Would you hire a life coach long on experience and wisdom but short on tradition

1. 69

   Born2care2001posted 13 years ago

   Would you hire a life coach long on experience and wisdom but short on traditional credentials?
   
   From a client perspective, what essential skills must a life coach have in order to meet their needs?

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2. 61

   kroschposted 13 years ago

   Yes if I was in the market for a Life Coach, I would most certainly hire them based on their experience not based on a traditional resume. I don't think a traditional resume ensures any kind of good advice for experience and it would need to be all about outlook and if they had if its not too clique real world experience in the things I thought I needed help in.

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3. 92

   billybucposted 13 years ago

   I had one and didn't even have to hire him...my sponsor in AA, quite possibly the most influential man in my life.  So damn wise and yet so humble.  Find me another one like him and I'll hire him in a heartbeat.

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4. 53

   cobrienposted 13 years ago

   I would prefer one long on experience and wisdom. I don't feel credentials prove much. Anybody can give halfway decent advice when he/she looks at your life objectively, especially an educated person. But, when I think of a good life coach, I have in mind an inexperienced man I have a lot of respect for that gave me good advice on some serious issues. He's a life coach now.

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5. 41

   ChristinSposted 13 years ago

   This is one area where I don't think traditional credential apply.  I tend to trust those who have grown knowledgeable and wise about living - because they've actually had experiences and trials and figured out how to grow through them. 
   
   I have no "credentials" as a life coach, but I do have a lot people who seek me out due to my writings on related topics (law of attraction, personal growth and development subjects etc.) and in those works I am genuine and honest about my experiences and how I have come to know what works.  That has drawn people to me and no one has ever asked me for a "credential" when asking my advice or insight on something. 

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6. 67

   GDiBiaseposted 13 years ago

   I am actually in the process of becoming life/happiness coach. I felt I was wasting my time in my career in the corporate jungle. I quit my job in November and am taking a course to get certified in this area. Mostly because of my life experiences, I am a very positive , happy person, who genuinely has a love for humanity  I want to make a difference in peoples lives, to give back, to make a difference. I am almost through my course, I already have a web page and have decided to only ask for a donation depending on what people can afford. Check my profile for more information on that. My belief is a desire to help and caring about other people is far more important than credentials as they could no where need outshine my knowledge and wisdom from living life.
   Thanks
   Gail

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7. 60

   move2moveposted 13 years ago

   Having credentials is nice, but isn't a guarantee that the person you hire actually knows what s/he's even talking about. Expertise doesn't come through credentials, but does through having been yourself in the same or similar situations (bad & good) as those you're supposed to coach. Of course, you can't have been through all experiences that are in existence, but from those you have and were able to solve positively and effectively got a real understand of what was going on back then, you can seriously relate with people who don't by now.
   
   It's just like Mark Twain's quote says:
   "Don't let your schooling interfere with your education".
   
   It couldn't be closer to the truth.

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8. 61

   manofmystery24posted 13 years ago

   I would much rather have a life coach long on experience and wisdom. If a degree has nothing to do with your purpose in life, it might as well be obsolete. I know people that have degrees and they're completely broke. Bob Proctor is a great example of someone who was experience and wisdom. He had no formal education and a terrible work record. As soon as he picked up Think and Grow RIch, the best self-development book of all time, his life changed significantly. He went from making $4,000 a year to making $175,000, and then to making millions. It's not about having an abundance of general or specialized knowledge. It's all about developing and getting to know yourself. That's where true riches really are.

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9. 60

   Robin Cristyposted 13 years ago

   Like me, move2move must be a Mark Twain fan!  When I read your question Born2care, Twain's words "Don't let your schooling interfere with your education" came to mind.  When experienced, one can have empathy, and with wisdom, advise.

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10. 84

    pstraubie48posted 13 years ago

    for sure....credentials are nice and all but they do not necessarily mean the individual who possesses them has the wisdom/experience that is far more important to me than credentials.

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11. 0

    Kathleen Kerswigposted 13 years ago

    I think it is important for a coach to be able to relate to their clients. If someone is struggling with their kids, it might be difficult for a coach to help if they've never had children. If someone is striving to live a life in sobriety, it helps to have a recovery coach who has been sober for awhile and knows what it is like to live in the insanity of the disease. It is always possible to help people, but being able to relate to each other helps immensely. This is my opinion - the credentials are admirable but wisdom from life's experience adds credibility. Good question.

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12. 60

    growtogetherposted 12 years ago

    When I read the comments, I think that a lot of people in our society confused life coach, mentor and counseling.
    I have a good explanation of each on my website, check it out:
    http://www.toprelationshipcoaching.com/ … XKzbLUp91E
    It is so important to understand the difference between those professions because then you can make the good choice in which professional you want to work with. You need advises on how to do this or that, consult a mentor. You need to figure stuff out in your past and work on some problems, consult a counselor. You need to move forward in your life and focus on solution and/or present and future, consult a life coach.
    A life coach doesn't give advice, opinion or judgment. A life coach is not supposed to tell you what to do or how to do it. All solutions come from you and only you. The only words that are supposed to come out of a life coach mouth are powerful questions. That's it!
    I'm only 23 years old, and I'm doing my life coach certification. I don't need years of life experience do be a life coach because I'm not giving advises, I'm supporting my clients to do what they want to do of their lives. I'm there to make them accountable for their actions, I don't tell them what to do. That's a mentor's job.

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    1. 69

       Born2care2001posted 12 years agoin reply to this

       I agree the best result is one your client comes to on their own. Asking questions is one technique to accomplish this. Your clients trust in you is a huge piece of this achievement. Powerful questions often come from experience with the subject.

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