Looking to hire a coach? Buyer beware..read on...
Helping Sales Professionals Increase Performance, Resilience, and Client Impact 🧠 PQ Mental Fitness Coach for Senior Professionals & Teams | Purposeful Leadership & Life Integration 🌟
🛑 Anyone can call themselves a coach. Be careful! 🛑 This morning, I received an email from a licensed professional who has years of experience in their field and has been offering consulting services. Now, they’re promoting “coaching” services for entrepreneurs across all industries. And they have limted space for their $15k 6-month program. As an ICF-accredited coach, I was curious. I checked the International Coaching Federation (ICF) website to see if this person was a credentialed coach or a member of the ICF—and their name did not come up. I also searched other reputable coaching associations, but they weren’t listed there either. Unfortunately, this isn’t surprising, but it is deeply concerning. Coaching is a highly personal and impactful process. It requires a commitment to rigorous training and adherence to ethical standards. Yet, many individuals label themselves as coaches without proper training or understanding of coaching ethics. This should be a major concern for anyone seeking to hire a coach. A critical distinction: Coaching is not the same as consulting or mentoring. Coaches do not offer guidance or advice. Instead, coaching is about partnering with clients in a thought-provoking and creative process that inspires them to maximize their potential. To become an International Coaching Federation (ICF) coach, one must complete at least 60 hours of coach-specific training and commit to upholding the ICF Code of Ethics. ICF Credential-holders and Mentor Coaches must meet even higher education and experience standards. The ICF Definition of Coaching: ICF defines coaching as partnering with clients in a thought-provoking and creative process that inspires them to maximize their personal and professional potential. This process often unlocks previously untapped sources of imagination, productivity, and leadership. Having a clear understanding of this definition is vital. It helps distinguish true coaching from other modalities like consulting or mentoring. Before hiring a coach, make sure they are properly trained, credentialed, and committed to ethical standards. Your growth and well-being deserve nothing less. #coaching #coachesforconferences #icfcoaches #advocacy #professionalism #ethicsincoaching #buyerbeware ICF South Florida Charter Chapter