Should You Become an Emotional Intelligence Coach?

“Emotional intelligence is the new black,” as Wired Magazine put it. In the years since I wrote Emotional Intelligence, countless studies have shown the vital role of emotional intelligence (or EI) in leadership success, in high-performing teams, and in boosting engagement and lessening burnout. Not to mention emotional balance and well-being in general throughout our lives.

My latest thinking sees four parts to emotional intelligence, with specific competencies for high performance nested in each part:

But reading about EI can only get you so far–you can understand why you should develop strengths in these abilities. Yet it’s not so easy to cultivate these competencies in a lasting way.

So even though we all have the potential to increase our emotional intelligence–after all, the competencies are a set of learnable skills–without the right kind of practice, this change won’t occur. We’ll remain stuck in the habits that got us here–and it will take new skills to get us to the next stage in our careers.

We need what Anders Ericsson, the University of Florida cognitive psychologist who studies mastery in any field, calls “smart practice”: repeated practice that is paired with feedback from an expert coach on how to improve.

That’s why I feel having a coach in EI gives you the best path to upgrading your EI skill set. (If you’d like to get coached in EI, you can learn more here.)

And if becoming an EI coach interests you, my Emotional Intelligence Coaching Certification (EICC) shows you how to explore what you and your clients can work at enhancing: the competencies of emotional intelligence. To more precisely evaluate your clients’ EI profiles, the program integrates the Emotional and Social Competence Inventory (ESCI), the robust 360 EI assessment I developed in partnership with Richard Boyatzis and Korn Ferry Hay Group. All EICC participants will become certified to administer the ESIC.

Whether you’re an established coach, a seasoned executive, or are seeking a career change, this EI Coaching Certification offers a range of benefits to make a lasting, positive impact on your life and the lives of those around you.

If you’re an established coach

If you’re already a coach, the EICC can help you differentiate your practice and incorporate new resources into your repertoire. Many coaches want to utilize skill-building content (or coaching homework, if you will) that aligns with their coaching sessions, but lack the time to build these resources. My team and I have created a suite of online courses, journaling tools, and mindfulness practices that you can use in your coaching practice.

As a participant in the EICC, you’ll gain mastery of these resources by first applying them yourself with the guidance of a Meta-Coach (or master coach) to further develop your own emotional intelligence. Participants tell me that they experience personal growth during this portion of the program that can have a profoundly positive impact on their coaching practice. You’ll then apply this experience to coaching a learning partner and one or two practice clients. This new set of tools and concepts, as well as the people you meet and work with along the way, lets you chart a new path in your existing work.

If you’re a seasoned executive or consultant

You don’t have to coach in a formal capacity to benefit from the EICC. Everything you’ll learn can map onto your role as a leader. By better utilizing the coaching leadership style, you’ll add value to your career and increase your life satisfaction as you make a positive impact.

Another bonus: If you’re not a coach, but rather a seasoned executive or consultant, you may find it difficult to set aside time to invest in your personal development. But as a participant in the EICC, you’ll learn to cultivate inner well-being for yourself as well as your team.

If you’re seeking a career change

In our increasingly technological and interconnected world, emotional intelligence–including competence in adaptability, empathy, and teamwork–is more important than ever before. The coaching industry is quickly growing alongside this demand for emotional intelligence. EI coaches stand to rise to the forefront of the coaching industry, as the demand for EI coaching continues to grow.

If you’re seeking a career change and want to pursue more meaningful work, consider becoming an EI coach. New coaches in the EICC benefit from the wisdom and guidance of more experienced coaches. You’ll gain insights that many coaches arrived at through years of practice. These include the common places clients get stuck, and how to help them effectively move forward. Above all, the comprehensive nature of the program–from the online courses to assessment certification to a practicum and personalized feedback–equip graduates to launch successful careers in the coaching industry.

Regardless of your background, EICC participants join a welcoming and like-minded community. You’ll have the opportunity to connect with people from a multitude of industries and countries, all of whom care deeply about emotional intelligence and its ability to foster positive change across the world.

If you’d like to hear from current participants and Meta-Coaches about their experience in the EICC, you can watch a recorded webinar here:

You can also learn more about the Emotional Intelligence Coaching Certification here and apply here.

Good luck!