If you are seeking to become a coach, the myriad of qualifications on offer can be overwhelming. University of Cambridge's Keith Nelson explores just how qualified you need to be before you can start practising.
There are some people who see a qualification in coaching as a quick-fix ticket to becoming a professional coach. The relevant coaching certificate is simply a means to an end. Equally there are many others who commit themselves to multiple coaching (and other) courses and qualifications. Perhaps their mindset is that if they can get just one more qualification, then they can take one more step towards becoming an executive coach. They may have a love of learning, or they may be procrastinating.
In these days of oven-ready meals, is there a danger that, on one hand, the 'chicken' is under-cooked, while another spends far too long in the oven? Put simply, there are some who are embarking upon coaching with a single qualification, while others, who have extensive collections of qualifications and are not yet embarking upon coaching.
"...you might already have a Masters or even higher qualification in another subject, but often this doesn't translate to coaching. Ground your coaching development through core coaching skills."Here's a simple question that I ask potential students:
"Tell me about your coaching aspirations. Do you want to learn to coach or do you want to learn to be a really effective coach?"
Most people answer the latter and I suggest there are a number of principles they should follow:
- Find a course that ensures you have the basics in place. Yes, you might already have a Masters or even higher qualification in another subject, but often this doesn't translate to coaching. Ground your coaching development through core coaching skills.
- Effective coaching takes place within the psychological and emotional spheres. It requires coaches to be comfortable in these areas, so look for coaching courses that include elements of personal growth and development – be prepared to stretch your comfort zone.
- How is the coaching course underpinned with appropriate knowledge? Coaching literature is growing rapidly and, utilised effectively, can found your coaching practice on a bedrock of core coaching knowledge.
- How experiential is the programme? How well does it replicate (and therefore prepare the learner for) the 'actual' coaching session? Look for those courses where there is ample opportunity to participate in – and observe – coaching. And participation means both coaching others and being coached yourself.
The best entry-level qualification to look for is one that provides a solid grounding in core coaching skills, while offering the opportunity for progression of skills and knowledge. The certificate in coaching I deliver at Cambridge University is an open-access, entry-level qualification. It provides the essential grounding in core coaching skills, followed by a module entitled 'raising awareness in self and others'. These two units then form the basis for ongoing development through the remaining unit in the certificate, as well as establishing the platform for moving on to a higher-level qualification such as a Diploma.
So, when can the trainee coach start to practise? Here are a few things to consider:
- Be competent in core coaching communication skills
- Be aware of your personal values and beliefs and the impact they might have
- Be confident in establishing and maintaining a safe coaching environment
- Be able to use a model such as GROW and, having internalised it, be able to coach without thinking about using it
- Have facilitated a number of formal coaching sessions, perhaps with people you know
- Have a coaching supervisor in place
Coaching is a journey, and you start wherever you are. There is a difference between conducting a simple coaching session which might help transactionally, and then being able to work confidently, effectively and safely in areas that might enable real transformation within the client.
"What is important is the quality of the coaching conversations that students will have with their clients in the months and years to come."
Clearly personal readiness comes down to personal choice. And from the coach training perspective, seeing a student gain a qualification is very satisfying. What is far, far more important, however, is the quality of the coaching conversations that students will have with their clients in the months and years to come.
Completing a certificate-level qualification will give students not only the capacity to conduct straightforward coaching skills, but will expose them to the psychological and emotional dimensions. Moving on to a diploma level then deepens and enriches this knowledge.
On a personal level, what I have learned from over 12 years working as an executive coach and through training student coaches, is that coaching is a never-ending journey. There is always much to learn and the journey never ceases to be engaging, challenging, enlightening and invigorating.
Keith Nelson is a highly experienced executive and life coach, and is course director of a certificate in coaching (FHEQ Level 4) and a diploma in coaching (Level 5) at the University of Cambridge Institute of Continuing Education (ICE). His profile page can be found at www.ice.cam.ac.uk/coaching along with further details of the qualifications he delivers.
