Those who’ve experienced good coaching that empowered them to make the difficult changes necessary to improve their lives, have kept this relatively new profession moving and growing. Coaching websites are full of testimonials. They can explain what coaching does but few can explain what it “is” or that it is not just good leadership, leadership training or another helping profession.
Professional coaches have a different mindset and a very different approach than almost all untrained coaches, because it comes naturally to very few. Keith Webb, developer of The Coach Model, says, “To most leaders, professional coaching practices are counter-intuitive, and that’s good!” Ha! It is good if you are a professional coach! His definition of professional coaches is, “Real coaches master 3 sets: a coaching mindset, a coaching skill set and a coaching tool set.”
Most of us would never dream of seeing someone who claimed to be a doctor if they did not have board certification. It’s just not wise.
So what kind of certifications are available for coaches? The first step is to complete a program at a school that is accredited by our national board, the Center for Credentialing and Education, or The International Coaching Federation. The student first receives a school certification and can then claim to be a certified coach. At that point, they can begin working toward the BCC or ICF certification. Both are valid certifications. Specialty certifications can be pursued after the Life Coaching certification is gained.
So what exactly IS coaching? Coaching is working with someone who has mastered the 3 skillsets, “a coaching mindset, a coaching skill set and a coaching tool set,” so that they can achieve the results they desire.
Like finding a new doctor, certifications are crucially important, but it is only the first step to finding a coach that is right for you.
Board Certification requirements can be found on the Center For Credentialing website.
If you want to know about my training, click the tab that says “bachelor’s degree or higher in any field” FYI, my bachelor’s was in communication.
To see the difference between therapy and coaching, check out the chart at the bottom of this article.