Today, coaching is among the fastest-growing industries worldwide. It has clear professional standards and competency requirements, well-established certification and accreditation procedures, and a global network of training organizations that provide formal coaching education. Yet, there are no mandatory criteria that one must meet before calling themselves a ‘coach’.
Since professional standards and regulations are not obligatory, the profession remains ‘non-regulated’ globally. This is one of the reasons it is somewhat fluid, often misunderstood, underestimated, or mistaken for other helping professions.
Coaching in the Spotlight
Contemporary coaching is less than a century old, yet it is not new. Grounded in the Socrates’ maieutic methods, which aimed to reveal one’s potential, bring clarity to ideas, and ultimately uncover latent knowledge through carefully crafted questions, it draws from Ancient Greek and Roman traditions of mentoring, while also bridging towards the mindfulness practices of the Far East.
Coaching first emerged in sports during the second half of the 20th century where its principles were applied to athletes’ personal development. In the 1970’s, Timothy Gallwey published The Inner Game of Tennis which emphasized mindset over physical skills. Over the following decades, The Inner Game series grew in copies sold worldwide, while coaching expanded in other areas of life and work.
Coaches became a diverse group of practitioners, often unrelated to sports. However, the term ‘coach’ continues to reflect the motivational and empowering role a sports coach plays in unlocking their trainee’s full potential by mastering mind, body, and spirit. What is often overlooked about today’s coaches is that they don’t deliver results, achieve goals, or claim victories. Instead, clients – much like athletes in sports – do the work, master their talents, become stars, and own their successes.
Humanistic philosophies and the positive psychology principles outlined in Martin Seligman’s books spurred a significant rise in the coaching profession in the decades surrounding the new millennium. Executive, corporate, and life coaching grew globally. The Coaches Training Institute pioneered the establishment of formal coaching education. The International Coaching Federation (ICF) became the largest and most recognized organization that defined the formal education principles, professional competencies, ethics, standards, and certification and accreditation requirements for coaches and training providers.
By around 2010, coaching diversified further, offering more specific niche services, such as resilience, mindfulness, and performance coaching. Neuroscientific evidence for the coaching’s effectiveness in fostering behavioural change continued to grow.
Today, coaching is among the fastest-growing industries worldwide. It has clear professional standards and competency requirements, well-established certification and accreditation procedures, and a global network of training organizations that provide formal coaching education. Yet, there are no mandatory criteria that one must meet before calling themselves a ‘coach’. Since professional standards and regulations are not obligatory, the profession remains ‘non-regulated’ globally. This is one of the reasons it is somewhat fluid, often misunderstood, underestimated, or mistaken for other helping professions.
How to Become a Coach
There are millions of people who have recognized the benefits of coaching, and apply its principles at work. Usually, HR professionals and managers are among those who use coaching in their roles. They may or may not have completed formal education, although I see more and more working professionals making the effort to invest in such qualifications.
My focus today is on those who work as coaches or wish to pursue career in coaching. There are three main groups, based on education criteria. Unlike organizations that provide education in fields like foreign languages or psychotherapy, there are no mandatory regulatory or certification requirements for organizations offering coaching trainings. Some organizations adhere to the standards established by the ICF, while others don’t. Here is what to look for when choosing a training program or a coach for yourself.
The first group comprises practitioners who have been trained by another coach or an organization that has no formal accreditation to train coaches. Such non-accredited trainings are relatively affordable (approx. 500 to 1500 USD). These courses typically take a few days to a couple of months and are often self-paced. Featuring mostly pre-recorded videos and self-study materials, some may include live events for direct interaction with trainers. Upon finishing the program, participants typically receive a certificate for completion, which acknowledges their participation but does not equate to a professional certification.
The second group comprises coaches who have undergone formal education through training organizations accredited by the International Coaching Federation (ICF). Such programs usually span six to eighteen months, and range from 2,500 to 5,000 USD. Accredited training providers offer comprehensive programs that include theoretical modules, practical application of coaching competencies, tools, and models, mentoring by master coaches, group and self-exploratory exercises, supervised coaching sessions, and business aspects such as ethics, marketing, and branding. Graduates usually complete rigorous assessments and receive globally recognized accredited certificates or diplomas. A key benefit of being trained by an accredited provider is the continuous development programs offered by such organizations, ensuring their alumni comply with the highest professional standards and stay up to date with the latest trends, advancements, and achievements in the coaching profession.
The third group consists of coaches certified directly by the International Coaching Federation (ICF), who have demonstrated the highest professional standards and completed a significant amount of coaching work. If you have ever noticed an ACC, PCC, or MCC abbreviation after a coach’s name, these represent the three levels of ICF qualification. To receive such professional accreditation, a coach must have successfully graduated from a formal training program by an accredited training organization. Other accreditation bodies, such as the European Mentoring and Coaching Council (EMCC), also provide professional coaching accreditations. In any case, the professional accreditation requires a serious investment of time, effort, and professional development.
Coaching provides a safe and supportive space for self-reflection, exploration, and growth. It helps clients uncover their strengths, potential, and desires, and supports them in finding their own answers through powerful questions. Coaching is not about giving advice, fixing problems, diagnosing, or prescribing solutions.
Though coaching is a non-regulated profession, it is guided by strong professional and ethical standards. A core principle in coaching is Equality – coaching is a partnership between equals, where clients are viewed as resourceful and capable of achieving their goals, rather than individuals in need of fixing.
Coaching is also a Confidential process. Coaches are committed to safeguarding sensitive information and ensuring that no details shared in coaching are disclosed without explicit consent.
Coaching focuses on present and future. While coaches do not guarantee outcomes, they support clients in setting and pursuing goals that align with their values. They avoid making evaluations or offering advice unless explicitly requested. Even then, any advice given is shared in the spirit of mutual respect.
Though supportive, open, and non-directive, coaching’s ethical foundation prevents coaches from supporting harmful, grandeur, manipulative, exploitive, or unrealistic goals, including those that could harm others or the environment. Coaches will not engage in work that promotes unethical or illegal activities, even if they are a client’s stated desire.
Coaches are distinct from therapists, psychologists, and doctors. Therapists and psychologists focus on the past and may use clinical methods, while coaches focus on the present and future, empowering clients to achieve their aspirations. Coaching is a practical, results-driven process, and coaches do not engage in the deeper, therapeutic work required for psychological healing. Find out more about How to Tell the difference.
A common practice among coaches is to offer free introductory calls to potential clients. Take advantage of such calls and ask the coach about their credentials, pricing, and approach. Good coaches don’t promise miracles, and they won’t rush you. They will listen more than they speak and leave you feeling capable – of making your own decision, and of achieving or overcoming whatever topic you brought up to the session.
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Post-COVID-19, there has been a rise in integrated approaches where coaching, therapy, mentoring, and consulting complement one another, each playing a vital role in a person’s journey of growth and self-discovery. Trauma-informed coaching is a good example, where coaches with therapeutic education successfully blend the two.
Coaching, like many other helping professions, thrives when approached with respect for its boundaries and possibilities. It is essential to recognize when to use one methodology or approach over the other, ensuring the support aligns with the client’s unique needs. Professional coaches, therapists, and consultants understand when to guide their clients toward another specialist.
Contact me today to discover how coaching can help you navigate life’s transitions, step on the path you desire, and bring positive change in your life.
