Can you rely on your leadership coach? 3 tips to check how

Last week a detailed investigative report by Mint threw light on the quality of counsellors that have come up via mental health startups. Poorly conducted sessions with minimal standards only made an already troubled client feel worse.

As the need for direction in a world that has become so uncertain rises and the acceptability of coaching increases, we need to take a sharp look at the quality of coaching available in India.

Low entry barriers to coaching

It's very common now for us to come across coaches on LinkedIn. I am sure in your immediate circle of family, friends and colleagues there are people who have been certified as coaches since the pandemic began. The problem is that you can get certified as a coach via any online courses available in a couple of hours; voila you are a coach. However, what type of certification your coach has, the hours put in and ongoing training matters a lot.

If you are to pick a coach, please look for the following features:

What kind of certification?

Look for a coach that has been certified. The certifying institutions of note include the International Coaching Federation (ICF), the apex body for coaches, AC (Association for Coaching), EMCC (European Mentoring & Coaching Council) and ICC (International Coaching Council). There is also Marshal Goldsmith stakeholder centered coaching.

How are they maintaining their learning?

Coaching is one of those professions that have a very deep impact on the clients that you engage with. It's therefore very important that the coach you have, like a doctor, keeps updated with the latest approaches to coaching. Additionally, they should have their own coach to ensure monitoring and supervision. Do ask what is their supervision plan for themselves and recent learning.

Chemistry session between you and the coach

Your coach should offer you a free, introductory coaching session. This helps you and the coach decide what the challenges to be addressed are and more importantly, whether you are suited to each other. A good coach will be upfront about whether there is a good match and recommend other coaches if you are not. It is also the responsibility of the coach to assess whether the client will be better helped by a clinical psychologist and/or psychiatrist.

Enjoy your coaching journey !