Live Open Hour with iZenBridge: Episode 52

We cordially invite you to our scheduled open-hour sessions where you can freely share your queries with us and receive answers from industry-leading experts. Whether your questions are related to Agile Awareness, Agile Coaching, KanBan, Scaled Agile Certifications, follow-up queries, or any other area of project management, we encourage you to participate actively. We share the details of our open-hour sessions in advance, which are typically held on the second and fourth Fridays at 7 PM IST (+5.5 GMT).
Our recent Live Open Hour Episode #52, which was streamed on March 24th, 2023, was related to the ICF-ACC. Coaching has gained immense popularity in recent years, with more and more individuals recognizing the benefits of having a coach to help them achieve their goals. In this insightful conversation, our expert coach Karen Borain delved into various questions related to the ICF-ACC certification.

Question: What is coaching, and what is the importance of coaching in today’s world?

Question: What are the most common challenges that coaches typically face, and how can they effectively navigate them to support their clients in achieving their goals?

Question: What is the key to overcoming resistance during coaching?

Question: How do you determine how many coaching sessions a person requires?

Question: How is Level 1 different from ICF-ACSTH for ICF-ACC certification?

Question: What competencies are focused on during the ICF-ACC certification process, and why are they important for coaches?

Question: What are the benefits of the ICF-ACC certification for working professionals?

Question: Who should consider obtaining an ICF-ACC credential?

Question: What kind of opportunities does an ICF-ACC credential open up?

Question: What are the prerequisites for ICF-ACC, and how many years of experience should one have for the prerequisites?

Question: How does the ICF-ACC certification differ from other coaching certifications from other governing bodies like CTC, and what makes it unique?

Question: Can you share some success stories of coaches who have completed the certification program and how it has impacted their careers?

Question: What kind of support will I receive during the training program, and what resources will be available?

Here is the summarized answer given by Karen Borain for questions asked by participants-

What is coaching, and what is the importance of coaching in today’s world?

Coaching is a process that helps people to unlock their potential by finding their inner strength and achieving their goals. Coaching focuses on individuals or teams and helps them find their inner motivation and reach their full potential. In today’s world, where people struggle with mental health and post-pandemic challenges, coaching can be particularly helpful in providing clarity and direction. Coaching is essential for personal growth, career development, and team-building. It is a way to facilitate change, development, and learning in organizations, and it can help individuals and teams to be more productive, motivated, and engaged. Finally, you must get the right certification and training to become a coach. This involves completing a recognized coaching program and obtaining accreditation from a reputable organization. A coach should also have a deep understanding of human behaviour, excellent communication skills, and the ability to build strong relationships with clients. Coaching is an essential tool for personal and professional development, and it can help individuals and organizations achieve their full potential.

What are the most common challenges that coaches typically face, and how can they effectively navigate them to support their clients in achieving their goals?

Several challenges are common in coaching. One of the biggest challenges is getting clients to open up and be honest with themselves. Sometimes clients may not feel comfortable sharing certain things or may not be aware of certain patterns of behaviour. As a coach, it is important to create a safe and non-judgmental space where clients feel comfortable sharing and exploring their thoughts and feelings.
Another challenge is helping clients stay motivated and committed to the coaching process. Coaching can be a long-term process, and clients may face setbacks or lose momentum along the way. It’s important to help them stay focused on their goals and remind them of their progress. Coaches must strike a balance between being supportive and holding clients accountable to make progress. Additionally, cultural differences or power dynamics can impact the coaching relationship. Maintaining confidentiality is a common challenge in coaching, as coaches must ensure that client’s personal information is kept private while also providing effective coaching.
Finally, another common challenge is managing expectations. Clients may have unrealistic expectations of what coaching can achieve or may expect results to happen quickly. Setting realistic goals and timelines and communicating openly with clients about what they can expect from the coaching process is important.

What is the key to overcoming resistance during coaching?

The key to overcoming resistance during coaching is to ensure that the person being coached understands the benefit to them as an individual. Coaching is all about the client, not the coach, and when individuals genuinely understand the benefit to them, they are more likely to be receptive to coaching. Building trust takes time, and it is important for the coach to show the person being coached that coaching is about them and that they can bring their learning into the conversations. To build trust, coaches must ensure that individuals understand their personal benefits and where coaching can take them.

How do you determine how many coaching sessions a person requires?

The number of coaching sessions a person requires can vary depending on the individual’s needs and goals. Typically, the initial coaching session involves a needs assessment to identify what the individual wants to achieve and the areas they want to work on. Based on this assessment, the coach can estimate the number of coaching sessions required to help the individual achieve their goals.
In general, clients opt for 10 coaching sessions initially, but if they feel they need more sessions to achieve their goals, the door is always open for additional sessions. Sometimes, clients come back just to stay on track. Even coaches themselves go through coaching every few years to stay focused and unleash their potential.
Other factors that can influence the number of coaching sessions required include the complexity of the individual’s goals, the individual’s commitment to the coaching process, and the availability of resources to support the coaching process. Ultimately, the number of coaching sessions required is determined case by case. The coach and individual should work together to determine a plan tailored to the individual’s needs and goals.

How is Level 1 different from ICF-ACSTH for ICF-ACC certification?

ACSTH and Level 1 are two different paths that lead to the ICF-ACC certification and have the same requirements. These paths differ in how they package the necessary training, mentoring, and formal assessment components. The Level 1 is a more comprehensive program that integrates all three components as a single package. Previously, candidates who underwent ICF-ACC training under the ACSTH path had to complete mentoring and formal assessments separately after the training to prepare for their credentialing. However, with the new Level 1, mentoring and formal assessment are included as part of the training program. The primary difference between the two paths is this packaging of components, while the competencies required for both remain unchanged.
The ICF realized it didn’t make sense for people to think they had finished the training when they still needed to continue mentoring and assessment, so they introduced the Level 1 path.

