It is March already – the time has flown by! I'm sure many of you have set some resolutions and goals for the year ahead, and if your career is one of your focuses, then you're in luck. In this article, we'll be discussing the importance of research when it comes to progressing your coaching.
It's no secret that research is a powerful tool. When it comes to coaching, research can help you to:
- build a strong foundation of knowledge in your area of specialty
- understand the research that's already been conducted in your field
- learn about new and innovative approaches to coaching
- stay up-to-date on the latest research findings
All of these things are essential for any coach looking to establish credibility as a professional. Let's explore each of these points in a little more detail.
Building a strong foundation of knowledge in your specialty area is essential for any coach. The more you know about your niche, the better equipped you'll be to help your clients. The research you can stay on top of is not just about coaching, it is about the problem space that people are looking for support with. Whilst our clients always need to be in the decision-making role for themselves, they also expect that as a Coach you understand the ‘space’ that you are working with them in. The 'performance coaching' or specialty area that you help people with will require that you maintain connection with the latest knowledge.
Being up-to-date on the latest research findings can go beyond TED talks and blogs with the help of websites such as Research Gate. You do not need to be enrolled at university to access quality information, where sources are referenced. Many of the articles here can be downloaded for free.
If you are already a member of the International Coaching Federation, the largest independent professional association for Coaches in the world, then you can also find articles in the research section on their website, and join in communities of practice on the topics that you specialise in.
In addition to all of this, research can also help you to learn about new and innovative approaches to coaching, that go beyond what people may be doing local to you. It's important to be open to new ideas, and research can help you to explore what is emerging as growth areas in your field. Postgraduate programs in Coaching are allowing growing trends to be grounded in evidence, and you can benefit from the work of others just by taking time to read.
At the very least, if you're looking to take your coaching career to the next level, research should be on your radar.
If you are like me, and you would love to pull together the best thinking on a topic you are passionate about or gather some evidence to show what coaching is capable of, you might also want to do your own research.
An MA thesis is an opportunity to:
- Move from being the person watching TED Talks, to the person giving the talk, about YOUR PASSION for creating outcomes for people.
- Actually write articles that appear in academic journals on Coaching
- Create the basis of your own book
Click through here to learn about the Master of Arts by research in Neuro Coaching.