Recently, a prospective student asked me “What is the best question to ask coach training schools? And, if I were in her shoes, what would be my personal criteria for choosing the right coach training school to attend?” Well, that is a very tall order!
I’ve been in the coaching business for over 20 years and founded the Christian Coach Institute. There are so many changes happening in the field of professional coaching right now. which often changes what makes a good coach training school. Here are the 7 questions that I believe are critical for any potential student of coaching to ask.
If you are seeking coach training and certification, you have many different avenues. The good news is, if your training is based on the core coaching “skills” taught by either IAC or ICF, you will find that their coaching “masteries” or “competencies” are in alignment. Some people get confused and assume there are differences in the skills that are taught, but actually these two organizations’ core coaching skills align.
Let’s look at IAC Mastery 1 – Establishing and Maintaining a Relationship of Trust defined as “to ensure a safe place for personal growth, discovery and transformation”. One can see it aligns beautifully with ICF Competency 3 – Establishing Trust and Intimacy with the Client which is defined as “ability to create a safe, supportive environment that produces ongoing mutual respect and trust”.