What competencies are focused on during the ICF-ACC certification process, and why are they important for coaches?

Competencies include ethical practice, confidentiality, embodying a coaching mindset, co-creating the relationship with clients, cultivating trust and safety, maintaining presence, communicating effectively, and evoking awareness. These competencies can be applicable as leadership skills, such as establishing and maintaining agreements, cultivating trust and safety, maintaining presence, and communicating effectively.
For the importance, Coaching is about unleashing the client’s potential, whether it is an individual or a team, and moving them from point A (where they are now) to point B (where they want to be). Coaching is about getting results in the shortest possible time. ICF-ACC certification is very focused on these competencies, which are behaviour guidelines for coaches, and the goal is to deliver results using these competencies. These competencies are important for any kind of coaching, and they help coaches understand when their role is that of a coach and how they are expected to behave.
In the 2022 Global Consumer Awareness Study, 85% of coaching participants emphasized the significance of certification in the rapidly growing coaching profession. While it’s not a legal requirement, certification can be a valuable credential for coaches. Many clients seek certified coaches for professional coaching. The need for certification may depend on the coach’s target market, and obtaining it can be crucial for building credibility and attracting clients who value certification.

What are the benefits of the ICF-ACC certification for working professionals?

One of the primary benefits of the ICF-ACC certification for working professionals is that it provides them with the necessary credentialing to work with organizations as a coach. Many organizations require coaches to have the appropriate credential before they can work with them. In addition, the ICF- ACC credential demonstrates professionalism and expertise that can help coaches stand out in a crowded marketplace. This can lead to more clients and more opportunities for coaches to work with organizations, teams, and individuals. Finally, the ICF-ACC certification provides a framework for coaches to develop and refine their coaching skills, which can help them serve their clients better and achieve their professional goals.

Who should consider obtaining an ICF-ACC credential?

Anyone working with people, such as coaches, trainers, managers, HR professionals, and consultants, who wants to improve their performance through coaching skills should consider obtaining an ICF-ACC credential. This credential can help individuals enhance their leadership and communication skills, build a strong foundation in coaching competencies and techniques, and gain credibility as a professional coach. Additionally, having an ICF-ACC credential can open up opportunities for contracts with organizations that require certified coaches.

What kind of opportunities does an ICF-ACC credential open up?

Obtaining an ICF ACC credential can open up opportunities in various fields, such as team coaching, executive coaching, career coaching, and even for project managers. It gives professionals the backing and professionalism needed to gain contracts with organizations and shows they have the necessary skills and competencies to be effective coaches. Additionally, coaching skills are everyday skills and can be used in any profession to help support team growth and performance.

What are the prerequisites for ICF-ACC, and how many years of experience should one have for the prerequisites?

To apply for the ICF-ACC certification, there are no specific prerequisites for years of coaching experience. The biggest prerequisite for becoming a coach has the mindset that everyone has the potential to grow and develop. It doesn’t matter if someone is in their early 20s or 70s; what’s important is to be passionate about learning and growth and believe in people’s potential to grow and develop. If someone doesn’t believe that people have the potential to grow, it will cloud their judgment and affect their ability to be an effective coach. Therefore, believing in the client’s potential and growth is a prerequisite for becoming a coach.

How does the ICF-ACC certification differ from other coaching certifications from other governing bodies like CTC, and what makes it unique?

The ICF certification focuses on eight competencies that are very specific and emphasized throughout the program. By the end of the training, individuals must be able to deliver on these competencies confidently and effectively, as assessed by a professional certified coach assessor. The ICF certification also emphasizes practicality, ensuring that individuals can use the competencies in various settings, such as team meetings or other conversations, to achieve results. This focus on specific competencies and practicality differentiates the ICF certification from other governing body certifications, such as CTC or CEC from the Scrum Alliance.
However, it is important to note that the ICF’s eight competencies are a prerequisite for CTC certification, so the same competencies are being learned and emphasized regardless of the governing body. You are expected to demonstrate professional coaching skills at the ICF-ACC level for the CTC.

Can you share some success stories of coaches who have completed the certification program and how it has impacted their careers?

Karen shared a few success stories from her coaching experiences, one of which was about a woman who was about to retire and felt like her world was shutting down. However, through coaching, she was able to become a property developer in her retirement. Karen also coached a director at a large organization who was initially turned down when she proposed a new idea, but she persisted and turned it into a global organization. Additionally, Karen coached a general practitioner in South Africa who now works for the United Nations, looking after global health. The coach mentioned that coaching is universal and transportable across different levels of people in organizations and cultures.

What kind of support will I receive during the training program, and what resources will be available?

Participants in the ICF-ACC training program can expect to receive various forms of support and resources. The program includes live webinars, structured practice sessions, and partnering opportunities. Formal notes on the theory covered in the program will be provided, along with additional exercises. The program is facilitated by a mentor, assessor, and coach, and additional resources are available on the iZenBridge E-learning system to reinforce coaching concepts. The people in the program are also valuable resources, as participants can learn through practice sessions and gain experience before practising as a coach with clients. The program includes a lot of assessments, discussions, and practice sessions related to the eight competencies.

We hope you could have related to some of these questions, and they might have helped you in some way.

To get more assistance, you can connect with the iZenBridge Team.

 📧Email us at (sales@izenbridge.com) 

📞WhatsApp Us: +91-9958287711

For more such insights and a lot of interaction with the industry experts, stay tuned for our next “Live Open Hour” which is conducted Every second and fourth Friday at 7 PM IST on