It is a controversy in today’s coaching industry whether life coaches should require credentialing. A lot of coaches say that credentialing is necessary for the coaching profession to be recognized, trusted, and respected. In truth, the industry is facing some challenges. Right now, there are certification bodies that are available for coaching.
If you’re looking for a life coach, it is important that you know what you find in a coach. That’s the only way you can be sure that you will be greatly helped by their expertise in general or specific areas of your life. That’s also how you get great results.
The credentials Required for Life Coaching
When investigating a coach’s training and education, it’s going to be confusing as there are a lot of credentials available out there. The coaching industry has 200 to 500 independent and for-profit coaching schools. Considering that there’s a good number of colleges and universities that provide coaching and training programs, many of their graduates a specific coaching certification to provide their schools with prestige and create brand awareness.
Because of the many coaching programs, several governing bodies came out to create coaching, ethics, training, and education standards. The most commonly cited governing bodies include the ICF, IAC, and CCE. Of the governing bodies listed above, the ICF is the largest and widely accepted credentialing organization. It is the organization that reviews individual coaches and training schools.
Training and Education to Consider
Always check the credential of each coach. He or she should have her credentials on display. It should also include a badge on his or her profile. They get this only after the confirmation of their credentials. The ICF credentials serve as evidence of the coach’s training, practical hours of coaching, and the acceptance of ICF’s ethical coaching code.
Ask them about their methods of preparation. In case the coach does not have any ICF certification, then ask about their training. They should have at least finished a reputable training program or its equivalent that’s accepted by the ICF. If not, it takes six months or more for the most intensive teacher training programs. You must proceed with caution if your coach has merely completed weekend workshops or he or she has no coaching experience at all.
How to Hire a Coach
If the manager does not have specific training for assistants, make sure that you know what you’re getting. Oftentimes, business consultants, marketing experts, and religious advisors regard themselves as coaches though they don’t have any formal training. They don’t match ICF’s definition of a coach, and they are not accepted by any governing bodies. They may still regard themselves as a coach. They can very well help you deliver great results.
It’s never easy to hire a coach because you must find the perfect match. Don’t pressure yourself to hire one. You can always look around. Find out which person can best help you. Life coaches usually offer a couple of free sessions so you’ll know if they are the ones who can help you or not.
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