How to Become a Certified Business Coach

Human beings remain on a learning curve throughout their lives.  From the day we are born to the day we die, we acquire new experiences, new skills, etc.  Similarly, for business leaders to be prepared to meet all kinds of challenges the market throws at them, they need to keep themselves updated. To do that, they often require outside help in the form of a mentor or a coach.  A coach or a mentor can help business owners cultivate their potential and reach objectives.  In this article, we will take a detailed look at the coaching profession and understand how an individual can become a certified business coach.

What is Business Coaching?  

Business coaching involves bringing significant improvements in a business and taking it where the client envisions it. It is a future-driven process that focuses on future expansion and finding ways to overcome obstacles to promote growth. Although the term involves coaching, the work is closer to guiding since the client is not bound to heed the coach. As a business coach, all you can do is create inner awareness in your client to make the right decisions and reach their goals quickly and effectively. Although there are many facets to Business coaching, their work mainly involves three crucial areas

• Planning The Future  
• Setting Goals  
• Improving Relationships

Who is a Certified Business Coach?  

A business coach may be called an executive coach, a corporate coach, or a leadership coach. They are hired by business owners when they want to increase their productivity levels. Their work involves monitoring the employees' abilities and work environment and creating an atmosphere that can help improve client satisfaction.  Despite being a full-time job, the physical stress for a business coach is considerably low yet improving the client's performance entails significant mental stress

How Can You Become a Certified Business Coach

In order to have a career in business coaching, you must possess a certification course in coaching and a degree in either business, human resources, or organizational psychology

Qualifications

Since the career deals with human behavior, a master's degree, or a doctorate in organizational or industrial psychology offers value. This branch of psychology deals with studying human behavior in the workplace.

Certifications

In order to obtain certifications, business coaches must receive field experiences that are either measured in hours or years.  It is because business coaches are required to understand what it means to work in a business environment and understand the future-related needs of their clients. There are a number of institutions that provide certification programs for those who are willing to join a career in business coaching.

Professional Business Coaching Alliance (PBCA): PBCA's training programs are catered at their center, located in New York.

Institute of Certified Business Consultants:  ICBC provides certification on two levels. The online certificate course comprises nine fully online courses, while the ICBC affiliates offer in-house training.

World Coach Institute:  Apart from offering certifications for business coaching, World Coach Institute guarantees a high success rate for coaches.   They are exposed to areas like core coaching competencies, coaching communication skills, coaching applications, tools, assessments applications, etc.

ACS Distance Education:  ACS covers areas like the role of a business coach, strategic planning, motivation, and SWOT analysis.  They also provide online learning with the help of a CD that costs 325 pounds.

  International Coach Federation (ICF) - Usually, the certificate programs of business coaches are endorsed by the International Coach Federation.  They have three levels:  The Associate Certified Coach (ACC), The Professional Certified Coach (PCC), and the Master Certified Coach (MCC).

What are the Roles and Responsibilities of a Business Coach?

 A business coach is similar to a sports coach except that his roles and responsibilities, along with his skills, are applied towards maintaining a successful and productive business. Suppose a business coach finds that an area like sales, management, team building, or marketing needs help; in that case, apart from drawing the client's attention to those areas, the coach will provide guidance, support, accountability, and encouragement. A business coach will also help the clients in dealing with the customers. A coach will observe, listen, set targets, ask questions, show empathy, and ultimately provide an objective assessment of the recorded observations.  A business coach also helps in maintaining the confidentiality of the workplace. They encourage ideas, opportunities, and potential that challenge an individual client's strengths and aspirations.