Feel Like a Natural Born Coach? Find Out if You Really Are!

Like Many of You, Our Students Have a Natural Affinity for Helping People

At ICA, we’ve trained thousands of coaches over the past decade, and we’ve noticed a recurring pattern: many of our students come from helping professions. They are parents, teachers, therapists, pastors, nurses, human resources professionals, and organizational leaders. What unites them is more than just their job titles—it is a deeply rooted desire to support others and a high standard for personal development.

These individuals are drawn to coaching because it resonates with who they already are: insightful, empathetic, committed to growth, and purposeful in their relationships. Coaching provides a structured, ethical, and highly effective framework through which they can amplify their impact.

The Traits That Make Great Coaches

Drawing from our experience and supported by findings in the International Journal of Evidence-Based Coaching and Mentoring (IJEBCM), successful coaches often possess the following traits:

• Keen sense of self-awareness: The ability to reflect and course-correct is crucial. As stated by Grant (2017), self-awareness enables coaches to manage their internal biases and maintain presence with clients.
• High emotional intelligence (EQ): As Goleman (1995) popularized, EQ is essential in reading clients’ unspoken concerns and responding with empathy.
• The ability to zoom out and zoom in: Seeing both the big picture and the granular details helps coaches navigate complex client narratives.
• Advanced communication skills: Deep listening, powerful questioning, and summarizing are not just skills—they are the core of transformational coaching.
• Kindness and deep regard for others: A study in Coaching: An International Journal of Theory, Research and Practice emphasized that compassion builds the trust required for real progress.
• Creativity and curiosity: Lifelong learners with an innovative mindset bring adaptability and freshness to every session.

These characteristics are not necessarily “taught” but can be refined and elevated through a strong coach training program. We believe that coaching is both a calling and a discipline. It’s an art that requires deliberate practice and feedback.

Coaching as a Calling: Two Real-World Examples

Case Study 1: Maria, the School Counselor Turned Life Coach

Maria joined ICA after 15 years in the school system. Her background in adolescent psychology made her a strong listener, but she often felt restricted by bureaucratic boundaries. Through ICA’s ICF-accredited training, Maria learned to structure her natural empathy into a results-driven coaching model. Today, she coaches teens and young adults through transitional phases, blending her professional experience with her coaching competencies.

Case Study 2: James, the Engineer Who Wanted to Do More

James always felt a pull toward people development, even in his tech-heavy role. A leadership workshop introduced him to coaching, and he immediately saw its value. With ICA’s structured approach, James transitioned from leading projects to coaching leaders. He now facilitates leadership programs that integrate his strategic thinking with his new coaching skills.

Both Maria and James were “born to coach,” but it took training to turn that potential into a profession.

Evidence-Based Practice: Why Accreditation Matters

A critical component of becoming an effective coach is choosing an ICF-accredited training program. According to research published in Coaching: An International Journal of Theory, Research and Practice, the standardization offered by bodies like the ICF ensures quality, ethical rigor, and competency alignment.

Our curriculum is aligned with ICF’s Core Competencies and includes mentor coaching, observed sessions, and feedback loops—all key components recommended by empirical studies on coach effectiveness.

Are You Ready to Explore the Possibility?

If these qualities resonate with you, you may already be halfway to becoming a coach. The next step is to formalize your natural aptitude through training, community, and credentialing. At ICA, we don’t just train coaches—we help people create a meaningful new chapter where their gifts can truly flourish.