An executive coach facilitates positive change in participants in a program, and is typically hired by an organization to help employees. In most cases, the goals are set by the hiring organization and could involve – the need for changing workplace culture, building engagement, improving communication, reducing friction, and enhancing productivity. Executive coaches also work as part of teams to devise new appraisal systems, or seek employee feedback.
How to prepare for a career as an Executive Coach
To prepare for a career as an executive coach, individuals need to develop considerable knowledge in specialist domains and possess the ability to handle tools. For coaching executives, it is important that a coach have a very deep understanding of the company culture, and various other aspects of workflows and processes. An executive coach is expected to assess employees, various practices, different situations and devise an effective strategy to fulfill objectives with the right solutions.
The need for knowledge of the domain
Executive coaches need to be fully aware of various issues that organizations face. For instance, there is a need to know all about performance gaps, processes that are intrinsic to each company, and various issues that are faced by individuals in different positions in a company. Only when an executive coach possesses all this information will he or she be in a position to resolve issues. It is important to understand here, that some issues and problems may not have been identified at the time of initial brief, but may have been discovered at a later stage. The Executive Coach is expected to offer solutions even for problems that have been identified at later stages.
The need for specialized certification
Specialized credentials are necessary in an era where a large number of individuals offer services to individuals and organizations. While there are no laws that bar an individual without certification from offering services, a credential certainly helps coaches to project themselves better and to showcase professional knowledge. A coach not only needs to possess the ability, knowledge, experience, tools, and competency, but should also be able to demonstrate the same in the first place. This is exactly where certification helps a coach to showcase ability. Some of the more easily identifiable benefits of certification include:
- Offers a common standard.
- Showcases that executive coaches meet the benchmarked standards
- Establishes a global network of credentialed coaches.
Steps to be followed to Become a Certified Executive Coach
Three are three paths to become an Executive Coach.
(1) For an existing Certified Coach:
If you are an ICF Certified Coach you can become a Certified Executive Coach by:
- Cleaning a multiple-choice exam with 80% or higher
- Show completion of at least 40 hours of executive coaching
(2) For aspiring coaches – through a training center
You can become a Certified Executive Coach by:
- Completing four courses: Foundations, Individual Coaching Skills, Individual Coaching Supervision, and Ethics
- Show completion of at least 40 hours of coaching.
- Clear interim exams, final written exams and oral coaching exam on relevant topics.
(3) For aspiring coaches – through External Certification
You can become a Certified Executive Coach by:
- Clear a multiple-choice exam with 80% or higher
- Become an ICF ACC or PCC by successfully fulfilling the requirements.
- Show completion of at least 40 hours of coaching.
Additional responsibilities of an Executive Coach?
A life coach is helps clients deal with personal issues – they may either help them resolve their day-to-day problems caused due to ineffective time management or counsel them to get rid of stress, tension, anxiety, and even depression.
Is there a need for Executive Coaching programs?
ICF accredited executive coach training programs are specially designed to provide the applicants with superior knowledge and skills. Apart from the minimum standard set for a professional coach, these programs help the candidates to build their skill sets and learn a variety of tools and approaches. Now the good news is: the candidates can join the ICF coach training program through online platforms and receive executive coach certification after the completion of the training period.
Wrapping up
An executive and a life coach are especially preferred by most of the large organizations because of their expertise. Research suggests that for many certified coaches, online coaching programs have not only helped them acquire the right set of skills but the right kind of practical training helps to bring about a major change in their lives. Hence, if you’re interested to build your career as an executive coach, opt for ICF accredited executive coaching program and become a certified coach. Take care to join only those institutes and coach training centers that are accredited and with the right kind of professional expertise to offer the right kind of training.