Coaching is a methodology that has grown worldwide, especially in the last decade. Challenged with this growth, we witness an increasingly greater movement of the international scientific community, in the sense of understanding the context and the results that come out of this practice. Several universities in different countries study and are interested in this method, which has shown to have a positive impact on the lives of people who go through it. At the same time, we are witnessing an exponential growth of training entities that offer coaching certifications, as well as a growing number of professionals who are launching themselves into this new profession.
Coaching is a profession that is self-regulated, and because of that it may become challenging for the coaching professional, the so-called coach, to state himself in a market where anyone can identify himself as such. This self-regulated industry and the suspicious quality of some trainings who promotes the launching of non-quite prepared professionals to the market, can lead to a lack of credibility for the profession. It is therefore very important that when choosing a training course, the future coach knows that to become a professional in the field, he/she will have to acquire the appropriate qualifications. So, choosing a reliable training school, is important and in this context, the following topics may give some hints:
- Accreditation – Which independent bodies certify this training program? What is the process for achieving accreditation?
- Assessment process – What is the assessment process like? Will there be an exam?
- Length of program – is it a 1 day or multi-day training?
The future professional should investigate and find out which international organizations offer degrees of accreditation, because choosing a recognized training program and school, will bring more confidence and credibility.
These are three of the world’s most recognized organizations in the field of coaching, which should be known to anyone who wants to make coaching their profession.
- International Coaching Federation (ICF) – The International Coaching Federation (ICF) is the leading global organization for coaches and coaching. ICF is dedicated to advancing the coaching profession by setting high standards, providing independent certification, and building a worldwide network of trained coaching professionals. (https://coachingfederation.org/)
- International Coaching Community (ICC) – The International Coaching Community is one of the largest professional organizations for coaches around the world, with more than 15,000 coaches certified from 78 countries. (https://internationalcoachingcommunity.com/)
- Association for Coaching® (AC) – Is a leading independent, and not-for-profit professional body dedicated to promoting best practice and raising the awareness and standards of coaching, worldwide. (https://www.associationforcoaching.com/)
These organizations set the standards for the coaching industry on an international level. They are the ones who establish the code of ethics, the levels of excellence for this industry and who promotes the best practices and raise the awareness of professionals in this area. There are many other organizations and training entities that can prepare the future coaching professionals, and it is important that when deciding, the future coach chooses an organization that have proven to be reliable.
Why am I talking about training and accreditation?
I decided to address this topic because, on the one hand, when I made the decision to become a professional coach, I had some difficulties in deciding which training course I should choose, as there were several options in the market, and they all seemed to offer interesting services. On the other hand, over the last few years, I have received some questions from people who would like to become professional coaches and who come to me for information and suggestions for courses and I have noticed that many people who are interested in becoming a professional coach are not aware of these international organizations.
It is obvious that the decision-making in relation to the course will also depend on the budget that the future coach has available, his/her professional objectives and the type of clients he wants to work with. However, as there are currently many people in the market who call themselves coaches, it is necessary to bear in mind that, in addition to background and professional experience, personality, charisma, having a training accredited by a recognized body and having a certification recognized by it, turns out to be a differentiating factor of quality and a guarantee for our potential clients. And this topic makes the bridge to the title of this article.
Is hiring a coach worth the money?
Just as it is important for the coach to choose a training entity that guarantees a quality training, it is also important for the client to know what the selection criteria may be at the time of choosing a coach who will guide him/her through a coaching process. The coaching process is an investment, therefore it is important to question if it is really worth investing money in hiring a coach.
With the hustle and bustle of our daily lives, we rarely stop to dedicate time to question ourselves in a conscious and deep way. Going through a coaching experience turns out to be a perfect way to pause, to dedicated time to ourselves, to what is important in our life and to reflect on what and where we want to get or transform to feel better, more complete, and more accomplished. If the will for change is truly existing and if the will to act and get things done exists, finding a coach can be in fact a very good decision with a short visible return on investment.
So, what are the real benefits of coaching?
There are countless benefits identified by authors who study and talk about coaching, but I highlight here some of the outcomes that can result from a coaching process:
- More clarity of purpose, clear goals, focus
- Gain of self-awareness & insights
- More confidence and positive feelings
- Better job performance
- Better communication and interactions with others
- Personal and professional development
- Greater satisfaction and improved energy
- Better mental health
- Happiness or satisfaction with life
We can effectively prove all these outcomes through feedback from people who have gone through coaching processes, but the truth is that not all clients manage to reach these results. There is a key element in the success of a coaching process and without that element, I believe that investing money in hiring a coach is not worth it.
From my perspective, the key element in the success of a coaching process is the willpower and motivation that exist in in the coaching client. If that motivation and willpower to achieve goals, change or transform what must be changed or transformed does not exist, then no matter how much the coach has the desire to partner and deliver the best of himself, the results will not be visible and in this case, the best thing will be not to invest a penny in hiring a coach.
In conclusion, is it worth investing money in hiring a coach?
My short and direct answer is definitely YES, for anyone who wants to achieve a goal and/or different results in their personal and/or professional life and who actually has the will and commitment to act to achieve what they want.
