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by Angela
Spaxman
president@certifiedcoach.org
What makes the IAC different from other professional coaching associations?
This is the question I was asked many times in this past month, and as a result
I have more clarity on the answer.
The answer harkens back to our roots, who we are and what we stand for, and
so it is important. What makes us different is not just the distinct features
of our certification and ethical systems, but our values, from which our unique
features were created. Here I describe two of the important values that the
IAC aims to express.
Diversity
The IAC recognizes that masterful coaches come from a wide variety of backgrounds.
They have diverse educations and experiences, and many ways of achieving masterful
coaching. They are so diverse that is not possible to predict or prescribe a
standard path for how to become a masterful coach. Equally, the people and organizations
that coaches serve are highly diverse.
The IAC celebrates the power of diversity to drive coaching to its full potential
and to serve the widest possible range of society. By setting very
high standards for coaching mastery, we provide: (a) clarity about what
coaching is, (b) a unifying community where coaches can recognize each other
and work together and (c) a diverse collection of possible ways to do this work.
As an example of how we have expressed our value for diversity, our coach
certification process has no prerequisites and is equally available to all
coaches who choose to validate their mastery.
Innovation
The coaching profession has emerged as part of rapid development in the human
potential industry. This industry is learning and changing at an unprecedented
rate on the back of scientific research, tremendous societal challenges and
shifting paradigms. For coaches as people who "invite possibility,"
innovation is highly valued. Therefore it is vital that our own institutions
are also designed to welcome innovation.
One way the IAC expresses our value for innovation is through openness and
flexibility to our licensed coaching
schools and mentors. These schools and mentors are free to support their
students and coaches-in-training according to their growing expertise and the
changing needs of their particular student body. We do not place requirements
on number of coaching hours, curriculum, or anything else. But their aim is
clear: to produce coaches sufficiently masterful to reach the very high standards
of the IAC Certification process.
Do you agree that the IAC upholds these two very important coaching values
(diversity and innovation)?
What other values must the IAC uphold in order to be of service to you and the
coaching profession?
I'm listening very closely to learn what values will make the difference to what
the IAC brings to coaching, so please add your comments below.
Cheers,
Angela Spaxman
President, IAC®
Email:
president@certifiedcoach.org
Web: www.lovingworkandleading.com
