Evoking Excellence In Professional Coaching

This title is inspired by a book called “Coaching: Evoking Excellence in Others”, for me it seems more appropriate to start with self (me) as a Coach.

I feel the need to speak about professional Coaching, a few times I witness excellence and often from so called professional coaches I observe and hear about diversions that can be found in the list of what coaching is not: consulting, counselling, mentoring, therapy… confusing the market (coaches, clients, others).

The most experienced coach (by hours of coaching) in a country was saying to me: “Some coaches are more messed up than the clients. They haven’t sort themselves out and they are out there working with others.”

My approach has been to get accredited with the two largest professional Coaching associations in the world, the ICF (around 33.000 members) and EMCC (around 11.000 members). See Journey to MCC and A Credentialing Experience with the EMCC.

My journey includes investing thousands of pounds, euros and dollars and thousands of hours in practicing, training, reading, listening, reflecting, coaching, mentoring, supervision and development.

The ICF and the EMCC have Core Competences which if upheld can support the professionalism of coaching.

Why is there no clarity about the quality of Coaches in the market?
Because Coaching has a fragmented, dispersed and opaque market.My references to learn about the coaching market are mostly talking directly with coaches, associations and companies. This requires significant time and effort to piece together. And reading the major reports about coaching published by Ridler, ICF , EMCC, Sherpa, Bresser and Coachsource.

What to do about evoking excellence in Professional Coaching?
I share what I choose to do below. Would be great to hear more ideas in the comments section.

Self Coaching Excellence
Maintaining the integrity and quality of the Professional Coach:

• Self Care, practices of eating, sleeping and moving (exercising). Excellence in Coaching requires a balanced mind and body.
• Continuous Professional Development, developing skill and practice, ongoing learning.
• Practice integrated with reflection, supervision and coaching, being a coachee is one of the best ways to stay connected and grounded on both sides of the coaching experience.
• Reflection, building on learnings.
• Research, integrating evidence based research, positive psychology and real neuroscience, keeping it real and practical and avoid jargon.
• Reading, listening, observing.
• Developing models and tools, using them if and when appropriate or not at all.

Contributing for excellence in Professional Coaching

• Support coaching associations by being a member, volunteer, speaker and attending events.
• Supporting, training and Mentoring Coaches.
• Upholding Core Competences of the ICF and EMCC in the coaching practice.
• Writing and Speaking.

André Ribeiro is an executive coach and mentor coach. He is Master Certified Coach by the International Coach Federation and Senior Practitioner by the European Mentoring and Coaching Council. More @ ExtraCoaching.com