People seek life coaching services for many reasons –– while some aim to achieve challenging career goals, others want to make better financial decisions or become more intentional parents. But whatever the reason behind their personal development, most coaching clients have one thing in common: a weak mindset.
The human mind is incredibly powerful. It persuades us to believe everything about the world and ourselves. It’s no secret that positive thinking influences our behavior, relationships, and life span, but that doesn’t mean it comes naturally. If our mind fixates on the negative, we may need a mindset coach to teach us how to find life’s bright side.
And if you think you possess the qualities to change someone’s limiting beliefs, this profession is for you. Here’s everything you need to know about mindset coaching, including how to become a mindset coach.
But first, what is mindset coaching?
Mindset coaching focuses on the blocks and behaviors that refrain clients from living their best lives. It’s the core of all life coaching techniques in many ways. For instance, any time someone aims to build their career, achieve a personal goal, or develop a new and healthy habit, they must learn to block limiting beliefs. That’s precisely what a mindset coach teaches.
Mindset coaches may dive deeper into a client’s psyche to assess their outlook on life and how it helps — or hurts — them as they work toward their goals. And once the coach spots a mental block or negative thought pattern, the coach and client work together to challenge that belief, dismantle it, and replace it with something empowering. Through this process, clients can gain the confidence, optimism, and resilience they need to achieve their long-term goals.
Essential mindset coaching topics
All life coaching disciplines focus on different topics that can make a difference in clients’ lives. A career coach may concentrate on skills acquisition or stress management, while a relationship coach dedicates time to building confidence and communication skills. For mindset coaches, most sessions focus on two essential topics.
The first of these topics is “growth mindset development.” People who possess a growth mindset understand that they can work to develop their talents and strengths. Unlike a fixed mindset, which asserts that “you either have it or you don’t,” a growth mindset suggests improvement opportunities. Mindset coaches encourage clients to choose the latter, as it allows individuals to start the hard work of removing mental blocks and bettering their outlook.
The other essential topic for mindset coaching is the “locus of control.” This refers to the belief that a person controls their own life. People with an internal locus of control believe that their abilities and hard work influence their progress toward their goals. In contrast, those with an external locus of control may argue that time, luck, or others’ actions are more important. Mindset coaches help clients develop their internal locus of control, letting them recognize their part in achieving goals.
How to become a mindset coach in 5 steps
Mindset coaching touches every aspect of clients’ lives. It changes their thinking on a subconscious level and smashes through the mental blocks that keep them from self-improvement in just about every arena.
Here’s how you can become a mindset coach:
1. Develop a growth mindset yourself and gain knowledge
Becoming a life coach isn’t just about learning the topics and techniques. You have to incorporate them into your life. The most effective coaches are those who talk the talk and walk the walk. Learn everything you can about the growth mindset, bust some of your mental blocks, and use that experience to augment your life coach practice.
2. Learn strategies to shift mindset and regulate emotions
Shifting someone’s mindset isn’t easy, especially if they have a rigid mentality. Once they decide on something, they often stick with the thought. But even the most stubborn thought patterns can change — if you have the proper techniques. A mindset coach should study techniques like:
- Emotional freedom technique (EFT): This involves tapping acupressure points on the hands, face, and body to combat anxiety and stress.
- Neuro-linguistic programming (NLP): A psychological framework that claims unconscious cues (like our body language or how we speak) can influence our thoughts and feelings.
3. Gain experience in a coaching or mentoring capacity
Studying the strategies contributing to a growth mindset is the first step on your coaching journey. But great coaching is about more than understanding the concepts. You also need years of experience. Find another life coach who can mentor you and gain some experience as an apprentice. Every client is an opportunity to change someone’s life and improve your coaching skills.
4. Build your network and connect with other coaches and professionals in your field
Once you have experience coaching, it’s time to build your brand. Network with other professionals in the life coach realm — regardless of their coaching type. While connecting with other mindset coaches is essential, you can also benefit from relationships with career coaches, wellness coaches, and any other discipline.
5. Create your coaching business and promote your services
The final step in your mindset coaching journey is to market your business and find some clients. Leverage your connections in the coaching world, and self-promote your practice on social media platforms, such as Facebook, LinkedIn, and Instagram. Get your name out there and start making a difference.
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Do you need a mindset coach certification?
You might have noticed that “get certified” wasn’t one of the steps mentioned above. But why not? Well, unlike wellness coaches, who require certifications before practicing in healthcare settings, mindset coaching doesn’t (mandatorily) require certification. Some courses offer mindset coach certification, and you can earn a credential from the International Coaching Federation to establish your credibility and education for clients. But certification isn’t necessary for a successful coaching business.
Growth mindset techniques
Mindset coaching seeks to tap into a client’s subconscious and unlock the potential they already possess. Coaches achieve this through a few models and techniques. They encourage clients to:
- Step outside their comfort zone: A life coach gives clients a safe space to venture outside their comfort zone, challenge their long-held beliefs, and muster up the courage to make changes.
- Shift perspective of challenges to see them as opportunities: It can be easy to feel defeated in the face of a big problem. Mindset coaches challenge that attitude, reframing it so the situation looks more like an opportunity to grow.
- Practice positive reinforcement on effort and hard work: Many people grow up believing that natural talent defines their future. A mindset life coach encourages clients to focus instead on the effort that goes into learning a new skill. Praising and celebrating hard work enables clients to reach newer heights.
- Adopt malleable thinking: Fixed thinking (believing “I’m dumb” or “I’m not good at this”) can keep your clients from the success they want. Mindset coaches encourage their clients to be malleable in their self-perception, saying instead, “I can learn this.”
- Set realistic goals: Finally, mindset coaches set their clients up for success through realistic goals. They help clients understand that self-improvement is a lifelong endeavor and that baby steps are a valuable part of the journey.
Improve your coaching skills with Practice
Any life coach can benefit from mindset coaching principles, whether they practice parenting coaching, business coaching, or any other niche. All clients must develop confidence and learn the skills necessary to bust through self-doubt on the road to success. Mindset coaching gives clients (and coaches) the tools to persevere until they achieve their dreams.
You can use mindset coaching techniques to help build your coaching practice — but you’ll also need help managing your client load. Practice’s Client Management Software, designed with coaches and small businesses in mind, helps you schedule appointments, process payments, and streamline the business side of your practice, so you can focus on your clients. Try Practice today.
