Life coaches know only too well the value of setting goals and achieving them. If you want to share the benefits of your profession with as many people as possible, then taking on volunteer opportunities in disadvantaged communities might not only lighten the load for many people during their darkest moments, but it could also be the stepping stone to your professional goals.
Why Volunteer as a Life Coach?
The simple definition of coaching is the process of guiding others to improve one or more aspects of their lives, moving them from being mediocre to exceptional. You probably already know this by heart, since you've completed the life coaching course with flying colours. Free coaching sessions are a great way to help people develop their life skills, career skills and leadership skills, which are crucial for building stronger communities. There is always a community activity that requires the expertise of a life coach but lacks the funds to hire one.
Volunteering is not a one-way street. While it is extremely beneficial to those on the receiving end of your coaching session, it is no doubt a powerful tool for honing your coaching styles to excel later in your professional life.
How Can You Volunteer as a Life Coach?
If you're just starting out as a life coach, then volunteering with another life coach or life coaching organisation will give you much-needed hands-on experience. Perhaps you can conduct individual coaching with those clients already in the organisation's program, ranging from office employees looking for new opportunities to athletes concerned about their performance.
Now, if you happen to be a seasoned coach with a strong coaching culture, it's worth considering fun volunteer jobs with a not-for-profit organisation in your local community and get the chance to coach a wider range of people. Perhaps today you are dealing with the problems of a small business owner who risks closing shop, but tomorrow you might be dealing with a single mother juggling work and family responsibilities.
Nonprofits have a broad range of volunteering projects that can help polish your skills in no time. You can hold coaching groups with disadvantaged children to help them visualise their goals and develop a concrete plan to achieve them. You can help homeless or low-income people hone their communication skills and a positive outlook as well, which they can use to find jobs, earn a decent income and create wonderful life experiences.
How Can Volunteering as a Life Coach Help People Overcome Obstacles?
For many people a life coach is simply out of the question. They may not have a job, a home or any goals. They may feel so overwhelmed that they think their problems are insurmountable. If you're prepared to work with people in such circumstances, then volunteering is no doubt the way to go. As a life coach, you can help the beneficiaries of the nonprofit organisation you choose to work with to develop a forward-thinking attitude, which is always the starting point of everything good in this world.
A life coach not only specialises in leadership coaching; your versatility allows you to help anyone improve any aspect of their life, including their personal life, sports performance and social life among others. Additionally, taking on volunteering opportunities offers the following benefits that will take your career even further:
Volunteer Your Life Coaching Expertise
If you have a particular area of expertise, such as financial planning, tell the charity. Alternatively, you could contact an organisation that helps people in circumstances you're interested in. For example, if you want to work with unemployed people, contact an employment service. If you want to work with women affected by domestic violence, contact a women's refuge. You'll need to be adaptable and accepting and should be prepared to commit to working with a client on a long-term basis. Also be aware that you may be required to undergo security checks.
Mutual Benefit to Volunteering as a Life Coach
Volunteering as a life coach makes a big difference to many people. Your clients gain new direction in their lives. Their families, friends and communities benefit as your client puts their new skills into place. As a volunteer life coach, you benefit by gaining new experience and sharing your skills with others. Volunteering as a life coach can be a rich experience for everyone involved.
Originally published on Mar 25, 2011
