UK 
United States
On 26th of April 2015 I ran the London Marathon.
As I pounded the streets a quote from David Nicholson's book, 'Think Like an Athlete.' popped into my head: 'Once an understanding of the transformative potential of running sinks in, it's just a matter of making the connections in other areas of life.' And it occurred to me that there are a host of similarities between running a long distance race, and gaining a professional coaching qualification.
Be clear in your purpose
Do you really, really want this? Getting fit enough to run a marathon, is a huge commitment in time, energy and resource. Very much like the commitment needed to achieve a professional coaching qualification. You're in it for the long run, so are you mentally race ready? If you don't have a clear and well thought through purpose, you're in danger of either wasting your resources or just plain giving up. Do you really want that?
For example, if developing an internal coaching resource for your organisation is your key strategic objective, investing in the business by offering professionally qualified internal coaches is a valid alternative to hiring external coaches. With that in mind my personal recommendation would be the ICF. The International Coach Federation has been leading the development of professional coaching with an ICF Credential; coaches demonstrate not only knowledge and skill, but also a commitment to high professional standards and a strong code of ethics.
Get a robust plan that suits your needs
I knew that to be successful in completing the marathon, I needed a robust training plan that was developed by someone else who really knew about running, so that I could benefit from their professional expertise. I needed a plan that was just right for me, designed to fit around my lifestyle and take into account my temperamental knees!
And with coach training, completing an ICF accreditation you can achieve that too. The framework that underpins the programme is the 'Core Competency' which are critical for any competent coach to demonstrate. How the programme is designed, the approaches and models used will vary and can be adapted to meet the needs of any organisation or individual.
It's not about the running, and it's ALL about the running
Being able to run long distances is not just about running. Cross training, rest and good nutrition are a must. That said the long runs were essential. To be able to run 26.2 miles on the day you need to know you can run at least 18 to 20 miles in training.
And by comparison, gaining a professional qualification is not about the training, it's about coaching. If you're looking for the right coaching accreditation for your organisation what is in place to encourage coaches to deepen their practice is important too? Is coach mentoring or supervision and ongoing professional development part of the proposal? Is there an emphasis on practical application of knowledge, are coaches required to spend their time actually coaching people? This is key, as it will ensure that having made the investment in training your coaches they will be able to deliver a credible service to your business.
Are you interested in a professional accreditation programme for yourself or your organisation?
We offer ICF approved training courses as in-house or open programmes in London and Birmingham. If you would like to explore which coaching credential would be the right fit for you please come along to our next free session 'Choosing a coaching credential - ILM or ICF?' in London on 20 May 2015 (you can book your places here)
Note about the author
Elizabeth Crosse is Maximum Coaching’s Practice Director and one of the 1% of Coaches in the world to attain the ICF Master Certified coaching credential. In addition to running marathons and training coaches, she specialises in working with individuals who are moving thorough personal and professional transitions.
Elizabeth Crosse
Practice Director
Maximum Coaching
Tel: +44 (0) 1582 714280
Email: [email protected]
