At Coaching Out of the Box® we get questions about this almost every day. Why get credentialed? How do I get credentialed? What course should I take? I want to use a coach approach in leading and working with others, do I need to hold a credential?
Let's start by expressing our bias. We believe EVERYONE needs these critical coaching skills but NOT EVERYONE needs to be credentialed.
Here is the difference between being credentialed and using a coach approach:
- Credentialed means a person has completed a series of requirements to obtain a coaching certification, i.e. completion of approved coach specific training hours, exam process, proof of coaching competency and hours of coaching experience, plus they are agreeing to adhere to specific Ethics and Standards.
- Coach Approach means they are using coaching skills as part of the way they lead and work with others. Many organizations are ensuring their leaders and managers are learning key coaching skills as part of their leadership development.
At Coaching Out of the Box® we have supported over 13,000 people in benefiting from learning how to be coach-like and use a coach approach in the work they do. However, our programs are designed to support either, as we also provide coach specific training credits that can be used towards obtaining a coaching credential.
Another great resource for credentialing questions is coaching associations. One of the largest professional coaching associations is the International Coach Federation, which began in 1992. Their membership is growing around the world by an average of 500+ members a month and exceeds 20,000 people in over 100 countries.
ICF created Core Competencies, a Code of Ethics, and defined curriculum standards (accreditation), to ensure consistency in coach training. They also developed an ICF Credentialing system, requiring renewal every three years. A number of coaches who have been part of the creation and growth of Coaching Out of the Box® have played significant roles with the ICF. To learn more about the key requirements to obtain an ICF credential click here.
To support you in understanding what is right for you we will be holding a FREE Webinar on Coach Credentialing on Wednesday, January 13 at 11a.m. Pacific /2pm Eastern. If you have any questions on this subject please make sure you join us. CLICK HERE to register!
