What Does it Mean to Have a 'Coaching Confidence?'

In coach training we often talk about a coaching confidence. This is a belief in yourself and a belief in the coaching process as a whole. Once you create a confidence you can pass it on to your clients to create great things in their lives. By having confidence, you will be able to be a more successful coach. For some people this can happen overnight, and for others it’s a journey.

We asked graduates and our faculty what having a Coaching Confidence meant to them and if they had any advice for new coaches…

Katerina Kanelidou, PCC (Greece)
The moment I decided to commit to the coaching profession I created a Coaching Confidence. Although I was still a beginner, a student, I felt confident that I had what was needed to become a very good coach. The supervision in ICA and one specific class where I coached for the first time “in front” of approx 20 students and the feedback was great. Feedback from clients and significant ‘aha’ moments also contributed to my coaching confidence My advice for new coaches is forget self doubt. The moment you focus on self doubt, you are making it about yourself. And it isn’t.

Serban Chinole, PCC (Romania)
Feedback from my ICA Coach Supervisor and from clients in the executive projects I was involved in, made me confident and gave me a reason to continue. My advice for new coaches is focus on clients and to learn to let go of their own doubts. If you master this everything follows..

Derryn Snowden, ACC
Two things contributed to my coaching confidence: my regular TM (Transcendental Meditation) practice and the feedback I got from my clients every time I asked what they were taking away from the session. My advice is don’t give up. Your confidence can take knocks from time to time and it has been my wonderful peer coaches, with whom I continue to work since ICA, who have supported me through thick & thin.

Lorna Poole, PCC
I received great feedback from clients but those external voices didn’t have much impact on my internal doubts. I used a post-session journalling process of self-assessment based on the competencies to build trust in my skills. Then I finished the entry with gratitude for what I was learning. It really worked! I still have that journal. My advice to new coaches is to go out and coach. Just the process of getting out, meeting people and describing yourself as a coach begins the confidence-building piece. Invite people to become your client and coach them. Coaching mastery is an experiential process. You can’t build confidence if you’re sitting on your couch waiting for clients to come to you.

Merci Miglino, PCC
My advice to new coaches is to let go and trust the process, trust your client’s creativity and resourcefulness and trust your intentions! Practice, practice and more practice and having a mentor coach to support you !

How Can ICA Help Me Get My Coaching Confidence?

At ICA you get the chance to put theory into practice from day one with your own peer coach. You’ll begin by being a client, and then when you feel ready, you’ll move on to being a coach. Alongside this, you will participate in Mentor Coaching, where you get to coach with feedback, and listen to the coaching and feedback of others. And, finally, as you are about to graduate you will join our Observed Coaching Classes where experienced coach trainers will provide feedback directly against the core ICF competencies. Come along to an upcoming Coaching 101 teleclass and learn more about coaching, questions such as, building your business, earning potential as well as learning skills that will help you on your road towards earning your certification in coaching.