So, you would like to become an Executive Coach…

When it comes to becoming an executive coach, there are a few key things you need to have in order to be successful.

Firstly, you need to have a strong coaching qualification. This shows that you have the necessary skills and knowledge to help your clients.

Secondly, you need to have experience working in an organisational setting. This will give you an understanding and knowledge of how businesses work, and what challenges executives face daily.

Finally, you need to be a good listener and have strong communication skills. This will help you build relationships with your clients and help them feel comfortable opening up to you. If you can tick all these boxes, then you are well on your way to becoming a successful executive coach.

If we take this to the next level of detail, it is important to know that the people that add a coaching qualification to their ‘existing experience in an organisational setting’ usually have some of the following experience:

• People leadership/management

• Internal or external management consulting

• Learning and development

• Change management or organisational development

When Coaching was in its ‘early days’ people from all kinds of backgrounds entered organisations as Coaches based on coaching qualifications only.  As the market has matured, ex-managers and management consultants started coaching, without any coaching qualifications.  In the current stage, most large organisations are aware of the difference between an ex-manager who mentors (gives advice) and someone with an understanding of organisations, who is also skilled in Coaching.

In my part of the world, It has been at least 9 years since I saw a government tender for a coaching panel or service that does not ask that the Coaches are all qualified with courses recognised by the International Coaching Federation (ICF) and have attained the first level of recognition of experience (ACC level) with the ICF.

In conclusion, if you want to become an executive coach, it is important that you have a strong coaching qualification, experience in an organisational setting, and good listening and communication skills. Connect with us for a conversation about what you specifically would like to do as a Coach. We promise an honest conversation with someone who is both a Coach trainer and an experienced coaching business owner!   If you would like to learn more about coaching, feel free to join in my free online learning, Introduction to Coaching.  Click through here to access it today.. Thanks for reading!