Training and certification differentiate a doctor from a quack; the same reality applies to coaching. Just anyone can call themselves a coach, but not anyone has the coaching skills to back up the title. It is true everyone who aspires to be a life or business coach expects to enjoy the benefits inherent in it.
As a professional coach, it is not really compulsory to obtain a professional coaching certification or accreditation, but if you are if you are going to do something, it pays to do it well. Experiences have also shown that coaches who do study and obtain a professional coaching certification usually portray a more professional image and therefore gain more credibility with clients.
By getting certified and accredited, you will gain the credibility that will instill confidence in any prospective clients and make them recognize you for all the skills you can offer. Coaching accreditation will demonstrate to your clients and peers your high level of professionalism and your competency as a coach. It will give you an edge that will set you apart from the pack.
Coaching is now a booming industry and the competition is increasing for a market that is still relatively small. There is a great influx of incompetent individuals and companies who do not really know about coaching. One thing to bear in mind is that the would-be clients are very conscious of this development and are keen to make careful selections. So two key questions that are foremost in a potential client’s mind would be “Who to choose?” and “Based on what?” This is where certification and accreditation plays an important role as it helps the prospective clients in ‘separating the whiff from the chaffs’.
In a nutshell, the benefits you can get as an accredited coach include but not limited to the following:
- Accreditation separates you from the rest who don’t go the distance thereby enhances your credibility and reassures potential clients that you are professional - the credibility that non-accredited coaches don’t have.
- It establishes you as a coach who has accumulated the necessary skill sets and undergone the testing that qualifies a coach.
- It also demonstrates that you have high knowledge and skill sets
- It gives you the benefits/training/experience that comes as a requirement of the accreditation
- Coaching accreditation also presents you as a coach with high professional standards and this goes on to show that you have a code of ethics.
- In a general sense, coaching accreditation reinforces the integrity of the coaching profession and blocks loopholes to unscrupulous practitioners. Therefore if you belong in the class of those accredited, the integrity and tenacity of your coaching business will remain evergreen.
One more important thing you need to watch is securing your accreditation from the right sources. There are a plethora of accreditations but the best are those recognized and notable coaching institutes, such as the IIC, the ICF, IAC,AOC,WABC etc . Go through the - approved sources for your accreditation. Above all, all you need is to do your research well in order to make proper selection.
Having accreditations in whatever field of work is definitely a plus point in your career or business. For those into the world of coaching, you may check to Download Our Free Coaching Reports that will help you in your endeavours.
As an executive coach, I also maintain a blog and feel free to visit Coaching Blog. I’ve been constantly updating it with my experiences as an Executive, Corporate and Life Coach.