Mentor Coach Tips

Coaching, Credentials, Competencies, and Confusion

You didn't have to go too far in the coaching world during these past weeks to run into the ruckus around the International Coach Federation's proposed move to a single professional credential, intended to comply with ISO standards.

Whether a long-time coach who has already earned ICF credentials, a member of the ICF assessor team, or a newer coach getting started on a professional path, everyone has questions, opinions, concerns.  Much of the more thoughtful dialog is posted at Coaching Commons.

For me it's a reminder of the importance of the second and foundational ICF coaching competency: Establishing the Coaching Agreement ... the ability to first explore fully what is wanted, establishing measures of success, and ensuring both coach and client are clear about the purpose ... fully understanding WHAT before running off to figure out HOW.

I'm still not clear about the importance of this proposal ...for me, the coaching profession, or clients.  Am hoping this becomes clearer in the upcoming weeks.  But it's easy to imagine just how differently this would be playing out if the ICF had paid more attention to first building an understanding around the purpose.  Ah, well ... that's the beauty of this profession.  Every situation is an opportunity to learn.

Meanwhile, you might want to stop by the site www.ICFCoachesTakeaStand.org and join with 600+ coaches in a call for a do-over.

Mining the ICF Global Client Study

Be sure to take a look at the latest ICF Global Coaching Client Study.  (ICF members can download the Executive Summary and some of the by-country data for free.)

The big news -- but not surprising -- is that coaching clients are looking for results.  78% said "the effectiveness of the coaching process" was very important in selecting a coach.  (And another 18% said it was somewhat important.)  Contrast this to 44% for "explanation of the coaching process" or 30% for "cost of coaching" -- points that newer coaches often worry most about in conversations with prospective clients.

In addition, client focus groups distinguished coaching as an "action plan," rather than "exploratory," process.  Clients are looking for credible pathways to success; they want a return on their investment.  Happily, 96% of the respondents were very pleased with their coaching experience -- they would repeat it.  Hard ROI numbers are more difficult to come by.  The study came up with a median ROI of, for individuals, 3.44 times their investment and, for companies, 7 times their investment.

So right from the start -- even before the client hires us -- we coaches have to take seriously ICF Competency #2 "Establishing the Coaching Agreement" ... find out what's important to the client and why, how the client defines success and how it will be measured.  Figure out the game you're going to play together before you get on the field!

Lots of info in the study ... and all good for thinking about how we talk with others about what we do and the value we bring.

Coaching with the Brain in Mind

If you also find fascinating questions about who we are, why we do what we do, and how all that interacts with our mind/brain, you might be interested in David Rock’s upcoming presentation about Coaching with the Brain in Mind.

 

There are two opportunities:

 

1)      ICF Member Virtual Education Call – Wed., March 25, 2009 at 4 p.m. eastern 

2)      IT Coaches SIG – Tuesday, April 2, 2009 at 12 noon eastern

 

ICF CEU’s are available at the ICF session (code words at start and end of call).  IT Coaches SIG is a Coach U sponsored gathering.

 

Both probably have recordings available if you (and your brain!) can’t be there live.

Demystifing Coach Competencies

If you are involved in the ICF credentialling or CoachU certification processes ... or thinking about it, check out the new credential distinctions recently posted by the ICF. There's a description of what's expected for each competency ... at ACC, PCC, and MCC levels.

Takes much of the mystery out of the oral exam process -- whew! More importantly, use these as guides to ramp up the effectiveness of your coaching -- work toward and critique coaching sessions against the model of the next level for you.

Where are we going? Are we there yet??

Coaching takes time... and clear communication.

Often, I hear the same concern from new coaches: why does the client who, at first, seemed so eager to get started now seem to have lost interest, or perhaps has even returned to old behaviors? Perhaps, you think, the client isn't "coachable."

Before kicking the client out the door, check to see whether you -- the coach -- and the client are on the same page about your work together. Have you agreed upon a clear focus or goal? Exactly what does your client want to change?  Why have they hired you? What value do they expect to get from your work together? What is so important to them that they are eager and willing to try new approaches?

The International Coach Federation's Definition of Coaching states that the client chooses the coaching focus. But the ICF also says that it's the coach's responsibility to "discover, clarify, and align with what the client wants to achieve."  And that means this: do not move into problem-solving mode until both you and the client are crystal clear about where you are going, not only at the start of a coaching relationship but also at the start of each and every coaching conversation.

It's hard to get somewhere when you aren't even sure where you want to go. And if the destination seems more like a mirage or a mystery, you probably don't even want to get in the car!