Why Bother Working with a Certified Leadership Coach?
Anyone can declare themselves a leadership coach. But do you know the difference between a coach and a certified leadership coach? Most people do not.
Working with a coach is like trusting a first year medical student to perform knee replacement surgery. They may have some knowledge of what to do, but they are not yet equipped with the skills a licensed and experienced orthopedist has.
A certified leadership coach has gone through rigorous training, and importantly, they abide by a code of ethics, just like a lawyer.
Becoming a certified leadership coach involves rigorous training
An orthopedic surgery residency typically lasts for five years. During that time, they rotate through various subspecialties – joints, pediatrics, foot and ankle, etc. – gaining deep experience.
Coaching certification programs do not last that long, thankfully. Nor are they full-time! But they are intense.
I attended an International Coaching Federation-certified program at Georgetown University that was six months long; we met for four full days each month.
The International Coaching Federation (ICF) is considered the Harvard of leadership coaching certification. To apply for ICF certification, you need to have:
- An education program certificate
- At least 125 hours of documented coaching experience
- Verification of mentor coaching
- Recorded coaching sessions for a performance evaluation
Attending Georgetown University’s program was a big step for me. I didn’t want to go at first, spend the money, and take the time away from my business. I had already been working as a coach for 15 years. Yes, that’s right – 15 years!
However, when I started coaching, there were no certifications or accredited programs. When certification became available, I jumped at the opportunity to go through formal training and improve my skillset.
One thing that has been so beneficial to my career is the required continuing education to keep my coaching certification. Every two years, I have to get re-accredited. That adds up to a lot of training hours over the years.
I gained trusted colleagues in the training program
Aside from training, I gained so many colleagues by attending Georgetown’s program. In fact, we still talk, and we still see each other often.
This was a revelation for me. Coaching is a solo endeavor. You work directly with clients and rarely have the opportunity to learn from your peers. Now I have so many coaching colleagues who are continually turning to each other for advice. The resources shared between coaches is outstanding.
When you’re working with a certified leadership coach, the odds are very high that they’re talking with other coaches about their craft. And when pursuing credits, we are always meeting new coaches. In short, we are always learning.
The relationships I have with my fellow coaches aren’t as formal as a peer leadership circle. But just like any leader, we understand the high standards we must meet, and we are eager to learn from and support each other.
Abiding by a code of ethics ensures your information stays confidential
When I ask peers for advice, I never divulge confidential client information. When I share stories in my blog, I only provide very broad scenarios.
My clients confide a lot of information in me. They need to trust that I am held to a high standard. If you work with a coach who doesn’t understand the ethics around confidentiality, they could be sharing your story with your coworkers or even your boss – to your detriment.
Because I’m certified through ICF, I also adhere to their Code of Ethics. Their code offers a clear framework for:
- ethical behavior
- emphasizing confidentiality
- conflict management
- fair treatment of clients
- transparency, accountability
- professionalism in every coaching relationship.
If I violate the code, I could lose my accreditation.
During my training at Georgetown, I was asked to submit scenarios that I had run into over my career that were ethical dilemmas. I didn’t even have to go back very far in time to find numerous scenarios. To this day, I am often asked by new clients about the ethical standards I follow regarding confidentiality.
The benefits of working with a certified leadership coach
A certified coach is trained to guide you through a challenge, help you stay focused, hold you accountable, and provide you with new tools to help you become an even more effective leader.
They also provide you with an outside perspective and ask you questions that get you thinking. I believe the sign of a great coach is how much you think about your conversation or a question they ask you for days following a session.
One of the things I learned at Georgetown is that coaching is not consulting. I came out of the consulting world. Coaching is not about telling someone what to do. It’s about asking good questions and believing your client will find or already know the answer. When you come up with the answer yourself, it’s a totally different experience than having someone else tell you what to do.
True coaches help you listen to yourself. In consulting, you, the consultant, have the answers.
It was very hard for me to let go of that whole concept! I had to really practice, and believe me, I did. My cohort at Georgetown spent hours coaching each other while program leaders observed.
Coaching has been the most fulfilling and fun career
I don’t know anyone who has had a more fulfilling, fun career. And I don’t take that lightly.
As a certified leadership coach, I’ve had the opportunity to be part of people’s journeys. I watched a young engineer develop into the CEO of the company. I had a client find the love of his life and get married. I’ve helped people develop stay-in-touch systems so they could maintain relationships – sometimes back to preschool.
Once, after just a few sessions, a client in his late 60s turned to me and said, “Now wait a minute. Are you telling me that people communicate in different ways than I do?” Imagine the impact of that realization!
One leader I worked with was universally disliked. Not one person on his team liked him, yet he could not make partner unless his direct reports, peers, and supervisors liked him. He worked very hard on connecting with each team member. In a few short years, he landed a national partnership in his company.
Today my phone rang. It was a former client. He told me, “I just finished an interview for a job that I didn’t even know I wanted. It went so well!” He went on to share that he went back to his notes from when we worked together years ago, including reviewing the three leadership words he wanted to be known for. “I channeled all of that during the interview!” he declared.
Earlier this year, I volunteered to do a pro bono coaching engagement with a former leader at USAID. We worked together weekly, and he ended up getting the most amazing job. It was one of the biggest wins in my career.
When you look for a coach, seek out a certified leadership coach
Our clients at Winning Ways turn to me and my team of coaches (yes, they are all certified!) for guidance on major life and career decisions. We are trained to help you navigate challenging circumstances, deepen your emotional intelligence skills, and transform into an even more effective leader. Contact us today to start the conversation – info@winningwaysinc.com.