Center for Coaching Certification
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How will a coach help me?

Posted on December 13, 2018 by Cathy Liska

Discover the answer by considering these questions:

  • How often do competing priorities interfere with your choices?
  • How many goals have you forgotten or pushed aside?
  • How often do you use great advice you are given?
  • How effectively can you brainstorm on your own?
  • How easily do you consider different perspectives?
  • How often do you take time to think deeply about what you want?
  • How likely is it that you get in your own way?
  • How effectively do you hold yourself accountable?

If your answers to the above questions are along the line of effectively exploring possibilities, being deeply aware, choosing your path, and naturally moving forward, then my questions is, why are you even reading this blog?

What can a career coach offer me?

How will a coach help me?

If, like so many, your answers indicate the challenges with time and space to think plus ways to achieve, then you have answered the title question.

A coach, using techniques and skills fine-tuned during coaching certification, will empower you to prioritize, strategize, and effectively create the meaningful change you choose.

A trained coach partners with you in a process that puts you in charge of being your own best expert.  Coaching is an safe opportunity to think and feel deeply then move into experiencing what you want professionally and personally.

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How can a coach help with balance?

Posted on December 10, 2018 by Cathy Liska

First, what is balance?

People experience balance differently.  It is generally discussed as a ratio of work, fitness, personal care, and family time. Sometime there is the idea that balance is evenly weighted scales and then they think that a balance between work and life is impossible.  Others recognize balance as a ratio that works based on their individual preferences, lifestyle, and commitments.

How can a coach help with balance?

How can a coach help with balance?

How can a coach help with balance?

Coaching provides a process for exploring and defining balance, making choices, creating strategies, and implementing plans.  Creating balance will include awareness of influencing factors, personal emotions, opportunities, potential barriers, and how to create the desired outcome.

How is working with a coach any different than figuring it out on my own?

Often, especially when a sense of balance is the objective, one of the biggest hurdles to jump is the time to think and the ability to go deep into thoughts, feelings, and ideas. While most of us are capable, chances are we simply get caught up in other things and time flies by.  Working with a coach means having a partner that creates the space – the time and opportunity – and asks questions, challenging you to find your answers.

How do I find a coach to help with balance?

Consider what is important to you for talking with someone about things that are personal – the number one indicator of success is the rapport between the coach and the coachee. How do you find that?  First, a coach who has coaching certification and is a member of the International Coach Federation cares about their professional development (enhancing their coaching competencies) and is accountable to the Code of Ethics.  Next, plan on and even ask for an introductory session so you experience how they work as a coach plus get to know each other and decide if you are a good match.  With those two criteria in mind, a good starting point is www.FindaCertifiedCoach.com.

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How will Mentor Coaching help me?

Posted on December 6, 2018 by Cathy Liska

In the previous blog, you read how the International Coach Federation, ICF, defines mentor coaching from https://coachfederation.org/mentor-coaching.  If you are pursuing your ACC, PCC, or MCC credential through the ICF, Mentor Coaching is required.

How will Mentor Coaching help me?

How will Mentor Coaching help me?

How will mentor coaching help?

  • Mentor coaching provides support for achieving and demonstrating levels of coaching competency.
  • Mentor coaching following the ICF guidelines is used to increase the coach’s capability in coaching in preparation to apply for a credential.
  • Mentor coaching is a partnership for upgrading coaching skills to support the coach professionally and their clients through their coaching.

Who can be a mentor coach?

ICF guidelines for mentor coaching require that the Mentor Coach for someone earning the ACC Mentor Coach have the ACC credential and complete a renewal cycle.  ICF guidelines for coaches working on their PCC credential are that the mentor coach must be a PCC or an MCC.  For the MCC credential, coach applicants must work with a coach who has the MCC credential.

At the Center for Coaching Certification, CCC, all coach trainers must have, as a minimum, their ACC credential.  In addition to the coach training hours required for ICF membership and credentialing, CCC offers Mentor Coaching.  As a note: the team at CCC continues to further develop through ongoing education and pursuing higher levels of credentialing – come join us!

