The ICF, Blogs and Coaches (oh my!)

Isn't it the greatest to see your name in print? I love it!

The International Coach Federation (the great guru organization for Personal and Professional Coaches) has a newsletter called Coaching World, in which is published mostly interesting information to keep coaches abreast of what is going on in our industry. And, in this edition I merited a small mention in a section about blogs and coaches. Cool, yeah?

I'm a member of the ICF and will in the next year or two become a certified coach. That's a good thing. Coaching is an unregulated profession right now, and that's fine with me. However, I think it is important for anyone who's going to hold themselves up as providing a service in any profession to go follow certain rules:

• Get the best training possible - not just the fastest and cheapest
• Even if you think you have the skills, still get the specific training
• Continue learning and training throughout your professional career
• Practice what you preach - if you're a coach, get coached
• Join an organization that upholds a code of ethics and then follow it
• Give back to the professional community that you participate in

So, perhaps you are considering hiring a Personal or Professional Coach. If so, I would recommend choosing a Coach that is certified or a member of the ICF. In doing so you know that this Coach has been through a rigorous process of demonstrating their skill and has agreed to uphold an ethical code.

You can check to see if a Coach is a member of the ICF through the Find a Coach service. Only ICF members can list themselves here.