Internal Coach Training

Within just the last ten years, COACHING has emerged as the clear development and retention tool of choice for the highest performing organizations, including the 20 Best Companies for Leadership (reported by the Hay Group, 2011). According to the comprehensive AMA study on coaching best practices (conducted by the Institute for Corporate Productivity in 2008), “coaching is now recognized as an integral element in leadership development.” Source: Coaching—A Global Study of Best Practices, AMA, 2008. Further, the study reported:

• Coaching is associated with higher performance. Correlations do not necessarily imply causation, but respondents from organizations that use coaching more than in the past are also more likely to report that their organizations are performing well in the market.
• Coaching is primarily aimed at boosting individual performance. The desire to improve individual “performance/productivity” is the most widely cited purpose of coaching.
• External training seems to work best. Externally based methods of providing training on coaching are most strongly correlated with overall coaching success, though they are less often used.

What about internal versus external coaches? According to the AMA, in its extensive research report Coaching: A Global Study of Successful Practices, external coaches are most effective for leaders and senior executives, while properly trained internal coaches are often a better choice for middle-level managers and professionals. Furthermore, managers who use a coaching approach to management are far more effective in delivering feedback, developing talent, and retaining key employees.

In PricewaterhouseCoopers Global Coaching Study (2009), only 7% of clients reported that their coach was an employee of their organization. As recognition continues to spread the power and effectiveness of coaching, there is a clear mandate for HR professionals to become trained internal coaches. And managers and leaders at all levels are going to be expected to demonstrate savvy coaching skills that are integral to their success.

Professional Coach Training Bridges the Gap.

Our team has been providing professional coach training since 2007, and all our programs are ICF-Accredited. Our approach is unique—we combine the science of human excellence in performance, the fundamental principles in communication, an understanding of innate human motivations, and expert globally recognized coaching practices and standards. Our training is guided by the philosophy that by understanding how the mind works, how to achieve precise communication and how top performance can be modeled, a coach can quickly and effectively facilitate client discovery and growth.

Mentor Coaching Can Be Valuable.

We believe mentor coaching sessions are extremely valuable, even if they weren’t required for ICF certification (see below). Mentor coaching offers essential reinforcement of the skills learned. Plus the personal attention and safe coaching environment accelerates confidence and produces a higher level of coaching competence. We can design any of our programs to include both individual and group mentor coaching sessions for the most cost-effective approach and lasting impact.

Experience, Credentials, and Heart set This Faculty Apart.

Our Coach Training Faculty has deep corporate experience, top-notch professional qualifications, and a sincere desire to infuse coaching throughout large organizations. See our faculty.

What About Coaching Credentials?

The organization that provides the most prestigious coaching credentials is the International Coach Federation (ICF). Professionals who want to be recognized as trained and proficient coaches might consider acquiring their ICF certification. The basic level, Associate Certified Coach, requires 60 hours of coach training, 100 hours of actual coaching (and internal coaching counts as long as it’s not a direct report), 10 hours of mentor coaching (7 hours can be in a group setting), a satisfactory coaching demonstration (via recording), and a written exam.

Another independent credentialing body is the Center for Credentialing Education (CCE). Their Board Certified Coach credential also requires 60 hours of coach training, college transcripts, reference letters, and a written exam. It is well worth the effort and is a more straight forward credentialing process for an appropriate corporate designation.