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What is Mentor Coaching?

Posted on December 3, 2018 by Cathy Liska

What is a mentor?  A mentor is someone who has experience and wisdom that they pass on.  A mentor gives advice.

What is a coach?  A coach is a strategic partner that empowers you to explore and discover your own answer.

What is Mentor Coaching? Combine what a mentor is with what a coach is: the experience and wisdom of a mentor is used to inform the questions asked when coaching a coach.  Plus, a mentor coach provides feedback in the form of observations.  A mentor coach shares examples helpful to a coach. Quite simply, mentor coaching is a balance between mentoring and coaching.

According to the International Coach Federation, “The ICF defines Mentor Coaching as providing professional assistance in achieving and demonstrating the levels of coaching competency demanded by the desired credential level sought by a coach‐applicant (mentee). Furthermore, Mentor Coaching means an applicant (mentee) being coached on their coaching skills rather than coaching on practice building, life balance, or other topics unrelated to the development of an applicant’s coaching skill.”

For the different credentialing levels with the International Coach Federation, they require coach training and coaching experience hours plus mentor coaching:

Coaching Levels

Coaching Levels

The Center for Coaching Certification offers a comprehensive Mentor Coaching program for credentialing.

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What are the opportunities for a coach?

Posted on November 29, 2018 by Cathy Liska

Because coaching involves highly developed people and communication skills, coaching certification is a career opportunity, a business opportunity, and a personal development opportunity.

What are the opportunities for a coach?

What are the opportunities for a coach?

Career:

Coaching is a skill set for leaders and professionals in many fields including: Human Resources, Talent Development, Training, Facilitation, Organizational Development, Financial Planning, Medical Care, Mental Health, and more.  Specifically, coaching is a competency area for leaders and HR professionals, and a core competency for members of ATD.  At the Center for Coaching Certification, coach training offers continuing education units accepted for renewing most professional designations and when pursuing a degree or advanced degree.

Business:

Coaching is a profession wherein coaching certification and membership in the International Coach Federation are the initial steps for becoming a PT or FT coach – employed within an organization or in business for yourself.  Building a business as a coach involves a commitment to developing your infrastructure and then making your services available; the rewards of the work are amazing.

Personal

Coach training is an opportunity to develop skills that enhance your opportunities personally.  Specifically, coach training encompasses people and communication skills plus processes for choosing priorities, setting goals, and following through effectively.  These skills lead to better outcomes parenting, volunteering, and in relationships.

Expand your possibilities and happiness today with coach training.

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I want to become a coach!

Posted on November 26, 2018 by Cathy Liska

The gold standard for being a coach is membership in the International Coach Federation (ICF).   The ICF requires 60 hours of training to become a member.  In addition to membership, the ICF offers credentialing – think about it this way: becoming a member of the ICF is much like getting a degree, and then earning a credential is much like getting a masters or doctorate level degree.

At the Center for Coaching Certification, the first training program is the ICF-approved Certified Professional Coach– a 30-hour program that serves to initiate people into the coaching competencies and develop coaching skills, plus provide a process.

I want to become a coach!

I want to become a coach!

The second level is the ICF-approved Certified Master Coach program totaling 35 hours (the Certified Professional Coach program is a prerequisite).  This program completes the 60 hours required for membership in the ICF, and the hours required for the first level of credentialing, the ACC.  The Certified Master Coach program adds group coaching plus is a deeper dive into the coaching competencies, taking your coaching expertise to a more advanced level.

Back to the first step: The Certified Professional Coach program begins with five live, interactive online webinars covering tools and techniques for developing and enhancing coaching competencies.  These are followed by research and practice homework assigned during each webinar.  Next is a group session for Q&A time plus reviewing the resources provided to graduates.  The coaching practicum follows, either online on in one of many different cities, and you will experience coaching hands-on.  After the coaching practicum you will complete a case study.  Completion of these steps means you receive your certificate.  After certification, recordings on business and marketing plus a monthly Q&A call are included and available to all graduates as part of the program.

