What was your profession before becoming a coach?
I am currently Vice-President, Sales Team Leader at Citibank. As part of my role, I now coach my team so they succeed and achieve their targets.
Why did you want to become a coach?
I was sent to a few short courses on coaching team for success. From my work experience with coaching and the coaching courses I attended, I understood that coaching is a useful discipline but I was not interested enough to study it more or to become a coach full-time. Until one day, while being on holiday, we started discussing with my mom what our talents were and if we used them in our lives.
I realised that my natural talent was asking questions. Naturally, I was always very curious about people’s lives and asked non-stop questions to learn more about them. When I did not ask questions, my friends were joking and wondering if something was wrong with me. I started researching all the professions where I could ask questions and then the whole puzzle came into place. I read more about coaching and its usefulness to everyday life, and straight away enrolled on the Coaching academy’s Free 2-Day Foundation in Life Coaching course to learn more about coaching. I then decided for sure this was something I wanted to study and practise at this point of my life.
Most people become a coach to change the lives of others… How has coaching benefited your own life and other people’s lives?
Coaching has definitely changed my personal life. I learned the importance of effective listening and also the art of asking effective questions, which has also helped my current role by identifying clients’ needs more effectively.
My coaching practice clients’ lives have changed dramatically too, and this was actually the main reason and inspiration for me to consider coaching as a potential business idea. Seeing with my own eyes how the lives of my clients have been transformed gave me a huge joy and great satisfaction, which I was not getting from my current job.
What is your coaching Niche?
I chose to specialise in Happiness coaching for Women and created the concept of "Let’s Be Happy Academy" that aims to help women become happy, content and fulfilled. The core of the Academy is of course Coaching/NLP/DISC profiling, and also other activities I was doing before (like women Happiness Clubs or transformational game).
How did you get your first client?
My first client was my colleague and we almost had 20 sessions together. She was one of the clients, who were insisting and telling me to create a more formal concept/business to help other women. That is how the concept of "Let’s be Happy Academy" was born.
What was your experience being trained by The Coaching Academy? Could you summarise your coaching experience with TCA?
In sum, an amazing journey. I was a bit struggling at the beginning, but TCA’s well-structured programme, support and encouragement has helped me not only to complete my course in nine months and become a very confident coach, but also to create the concept of my new business.
TCA has transformed my life on a personal level too. I have learned to trust life, myself and others, which was a big deal to me, as I was struggling to trust people after a few past traumatic experiences.
What would you say to someone thinking of enrolling with The Coaching Academy?
Don't think even twice. It's not important if you want to become a coach in the future or not, the course is amazing for anybody interested in self-development and personal growth. I coached myself along the whole course and this was one of the best ways for me to know myself better – I learned what was important for me in life and what stopped me from reaching my full potential. No matter if you decide to help other people transform their lives or not, as a minimum you will transform your own life. I called my coaching journey with TCA "The Way to Myself".
What are your top tips for new coaches?
- Read/listen the requirements how to qualify before you even start the course.
- As soon as enrolled, look at the final paper questions and answer them along the way, as soon as you read/know the answers.
- It is essential to complete all LRS after the Module, Accelerator Day, and not to postpone it for later.
What is your future goal for coaching business?
As mentioned, I want to help other women to find the way to their Happiness. I had a very long personal journey to become truly happy, and I am very passionate about sharing my personal experience and then using the coaching models and tools to help other women create the life they want.
If Irina's words have inspired you and you feel that Coaching could be a potential full or part time opportunity for you, or if you would just like to know a little more about what Coaching is and how it can benefit you and the lives of others, please contact our Specialist Course Advisor, Jamil on 0208 996 4830 or email: Jamil@the-coaching-academy.com
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