Coach Training 101
Info on Coach Training 101
What led me to ICF Certification
Coach Training 101 was my first class towards ICF Certification. As part of my PhD program in Conflict Resolution, I took a Conflict Coaching course and immediately knew it was something I could offer as a much needed alternative to current family court practices. I am currently developing research for my dissertation on this topic (more info soon). Being an academic, and a court professional, I knew it would be important to have oversight and accreditation and research to earn the trust of the court system.
Time to reflect on my first completed ICF course, Coach Training 101
I am getting certified through Dr. Katie Linder’s coach training program for academics since I have taught for the majority of my life. As a means to reflect on what I have learned, I am going to apply some of what I understand to one of her coaching podcast episodes. I chose an episode on planning for a creative retreat, since I have monthly creative retreats of my own, and I just returned from a 2 week summer retreat. Here is a link to the episode on Setting Intentions for a Creative Retreat. In this episode, Dr. Katie Linder (Katie) is being coached by Dr. Katy Peplin (Katy).
Coaching Session Structure:
The coaching session structure adds to the client experience in several ways. It leads a client through a session using research backed methods and tools. Without an agenda, the session would be unstructured, and might go all over the place. Without powerful questions, the core of the session, a client will lack reflection and opportunities to dive deep on their topic. Without accountability, there is no clear path forward after the session.
Agenda
Before jumping into the agenda setting, Katy (coach) asks, “How are you landing coming into this session?” This, for me, is the invitation through an open door where the coach is holding space for the client. After catching up on goals from the last session, Katy mentions seeing the topic of a creative retreat on the intake form. Intake forms can be a useful way for both coaches and clients to organize their thoughts and prepare in advance for the coaching session. The coach asks the client to define what a creative retreat is for her. This evolved into the agenda, and planning the retreat. Listening, I could tell these are both experienced coaches who are comfortable in the coaching session structure. I noted they both were leading the way through the session.
Powerful Questions
Once the agenda of the creative retreat plans was set, the powerful questions started. At a basic level, powerful questions are open ended questions that start with “what”.
Powerful questions I noticed in this coaching session:
I noticed you mentioned _____. Are there any other tensions (obstacles) to think about?
Has there ever been a time where it didn’t work well?
What kind of big things can you fit in first?
What about that feels like tension?
What questions are left unanswered?
Learn/Be/Do Powerful Questions in Coaching
Learn/be/do is a framework that leads a client through a series of questions to help them process and navigate their experience of the world.
Learn questions help clients to reflect on situations, like the present coaching session topic, or their place in the world. Be questions ask of clients who they currently are and who they need to be in order to reach their goals. Do questions focus on actions and accountability; how the goals from the coaching session will be achieved.
Accountability
I feel like Katie, the client, came up with her own homework items for this session. In ICF coaching, it’s important to remember the client has all the answers already, the coach just draws them out. The coach needs to trust the client. During the accountability portion of a coaching session, a coach should ask questions that help clients think of the next steps, and if there need to be check-ins between sessions for additional support.
Connections to ICF Core Competencies
The ICF Core Competencies were updated as of 2019.
Foundation
Demonstrates Ethical Practice
In this coaching session I noted the coach was honest with the client, sensitive to her needs, and used appropriate language.
Embodies a Coaching Mindset
I didn’t necessarily hear things related to this competency in session, but I did check out Katy’s website to see how she engages in professional development as a coach.
Co-creating the relationship
Establishes and Maintains Agreements
Since both the coach and client in this session are coaches, they did not cover agreement processes in this session. It was covered earlier in this coaching series, if you want to hear more of it check out the first podcast episode of this season.
Cultivates Trust and Safety
Strategies for holding space in this session included mindful pauses for reflection and listening to and following where the client, Katie, wanted to go. I noticed the coach asking questions about how things feel, encouraging vulnerability. There was encouragement to use Katie’s natural strengths and abilities.
Maintains Presence
Elements of coaching presence that stuck out to me in this session include focused and empathetic responses to the client. I felt that Katy, the coach, was almost as curious about her own experiences with the topic, as she was questioning the client. I think there could have been more time for pause and reflection.
Communicating Effectively
Listens Actively
There was a lot of reflective listening between the coach and client. Katy, the coach, paraphrased and summarized much of what Katie, the client, said, and used that information to ask her next questions. I do think she did a good job at getting at the underlying issues of the topic.
Evokes Awareness
An effective tool used to start this coaching session was metaphor. I also noticed questions that helped Katie, the client, to think of things she had not considered before, as well as focus on things that already work well.
Cultivating Learning and Growth
Facilitates Client Growth
During this session, Katy, the coach, partnered with the client to summarize what she was learning, explored how the client could move forward, and helped the client transform learning and insight into action.
Personal Reflections
Reflections on the coaching session
After completing the first ICF course, Coach Training 101, as I was listening to this podcast episode, I was surprised that the coach seemed to be giving a lot of advice. I dug around a little and couldn’t find if she was ICF trained and certified, which might explain why her coaching style was so different from the training I just experienced. Her style was informational, anecdotal, validating and encouraging. Katy coaches grad students, and you can find more out about her here.
She does mention in the first episode of the podcast season that her method of coaching is more aligned with consulting. She commonly uses metaphor as a tool. She is also is deeply rooted in her experience as an educator and how people learn. These are observations, not judgements, as I am reflecting on looking at coaching through an ICF lens.
Reflections on my coaching presence after listening to this coaching session
This podcast episode taught me that my coaching presence is slow and mellow. I usually have more time for the client to pause for reflections and thinking. I don’t try to fill that space with my own words and reflections. I also know that I have a lot more to learn and practice before I feel like I have mastered the coaching competencies. The last thing I think is important to keep in mind is to trust the client. As much as a problem solver I am, I need to keep my own ideas and solutions to myself and let the client find their own solutions. My role is to facilitate this process, and make it easier, for the client, not to tell them what to do or how to do it.