At $1,695.00, our program is one of the most affordable ICF (International Coach Federation) approved programs in the country.  The classes are packed with information, stimulating, and fun.  Additional benefits of the Center for Coaching Certification include:

  • The Center for Coaching Certification is the only ICF-approved program that is also accredited by IACET to offer CEUs (Continuing Education Units) that are accepted by SHRM, HRCI, ATD, and more.
  • The Center for Coaching Certification is the only ICF-approved program that is also accredited by Project Management International and the Association of Image Consultants International.
  • A robust suite of coaching tools and resources, available to graduates on the Coach Login page.
  • The opportunity to become a published author by contributing a chapter to our annual book, Coaching Perspectives. 
  • A personalized dashboard to give multiple assessments at wholesale including the DISC, EIQ, 360, and more along with extensive resources including facilitation and debriefing guides.
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Resources Provided to Graduates on the Assessment Dashboard

Posted on November 22, 2018 by Cathy Liska

In addition to wholesale pricing and being able to brand assessment reports with your information, the assessment dashboard given to all graduates includes a multitude of resources.

Resources Provided to Graduates on the Assessment Dashboard

Resources Provided to Graduates

Resources Included:

  • Virtual Tour of Your Account – A quick overview of your account
  • DISC Trainer Materials
  • Motivators Trainer Materials
  • Hartman Value Profile Trainer Materials
  • EIQ (Emotional Intelligence) Trainer Materials
  • Learning Styles Trainer Materials
  • Sales IQ Plus Trainer Materials
  • Platinum Rule Trainer Materials
  • Certification – Practitioner Certification
  • Marketing One-Sheets
  • Sample Reports
  • Demo Assessments
  • Webinars – Previously recorded webinars

With these resources you can explore what each of the assessments covers, how to use it, and how to debrief it.

More good news: if you want to be certified in one or more of these tools, the certification itself is also priced at wholesale – a nice additional benefit.

Because many coaching clients and sponsors seek assessments for the insight and a tool for creating change, having the dashboard with the ability to give assessments is a great value-add for your coaching business.  The real question becomes: when will you take advantage of this amazing resource provided for your benefit?

When you complete your coach training at the Center for Coaching Certification, you will receive your own, password-protected personal dashboard – enjoy!

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Assessment Tools Provided to Center for Coach Certification for Graduates

Posted on November 19, 2018 by Cathy Liska

Graduates of coach training at the Center for Coaching Certification are each provided with an assessment dashboard.  Benefits include white-labeling or branding (so that all assessment reports have their logo and contact information) plus wholesale pricing.The resource center in the dashboard includes videos, facilitator guides, sample reports, and more.

Assessment Tools Provided to Center for Coach Certification for Graduates

Assessment Tools Provided

What assessment are included?

  1. Core Assessments
    •   DISC* (measures behavioral styles)
    •   Motivators (evaluates motivational styles)
    •   Hartman** (evaluates thinking styles)
    •   Emotional Intelligence EIQ-2 (evaluates emotional styles)
    •   Learning Styles (evaluates learning styles)

    *DISC report versions: Self (General), Sales, Leadership, Coaching
    **Hartman report versions: Self (General), Sales, Leadership

    ☞Additional available languages for the DISC: Arabic, Chinese, Dutch, Espanol, French, German, Indonesian, Japanese, Khmer, Korean, Malaysian, Portuguese (Brazil), Portuguese (Portugal), Swedish, Turkish, Vietnamese, UK English

    II. Combined Core Assessments
    •   DISC+Motivators
    •   DISC+EIQ-2
    •   DISC+Learning Styles

    III. 360º Assessment
    •   DISC 360

    IV. Hiring & Selection Assessments
    •   Workplace Strengths (initial screening assessment)
    •   Executive Summary* (executive selection assessment)

