How do you choose your coach?

Often coaches are selected based on a recommendation from someone else, but how do you know that this coach is the right coach for you?

As an industry the only regulation of coaching standards is done through the International Regulator of Coaches and Mentors CIC (IRCM).  Therefore, the questions you should be asking about your coach are, at minimum, the following:

  • Is the coach you are selecting to work with trained?
    It is easy for the coach to say ‘yes’ that they are, but what is the quality of training?
    The IRCM recommends that coach training is verified by an independent body, and there are two types of independent bodies that can undertake this verification:

    • IRCM REGISTERED or ACCREDITED Professional Bodies, who are capable of providing an independent verification of each private, commercial, training organisation; and in turn each course/workshop that the organisation provides.
    • IRCM REGISTERED Formal Education Bodies.  Unlike private, commercial, training organisations; formal education bodies are required to meet Country based Education Standards and by registering with the IRCM, they also agree to abide by and incorporate the IRCM’s Standards, Ethics, and Core Competencies in each course/workshop.
    • The question to ask in your interview of the coach include:
      • How did they select the course?
      • What due-diligence did they do?
      • Is the course independently verified through an IRCM verification process?
      • If the answer is ‘no’, what is the one reason that you would select to work with a coach who is not qualified through the right course?
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  • Is the coach you are selecting to work with competent?
    • Competence is determined by a coaches independent but external verification.
    • This is simply provided by an ACCREDITATION/CREDENTIAL process provided by an IRCM REGISTERED or ACCREDITED Professional Body.
    • If the answer is that the coach is not accredited/credentialed by an IRCM Registered/Accredited Professional Body, has the coach independently REGISTERED on the IRCM’s Individual Suppliers Register?
      • If the answer is ‘no’, what is the one reason that you would select to work with a coach who is not competent?
      • If the answer is ‘yes’, this coach has agreed to abide by the IRCM’s Standards, Ethics, and Core Competencies.

How do you check?

  1. Click here and if the coaches Professional Body is REGISTERED or ACCREDITED, you will be able to click through to the Professional Bodies own directory to verify the coaches status.
  2. If the coach is not accredited/credentialled with an IRCM REGISTERED or ACCREDITED Professional Body, click here and verify if the coach is independently REGISTERED with the IRCM.

If the coach is not trained and not competent, what is the reason you would select to work with them?

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Complete the form below to share your thoughts, ideas, concerns, or ask your questions about how to select your own coach:

All fields are mandatory unless otherwise indicated.

Name(Required)
Your email address will only be used to contact you in relation to your Directory entry. If your email address changes, please email registers@IRCM-CIC.org with updated details.
Your telephone number will only be used to contact you in relation to your Directory entry.
If you would rather that your website contact page is used as your 'contact me' button on your Directory Page, please enter your website URL.
If you would rather use an email address for your 'contact me' button on your Directory page, please enter the email address you wish to use.
If you trade under your own name, please enter your name as you would use it in marketing, social media, etc. in this field.
If the Legal entity name is the same as the Organisations Trading Name, please enter ‘SAME as Organisation Trading Name’.
If the Legal entity name is different from the Organisations Trading Name, please enter the Legal entity name as registered in the country of registration.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_legal_entity_types_by_country
For example, if your company is a Private Limited Company in the UK, you would enter your Company Registration Number.
Date organisation started trading(Required)
Legal Entity Address(Required)
Postal Address
Leave blank if the same as the Legal Entity address.
Is your Coaching, Mentoring and/or Training covered by Professional Indemnity and/or Business Insurance?
(As this information is included on your Directory entry, it is your responsibility to ensure that it remains current. Please email registers@IRCM-CIC.org with changes.)
If yes, please enter the following:
Insurance Organisation
Insurance Type
Certificate Number
Date first issued (DD/MM/YYYY)
Date expires (DD/MM/YYYY)
 
All photographs must be .JPG or .PNG.
No less than 300 DPI.
Square in shape (no less than 500 pixels by 500 pixels)
Accepted file types: jpg, gif, png, Max. file size: 512 MB.
All photographs must be .JPG or .PNG.
No less than 300 DPI.
Square in shape (no less than 500 pixels by 500 pixels)
Accepted file types: jpg, gif, png, Max. file size: 512 MB.
LANGUAGES(Required)
Please enter all the languages you coach or mentor in.
SPECIALITIES(Required)
Please enter your main coaching and/or mentoring specialities.
Coaching specialities
Mentoring specialities
 
QUALIFICATION(Required)
Please enter the details of each course that you have attended to gain a coaching and/or mentoring qualification.
Formal Education Body is a University, College, School. Private Commercial Training Organisation is a private company/coach/mentor who provides coach and/or mentor training.
Education Body/Organisation
Course and Qualification
Date qualified (DD/MM/YYYY)
 
COMPETENCE(Required)
Please enter the details of each accreditation or credential awarded by one or more Professional Bodies.
Professional Body
Accreditation/Credential title
Date awarded (DD/MM/YYYY)
 
If you are a member of one or more Professional Bodies, please can you explain your reason for joining your selected Professional Body/ies.
If you are not a member, please enter NONE in this field.
If you are not a member of one or more Professional Bodies, please can you explain your reason for not joining a Professional Body/ies.
If you are a member, please enter NONE in this field.
DECLARATIONS(Required)
(Required)
(Required)
(Required)
Please select the relevant option.
On receipt of your fee, your Directory entry will be created within 24-48 hours.
If you were introduced to the IRCM by a person, please enter their name. If not, please provide the details as to how you found the IRCM. Thank you.
APPLICATION AGREEMENT(Required)