how to become a business coach

How to Become a Business Coach

A business coaching and mentoring session in progress

As well as providing business coaching and executive coaching to those who require the services of an experienced and external business coach, at the BCF Group we also offer a number of business coaching courses and qualifications which will enable managers to effectively coach those in their team to improve their performance and help them to maximise their potential.

Providing effective coaching for your team will help to build commitment amongst them. Not only will this assist in attaining high levels of performance, but will likely lead to a raising of overall morale and a subsequent reduction in staff turnover, as workers stay with your company and do not seek alternative career opportunities at other companies. These other companies may be competitors, who would welcome the inside information these former employees could furnish them with!

How do I become a business coach?

Before looking at becoming a coach, first things first, just what is business coaching?! The definition of business coaching and its numerous benefits can be found here, and while there are almost too many definitions and explanations to count, there is certainly no doubting one thing... the positive impact that it can have on people and a business as a whole.

There are many elements and components of being a successful business coach. The skills needed to be a coach - some of which the individual concerned may already be good at, and others which will require a significant amount of time, dedication and practice in order to develop - will be crucial when it comes to providing business coaching services to paying clients in the future.

These skills include becoming an effective motivator, giving constructive feedback, setting performance plans, delegating, empowering others and many more.

In fact, the best coaches and managers in the world never stop learning; refining and even acquiring new skills in order to be the best that they can possibly be.

For managers, business coaching is often combined with management training courses to develop their talents and make them more effective managers, who can complete projects and overcome challenges as they present themselves.

Courses and programs

Becoming a business coach and mentor to others can not only be financially lucrative, but also extremely rewarding too, and we offer a number of different options for those looking at how to become a coach.

The courses below will give you the skills required to start or develop your journey as a business coach. They include accredited business coaching qualifications by the Institute of Leadership and Management (ILM), one of the leading accreditation bodies in the UK - and indeed the world - along with our own courses which can be tailored to your specific requirements.

ILM Coaching & Mentoring Courses

Business coaching, management training and leadership development programs accredited by the Institute of Leadership and Management (ILM). For those desiring an accredited business coaching qualification, an ILM Diploma or Certificate course is the ideal option.

We currently offer the following ILM accredited coaching courses. Please click on a qualification title to find out more about each one including scheduled open course dates and booking information.

ILM Level 7 Qualifications in Executive Coaching and Mentoring

ILM Level 5 Qualifications in Coaching and Mentoring

Our Own Coaching & Mentoring Courses

We also offer the above courses without the ILM accreditation (and the additional time and cost that this would entail).

Comprised of the same syllabus as the ILM qualifications, these courses are an ideal option for those delegates who do not require an ILM accredited coaching qualification. The course syllabus can also be modified to make it more specific to your company.

Please click on the button below to get in touch with us regarding these courses.

Train The Trainer Course

Being able to teach and convey information or a message to others is an essential skill in coaching, and goes hand-in-hand with being an effective workplace trainer.

Our 2-day Train The Trainer course provides the essential skills for people that are new to training, or simply wishing to refresh their skills.

This course is available with or without an ILM Development Certificate.

Own Your Own Coaching Business

Many people who decide that they want to become a business coach will take an accredited qualification... but then what? Obtaining an accredited business coaching qualification is just the first step, and many prospective business coaches, who would have gone on to have successful business coaching careers, fall down at this next hurdle.

It can be a lonely and daunting place to start your new career as a business coach, entrepreneur coach, business marketing coach, performance coach, or indeed any type of coach, without any support or guidance.

This 'what happens next?' was a question which came up a lot as more and more people took an accredited course such as the ILM Level 5 Coaching and Mentoring qualifications, with the intention to then become a coach and make a living out of being a professional business coach to others. As a consequence, we have created a unique package of products which you won't find anywhere else, that serve to kick start your new career as a business coach, and provide you with a much firmer foundation upon which to build your new business.

Introducing "The Power of 4 Journey"

At the BCF Group, we offer a truly unique package which helps you on your journey of becoming an accredited business coach to new clients. It includes:

An ILM accredited course to certify you as an accredited coach
6 months coaching and mentoring support for you during those sometimes overwhelming initial first phases
50 psychometric reports to use on your new clients, in order to understand them in much more detail and therefore provide a far more valuable coaching service
A 21st century digital business card, which represents all your products in an easy to use and one click of a button registration to your website and product offering

Let us set your coaching practice up for success.

The Straightforward Power of 4 Journey Looks as Follows:

1) The first step is to certify you as an accredited coach. The BCF Group is an ILM accredited centre. Our certified business coaching programs are delivered by accredited coaches to a standard of excellence that has made us masters in our field. All the program material is offered to you in a digital format to call upon, at any time anywhere in the world, where you have access to the internet.

2) Our second step is offering you 6 months tutor coaching and mentoring support, where we collectively go on your coaching journey with you. We interact with you in such a way, face to face or remotely, that suits your pace and business growth.

3) Thirdly we offer you tools to get a measure on your coaching clients. You can draw down 50 FREE psychometric reports when required. These assessments are done online and take between 10-15 minutes to complete. The pool of reports you have are: 360; Behavioural Assessment (trait-Map™); Emotional Intelligence (EQ-swot) & Motivational Coefficient (MQ). These reports will give you and your client insight to have good robust conversations within your coaching from a tangible foundation.

4) Our final offering for you to lay the foundation for your own coaching practice is your brand in your client's hands. In conjunction with you we are creating, designing and developing your personal digital business card. This card offers your business exposure to your clients via your social media, blogging and vlogging channels. It represents all your products in an easy to use and one click of a button registration to your website and product offering.

About Us

The BCF Group have evolved from the Business Coaching Foundation, which was established in 2001. We have leadership development and business coaching at our core. Having representation from global learning leads, executive coaches and talent development specialists, we deliver accredited people development programs.

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Related Courses

Please see below for some related courses and qualifications which you may be interested in:

ILM Level 7 Executive and Senior Level Coaches and Mentors Qualifications

ILM Level 7 Qualifications in Executive Coaching and Mentoring

The ILM Level 7 Qualifications for Senior Level Coaches and Mentors are designed for senior leaders/managers (or those working in a training and development role) who are regularly coaching or mentoring at a senior level.

It is for those executive coaches who wish to accredit, validate or enhance their skills with an internationally-recognised executive coaching qualification.

ILM Level 5 Qualifications in Effective Coaching and Mentoring

Based on our extensive work and experience with leaders, both in the private and public sectors, this ILM Level 5 Coaching and Mentoring program has been designed to develop the capability of leaders to positively impact the performance of individuals and teams.

This program has been created to sharpen a leader's skills - enabling them to balance control, commitment and empowerment through productive conversations with individuals and teams.

ILM Level 3 Award in Leadership and Management

This two-day accredited management training program brings together the key leadership skills you need to be an effective manager so you can return to the workplace, deliver tangible results and help your teams reach their full potential.

It covers problem-solving, decision making, workplace communication and leading, and motivating teams effectively, among much more.

First Line Management

First Line Management Course

This course has been designed for those who are new to management or who are about to take up a management position.

Run over a single day, the course covers a wide range of topics to give new and inexperienced managers a good understanding of the foundations needed to begin their journey as a manager.

It includes modules on communication, managing your team, managing yourself, delegating, setting objectives, planning and personal development.