    *Executive Summary report versions: General, Leadership, Sales, Service

    V. Specialty Reports
    •   Sales IQ Plus (sales skills test)
    •   Executive Summary – Development (executive development report that integrates the first three Core Assessments: DISC, Motivators and Hartman)

As discussed in your coaching certification, assessments are a tool used when it benefits the client.  This means have a clear purpose and choose whether to use an assessment, which assessment to use, and when to use it based on what will serve the client.  Each time you use an assessment, include a coaching session on the results!

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What is the difference between Online and Blended learning?

Posted on November 15, 2018 by Cathy Liska

Online means that the entire program is completed online.  Blended means that part of the program is online, and part of the program is face-to-face.  In either case, when a coaching certification is approved by the International Coach Federation, live participation is a requirement.

For online classes, plan ahead!  Be in a quiet, private place because you will be listening and also talking.  Online platforms do pick up the noise around you so being in a quiet place is respectful of your classmates plus ensures you are ready to focus.  Because the live participation is required, plan to ask questions, answer questions, and engage in discussion.

What is the difference between Online and Blended learning?

What is the difference between Online and Blended learning?

At the Center for Coaching Certification, CCC, both online and blended learning options are offered for the Certified Professional Coach program.  In both versions, it is the exact same class! The program starts with five live, interactive, online classes.  Each class is followed by a research or practice assignment.  Next is a group session to discuss what the class chooses, get questions answered, and review resources that are included.  The coaching practicum is where you coach, are coached, and observe coaching.  It is an amazing experience in either format.  For the online version the time is scheduled in four-hour blocks on four different days.  For the face-to-face version, the time is scheduled in two eight-hour days.

Graduates of all CCC programs are provided with a multitude of resources including a coach listing service, numerous assessments that you can brand and give at wholesale, free continuing education, opportunities to speak or publish, login access to many tools and resources, plus a free Q&A call each month.

Visit  https://www.coachcert.com,email CoachSupport@CoachCert.com, take a quiz on becoming a coach at https://www.coachcert.com/en/about/faqs/is-coaching-right-for-me-take-the-quiz.html, or call 800-350-1678 for more information.

 

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What is the difference between having a Coach versus a Mentor?

Posted on November 12, 2018 by Cathy Liska

A Mentor is a fabulous person who will pass on their wisdom and experience.  In the workplace they help with connections and defining or refining career paths.  A mentor gives their options, offer advice, and makes recommendations from a place of expertise.

A Coach is a strategic partner that empowers you to be your best self.  A coach works with you on professional or personal objectives. Coaching starts with the co-creation of an agreement outlining the parameters of a relationship, and defining what, specifically, you want to accomplish in each coaching session. During coaching sessions, the coach is a sounding board for you to think and explore.  A coach uses powerful questioning to expand your thinking.  A coach partners with you so that you consider different possibilities, identify potential challenges, develop strategies, create action plans, and move forward in the direction and manner you choose. A coach deepens your awareness and learning for long-term, sustainable, meaningful change.

Coach versus a Mentor?

Coach versus a Mentor?

There is a time and a place for having a Mentor and a time and a place for having a coach.

  • Find a Mentor when you are still learning information and what inside help moving forward.
  • Find a Coach when you want to expand your possibilities and take charge of your outcomes.

The greatest indicator of success in a coaching relationship is the rapport between the coach and the client.  It seems likely that rapport is also an indicator of success in a mentoring relationship.  Rapport with a Mentor will be based on connections and mutual interests as well as simply liking each other.  Rapport with a Coach is built on a Coach first completing coaching certification to develop their competency, next being part of the International Coach Federation so they are accountable to a Code of Ethics, and then effectively partnering in a way that works for your situation.  The bonus: because a Coach is truly invested in and cares about your success, chances are you will find that you truly enjoy your coaching sessions.

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