One of the challenges in the coaching profession is a clear definition of coaching and ensuring that as coaching professionals we have one Code of Ethics and one set of standards for competencies and coach training. Multiple organizations with varying ethics and standards add to the confusion.
The International Coach Federation, ICF, is the largest organization for coaching professionals and does work with the other coaching organizations.
The ICF has a Code of Ethics, standards for coach training, defined competencies for coaches, standards for credentialing, and standards for evaluating coaching competencies.
In keeping with the ICF standards, the coaching model used at the Center for Coaching Certification, CCC, is training based on the ICF’s 11 Core Competencies and Code of Ethics.
To define the coaching model at CCC, here is the CCC Model:
- Competence: CCC programs build on your existing strengths with ICFs 11 Core Competencies to upgrade your skills, expand awareness of the synergy between being and doing, create positive belief in the client’s ability, and develop powerful coaching language.
- Confidence: CCC programs build the confidence of the coach in their abilities, provide tools for empowering client confidence, enhance confidence in the coaching process, and incorporate awareness of positivity to support confidence for the long term.
- Choice: CCC programs focus on the client being their own best expert thus empowering them to discover, decide, and strategize with the coach as their partner.
So how do you choose which model and which coaching certification?
- First: Verify that the program is accredited by the International Coach Federation as either an ACTP or ACSTH program. This tells you the training covers the Code of Ethics and the 11 Core Competencies of a Coach.
- Second: Verify the school is a member of the Association of Coach Training Organizations. This tells you the school is committed to excellence, abides by the Code of Ethics for coach training schools, and has the competencies for coach trainers.
- Third: Consider the responsiveness of the team from the school, the price, the schedule, and the program description.
As an additional bonus, at the Center for Coaching Certification our programs are accredited by IACET, PMI, and AICI. This means you receive continuing education credits to maintain other professional designations including SHRM, HRCI, ATD, PMI, and more.