Coaching Clients Should Demand the Highest Standards of Coaches: Training, Ethics,...

Coaching Clients Should Demand the Highest Standards of Coaches: Training,
Ethics, Certification

LEXINGTON, Ky., June 29 /PRNewswire/ -- Would you go to an accountant who
wasn't certified? Or to a doctor who didn't pledge to uphold the Hippocratic
oath? Why would you partner with a life or business coach who hasn't been
trained in the coaching process or doesn't abide by a code of standards?

Coach-specific training, ethics and certification are the first things clients
should ask for when deciding on the coach they will hire, according to the
International Coach Federation (ICF), the world's leading organization of
professional coaches. A true professional coach will be able to answer yes to
all of these requirements.

"Unfortunately, not everyone who labels themselves as a coach has been
formally trained in coaching skills," says ICF President Karen Tweedie,
PCC(1). "Beware of those who tell you they are a coach but lack certification
and do not abide by the ICF Code of Ethics, considered the industry's highest
standard. While a person may have significant expertise in other professional
areas, such as business, consulting, education or counseling, this does not
make them a coach."

1. Coach-specific training. Make sure the individual has received professional
training from a program specifically designed to teach coaching skills. Don't
be misled to think someone is a competent coach because he or she has other
professional credentials or sets high fees.

2. Ethics. The ICF has established a respected Code of Ethics for members and
an Ethical Conduct Review Process for clients who have ethical complaints
against an ICF member or an ICF Credentialed coach. All coaches who are
members of the ICF have pledged to uphold this code and agreed to cooperate
with an ethical review if necessary. If the coach is not an ICF member, what
ethical standards do they follow? Who holds them accountable?

3. Credential. Does the individual hold or are they in the process of earning
an ICF Credential? Coaches who have been credentialed by the ICF have received
coach-specific training, achieved a designated number of experience hours and
been coached by a mentor coach.

All ICF Credentialed coaches are listed in the online ICF Coach Referral
Service (CRS), a free public resource that allows consumers to tailor their
search for a qualified coach based on specific criteria, including
professional experience of the coach, coaching specialties, desired coaching
method, language preference, location, and more. The CRS is available at
http://www.Coachfederation.org/CRS.

The ICF defines coaching as partnering with clients in a thought-provoking and
creative process that inspires them to maximize their personal and
professional potential. Coaching is a distinct service and differs greatly
from therapy, consulting, mentoring or training. Individuals who engage in a
coaching relationship can expect to experience fresh perspectives on personal
challenges and opportunities, enhanced thinking and decision-making skills,
enhanced interpersonal effectiveness, and increased confidence in carrying out
their chosen work and life roles.

The International Coach Federation is the leading global organization for
coaches, with more than 12,800 members in over 90 countries, dedicated to
advancing the coaching profession by setting high ethical standards, providing
independent certification, and building a worldwide network of credentialed
coaches. The ICF is the only organization that awards a global credential
which is currently held by over 5,100 coaches worldwide. For more information
on how to become or find an ICF Credentialed coach, please visit our Web site
at http://www.coachfederation.org.

(1) PCC: Professional Certified Coach, credential awarded by the International
Coach Federation.

ICF HEADQUARTERS CONTACTS:

Ann Belcher, +1.859.226.4428, ann.belcher@coachfederation.org
Kristin Hogue, +1.859.219.3614, kristin.hogue@coachfederation.org
Amy Richardson, +1.859.219.3550, amy.richardson@coachfederation.org

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SOURCE International Coach Federation

Ann Belcher, +1-859-226-4428, ann.belcher@coachfederation.org, or Kristin
Hogue, +1-859-219-3614, kristin.hogue@coachfederation.org, or Amy Richardson,
+1-859-219-3550, amy.richardson@coachfederation.org, all of ICF