Who are we as coaches?

Who are we as coaches?

There are stereotypes and commonalities amongst us as professionals.  Of course, each of us is unique and that is a good thing! Who are we as coaches?

Who we are as coaches is built on who we are individually?  Our life experiences, education, training, network, and career are elements that help define us.  We each have beliefs, values, attitudes, biases, priorities, challenges, and motivators. Building on that, the Code of Ethics, Core Competencies, and Core Values of the coaching community influence our development and approach to coaching.

Who we are as coaches also includes our style and approach to coaching?  Some are very logical and focus on work and tasks.  Some are emotional and focus on feelings and relationships.  Ideally, we all learn to flex to the client and partner to explore both work strategies and tasks plus the feelings and relationships based on where they are at in the moment.

On a deeper level, who we are as coaches includes being present to ourselves, our biases, and how we show up.  Our competencies call on us to have a self-reflective practice and this includes both self-awareness and reflecting on how we coach.  Additionally, our ethics and competencies require us to continue learning.  All this influences how we show up for clients.

Each client will experience who we are differently.  Additionally, who they are influences their perceptions of us as their coach.  Thus, who we are as coaches during a session is also closely tied to who the client is and how they show up.

Cathy Liska

For content specific to coach training and coaching, guest blog posts are welcome.

Most blog posts here are written or curated by Cathy Liska, Guide from the Side®, CDP, MCC.

Cathy is CEO/Founder of the Center for Coaching Certification, CCC. As Guide from the Side®, she is a sought-after trainer and coach with over 30 years of experience in business management and ownership. Cathy built her diverse team at CCC that includes trainers, customer service, and coaches. She was Co-Leader for ICF’s Ethics Community of Practice, on the Leadership Team for the review and updating of the Code of Ethics in 2024, and active in the Ethics Water Cooler. To ensure she stays current in related areas of expertise, Cathy has earned the following: ICF’s Master Certified Coach (MCC), Certified Coach Trainer, Certified Consumer Credit Counselor, Certificate of Excellence in Nonprofit Leadership and Management, Grief Support Group Facilitator, Certified in the Drucker Self-Assessment Tool, Certified Apartment Manager, Certified Civil and Family Mediator, and Certified in DISC.

Cathy’s clients range from attorneys to corporate executives, government to nonprofit, entrepreneurs to children, under or unemployed to newly retired. She specializes in communication, management, conflict, and leadership. Her personal mission statement is “People.” Cathy is known for her passion to serve others so they achieve the results they want.

Podcast: https://www.coachcert.com/podcast.html

Publications: Coaching Perspectives (a series of books with chapters by coach training graduates) https://www.coachcert.com/resources/recommended-reading/coaching-perspectives-series-by-the-center-for-coaching-certification-and-more.html

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