invite CHANGE

October 17, 2010

Finding My Blind Spots & Wanting More Help From ICF

Coach Training, Community of Coaching, Ethics & Professional Conduct, Mentor Coaching,  

As part of the inviteCHANGE faculty team, I recently completed the inviteCHANGE Mentor Coach Certification Program (MCCP). My goal was to deepen my learning about an inviteCHANGE training program and gain new knowledge and skills in the process, in that order. I knew I was about to embark on an impeccable learning experience led by Amorah Ross, MCC, and I was delighted to receive a bonus from the cohesive efforts of the learning community that enabled me to make a shift in my coaching abilities and behaviors. In addition, this process gave me new insights for how ICF can help strengthen the value proposition of the coaching profession.

It’s been 4 + years since I studied and practiced for my coach certification, and since passing the exam, I’ve really had no formal feedback on my coaching. The 14 week MCCP program reignited and deepened my knowledge of the ICF Core Competencies.  Through the design of the program, I was able to give and receive feedback based on the distinctive behaviors associated with the 3-credential levels (ACC, PCC, MCC).  As a coach moving toward obtaining my PCC, it was an eye opening to experience the difference in skill and behaviors from ACC – PCC, it is more than just accumulated hours.  In fact, if you don’t practice and learn the distinctions all you are doing is perpetuating the same behaviors for more hours. 

My biggest aha from the training was learning a different approach to mentoring.  It is mentoring via the coaching approach.   It is holding your coach- client as creative, resourceful and whole and communicating with them in that matter.  It is very different from my experience of having a mentor.  Another big gift was being with 9 other coaches and learning with and from one another about our own blind spots and supporting one another to move our coaching skills to a deeper level.  While peer-to-peer learning is part of the coach learning process when you start out as a coach, I believe it warrants regular practice. 

Based on the value I received from the MCCP training, I think that ICF should re-evaluate the minimum number of mentoring hours and set a  standard for delivering the mentoring process, just like the standard to become an Accredited Coach Training Program Provider.   In addition, the practice of coach supervision is on the horizon.  What does that mean?  Is it a nice to have, or should it become a requirement like mentor hours?   I want ICF to help build a stronger value proposition for the coaching profession.  And as part of that,  I believe it will require ICF to make becoming a coach and renewing your credential more rigorous and set the bar for higher practice standards. 

I have  a passion for the coaching profession.  While I don’t want to be regulated to death, I do appreciate the value of setting high standards that are commensurate to where we want to go as an industry and the brand promise we make to our clients. 

I am leaving for the ICF Conference next week.  I hope to hear, learn and contribute to discussions about changes that will enhance our value proposition and brand promise to the consumers of coaching.  

What possibilities do you see for the coaching profession? What do you want from ICF?  Where do you think you can contribute?