When we began coaching 18 years ago, the profession was very new, unseasoned, and untested. Few people actually knew that executive or life coaching was a profession. If a coach said “I’m a coach”, people would ask, ‘for what sport?’ From only a handful of accredited coach training schools fifteen years ago, there are now hundreds. That is serious and consistent growth for a new profession.

Today, coaching is maturing and coming of age. The marketplace is becoming more savvy and sophisticated too. When people look for a coach, they are more likely to ask about certification, credentials and experience. We always advise clients to do the due diligence; interview coaches, and then make sure they hire a professionally trained and credentialed coach.

Coaches who have been trained by an accredited school and then credentialed through the International Coach Federation have achieved the highest standards the profession offers. They can be sure that they are bringing quality and excellence to their clients. The clients can be sure that their coach will adhere to the ethics and standards held by the ICF and maintain a professional relationship.

When you look for a professional in any area, an accountant, a lawyer, a doctor, a plumber, you want to be sure that the individual is completely trained and is certified to provide you with a service. It’s a way of saying to the marketplace, “Yes, you can trust me to do the very best job for you, because I have been trained and certified by the best.”

More and more over the years, as companies hire internal coaches, they are requiring that coaches go through an accredited program. To maintain consistency and quality, companies from Google, Blue Cross/Blue Shield and Adidas to the U.S. Federal Government have found that coaching is a viable and valuable modality for their workforce.

Coaches who study and work to gain a credential are showing that they are committed to their profession. They are proud to hold a credential which clearly states to the world that they are serious and dedicated professionals.

As coaching continues to grow and expand, credentialing will also continue to rise in importance. The more coaches there are in the world, the more our clients will demand that we rise to achieve the highest standards. A coaching credential serves to communicate these standards with no uncertainty. Our clients can feel secure in knowing that their credentialed coach brings credibility, training, experience and excellence to the coaching relationship.

As you choose your coach training school, make sure the program is an Accredited Coach Training Program with the International Coach Federation.

To learn more, please join us for the FREE call: Easy ABC’s of Renewing Your ICF Credential. Click here to register. And, if you are not able to join us live, we will send you the recording.

Important resources:
coachfederation.org
ICF Code of Ethics
ICF Core Competencies