Alphabet Soup:
What's with all those letters behind my name?
Sometimes people ask me about all the letters at the end of my name – which usually is followed by a few questions about the coaching industry in general. Nerd that I am, I really enjoyed learning about the profession when I was just starting out and I love sharing what I know! When folks ask me about how to find a good leadership coach, I am reminded of my first experience working in a coaching partnership.
Years ago, when I floated the idea of engaging a leadership coach as a professional development tool to my then-supervisor, she surprised me. “Really?” she said, with a face that sent a message of disdain. “You are doing well – why would you need a coach?” I was flustered – I had always thought of a leadership coach as an investment for employees, a way to help talented professionals level-up their skills. (My coaching practice is FULL of strong professionals who are using coaching to “level-up” their work!) I hastily explained my intentions and the conversation eased, but I have never forgotten about her reaction and how it made me feel.
I have also never forgotten how difficult finding a good coach can be. I was fortunate to have a close friend who connected me to a talented expert who is now a friend and colleague, but everyone isn’t as lucky as I am. When I set out to open a coaching practice, I knew how important good credentials would be in signaling to clients and their employers that I am a trained coach with expertise in building effective partnerships and helping my clients be successful. Like the education industry where an advanced degree indicates expertise in the field, so also do the “letters” indicate the certifications and training coaches have accomplished.
What to Look for in a Professional Coach
Professional coaches come from all industries and with a variety of backgrounds. One thing to look for is that your coach is certified by the International Coaching Federation (ICF). There are three designations – ACC, PCC, MCC – which indicate the number of professional coaching hours we have completed within a measured time period. The designation helps you know that your coach has hours of experience behind her practicing her craft, and that she’s worked with a variety of clients.
Folks who have ICF designations have also passed a rigorous board exam and we are required to gain continuing education credits to maintain our credential. We have been mentored by other senior coaches and we are expected to follow a set of strict ethical principles. While having this designation isn’t required, I advise that it is a good indicator of a coach’s level of experience and training.
You’ll also want to research what kind of training your coach has in the world of coaching. Again, lots of us come to the industry with decades of experience working with people and with our niche areas, but coach-specific training indicates that your coach has invested in her development with an ICF-certified program that is built on a set of techniques, ethics and standards germane to coaching. Just as I sought a PhD to grow my intellectual skills, I sought training that would help me be a strong coach for my clients.
Regardless of our training, certification and experience in the field, good professional coaches can articulate philosophy in working with their clients. For me, I find centering my work in the purpose of coaching – to help clients move from where they currently are to where they wish to be, professionally – is best illustrated by the linguistic source of the word coach itself (high nerd alert!).
Kocsi
The origin of the English word, coach, comes from a Hungarian noun: kocsi, which means carriage (specifically the carriages once drawn by horses). In modern English, we also use the word when we think about different categories of travel – think: “sitting in coach” on a train or airplane. In all these instances, the word coach is used to describe a method for traveling from one place to another.
I often remind myself that the horse-drawn carriage was once the most reliable method of getting a traveler from one place to another, but that the one in charge was the driver, not the carriage. The imagery is an apt metaphor for an effective coaching partnership. A coach is an instrument to help you get from one place to another – but you are in the driver’s seat, and you decide the details of the trip. The coach provides a safe environment for your “journey” and helps you move forward.
As I reflect on the “work birthday” of my business, I am grateful for the training programs, board exams, and the hundreds of hours I have spent documenting my client work and growing my expertise. My relationships with good coaches, both formal and informal, have been steeped in mutual commitment to my growth and learning, qualities I seek in my own work with clients. I am glad I pressed forward with that misinformed supervisor and found a great coach for myself – my work with her and mentorship through my training and certification process helps me show up for my clients everyday.
