Pathways for Leadership Coaches

Once you’ve completed a level 5 coaching qualification and gained some coaching experience, you can go on to study a certification program at a higher level. Relevant coach training programs include the CMI accredited level 7 Diploma in Strategic Coaching and Mentoring. If you want to progress even further, you could become a Chartered Manager, which is the highest status that can be achieved in the management profession.

A wide range of businesses and organisations employ leadership coaches, and you can expect to earn an average salary of £40,000 if you choose this route.

Successful coaches who set up their own coaching business tend to offer hourly sessions and discounted coaching packages. Fees vary widely, but clients can expect to pay at least £200 per hour for private coaching services.

Want a career change? Interested in a professional coaching career? Check out our range of coaching certifications today!

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