Who makes for an incredible coach
“I’ve Always Wanted to Be a Life Coach, But…”
I can't tell you how many people have told me they would love to be a life coach. I’ve heard 100s of iterations of:
"You’re a life coach, that sounds so amazing. I’d love to do something like that!"
"How did you become a life coach? It’s something I’ve always thought about!"
People share with me their desire to do something meaningful, to help others, and to have a career path that gives them more freedom in their lives. They light up when they talk about wanting to be of service in an impactful and aligned way.
But then, right after sharing this dream, they shut it down. Almost without fail, they’ll say something like:
"But I could never do that! My background is in ________ (marketing/teaching/stay at home parent/you name it), I have no experience in that field!"
"That’s such a big responsibility to work with folks. I’d be too scared. I wouldn’t even know what to do!"
"I'm a total mess, I barely have my life together, how could I help others with theirs?"
If any of this sounds familiar, trust me, you're not alone. These are the same doubts I hear all the time, and I’ve had them myself at different points along my journey.
The Myth of the “Perfect Coach”
Here’s the truth: most life coaches never set out to be life coaches. At least, not initially. Life coaches come to this work after having lived many different lives. They might have been teachers, had corporate 9-to-5 jobs, or jumped from one career to another. They didn’t start off with a crystal-clear vision of becoming a coach—they evolved into it, and so can you.
One of the biggest misconceptions aspiring coaches have is that they need to possess the "right" qualities or background to be successful in this field. They believe they need to be extroverts, highly intuitive, or that their lives must be perfectly in order before they can help others.
But the truth is, there are no "right" qualities or backgrounds for becoming an impactful coach. The beauty of coaching is that we need coaches who are as diverse as the folks we work with.
There is no perfect mold for a coach.
There are no innate qualities that make one coach better than another. The only important qualities are that you want to be of service and that you have a passion to do this work.
Let’s bust some common myths about who can be a coach:
Need to Know All the Answers: A coach’s role is not about having all the answers. Coaching is not about giving advice but about creating a container where clients can come up with their own solutions and answers. Coaches help clients reclaim their own wisdom through wholehearted questions, listening, and offering tools and support.
Need to Be Healed: You don’t need to be fully healed to be a coach, but you do need to be committed to your own path of wellness and healing. The best coaches are those invested in their own well-being. It’s important to be emotionally self-regulated to be grounded and present for your clients.
Myth 1: You need to have it all figured out
Reality: None of us have our lives perfectly together, and that’s okay. Your personal journey and ongoing growth make you more relatable to your clients.Myth 2: You have to be an extrovert
Reality: Introverts make amazing coaches because they’re often great listeners and can create space for deep reflection.Myth 3: You need a specific background in therapy or social work
Reality: While those experiences can be helpful, they’re not required. Your unique life experiences are what shape your coaching style.
Embrace Your Magic and Medicine
So, what does make someone a great coach? It’s not about fitting into a mold or checking off a list of qualifications. What makes you an amazing coach is you—the real, authentic, multifaceted person you are.
In our coaching certification program, we talk a lot about “magic and medicine.” These are the parts of you that hold something special—what makes you uniquely qualified to do this work. Your magic and medicine are the qualities, experiences, and values that only you bring to the table.
Here’s what I mean:
Your life story is your magic and medicine.
Your values are your magic and medicine.
Your lived experiences—whether they’re tied to your culture, your identity, your struggles, or your triumphs—are your magic and medicine.
What you’ve gone through, what you care about, and what you believe in can all be woven into your coaching practice. Your uniqueness is your strength. This is the beauty of coaching: all the parts of who you are can contribute to the transformation you offer your clients.
Here are some examples of what your magic and medicine might look like in your coaching practice:
Maybe you’ve spent years in a corporate environment—that experience can inform how you help your clients navigate work-life balance or career transitions.
Maybe you’ve spent years raising a family—those skills in emotional intelligence and nurturing relationships are invaluable in coaching.
Maybe you’re passionate about creativity, movement, or mindfulness—those passions can become key tools in your coaching approach.
Your Whole Self Is Welcome Here
There’s no one way to be a coach because there’s no one way to be human. The more you embrace who you are, the more your clients will be drawn to work with you. Coaching allows for the fullest expression of who you are—it’s a career where you don’t have to leave any part of yourself at the door. In fact, it’s the opposite: the more you bring your whole self to the table, the better.
Here are some “unexpected” qualities that can be part of your magic and medicine as a coach:
Being introverted: You’re probably a great listener, and your clients will feel heard and understood.
Being a little messy: You’ve figured some things out, and that gives you the empathy to guide others through their own messiness.
Having a logical mind: You might not be highly intuitive, but your analytical approach can help clients find practical, grounded solutions.
Embracing your identity: Whether it’s your gender identity, cultural background, or personal interests, these aspects of who you are add richness to your coaching practice.
Do You Want to Be a Coach?
If this resonates with you, and you’ve ever thought about becoming a life coach, here’s my message to you: You already have everything you need to become an incredible coach.
There’s no special background or secret formula. The very things that make you who you are—your journey, your experiences, your quirks, and your passions—are the reasons someone will want to work with you. They are your magic and medicine.
So, if you’ve been waiting for a sign, consider this it. If you’ve been dreaming of being a coach, why not take the next step?
You have everything it takes to succeed in this work. And the world needs more coaches like you—coaches who are real, compassionate, and brave enough to bring their whole selves to the practice.