I Started a Coach Training Program
If you know me, you know I love to learn. If you really know me, you know Learner and Input are two of my top five Strengths. So back in November I decided to take the plunge into a new learning endeavor around becoming a coach. I’ve wanted to become a coach for a long while now, and found an opportunity that seemed like a great fit for the program and time and place.
I became interested in coaching as a path a few years ago. I was discovering about myself that I did not want to become a people manager professionally in my day to day job, but still wanted to have a role in helping people develop and grow. How could I do that outside the workplace? The answer is coaching. How I was going to get there became the question, and I needed to give it a chance and believe in my own opportunities.
Part of the exploration included talking to others. In one instance, I talked to the friend of a friend who is a coach and learned that it was definitely a path worth taking. It sounded rewarding and life changing for both the coach and the client. My specific path felt a little bit different than this coach, and I took my time figuring out what that path would be. A friend was pursuing her own coaching education and recommended the experience. Light was shed on the path to take, going through a formal education process.
Finding a program that fit my schedule and budget took effort, and I needed to be sure it would help me level up and be recognized in the industry for its outcomes. I knew I would want to hire a coach who was trained in the methods and practiced in coaching, and I had to hold myself to high standards I would expect of others.
The second part of the coach training aspect is becoming credentialed by the ICF, or International Coaching Federation. I’ll need to graduate from the advanced training in my program, have reached at least 100 coaching practice hours, and pass an exam. After all of that I will have reached the first stage of the pinnacle of the profession in ICF credentialing. The coaching program I am a part of will help me on that journey with the education hours, mentoring, and practice.
It was also important to me to get training to develop skills to be a coach who could help people impact their lives. I wanted to know not just tips and tricks but the theory behind the practice. It would help me be a more knowledgeable coach, so I could help clients grow and develop.
I feel like I can build trust and belief to help others be more confident in the ways I can help them by going through a program. It feels legitimate to have the backing of another organization in the skills I will be developing. That way, a client has no problems understanding what they’re getting, that is, someone who is exposed to and educated on relevant coaching topics. That allows me to bring my best to help you be your best.
So what is the plan? By May 2024 I should be a certified coach, graduated with skills and knowledge to help others grow. After that, I start the advanced training necessary to be able to apply for ICF certification as an Associate Certified Coach (ACC), which I will be eligible for after coaching for a total of 100 hours. As my career develops and I practice this new craft, getting 500 hours will make me eligible for a more advanced certified coach level.
I am excited for this next adventure in life! I’m excited to be able to serve and help others as I continue to learn and grow in my own right. Cheers to a new path in coaching!