I love mentor coaching. That’s not a phrase all ICF coaches will relate to – given the association with box-ticking, and accreditation pressures. But it is a great way to grow and expand your practice. Here’s why!
Benefits of mentor coaching
- Mentor coaching is not a box-ticking exercise! In my mentor coaching I use the ICF’s Professional Certified Coaching markers. These are a very helpful guide to how coaching skills are being applied. Rather than a straightjacket, or list of things to ‘get right’, the markers help us identify where we are applying our influence in a session, and what we may be missing.
- Mentor coaching is about the whole coach. The markers are one thing, but we are interested in how the whole coach turns up for their clients. By discussing a session we can identify together where the strengths are, where a coach may be over-relying on these strengths, and where there may be value in bringing in other qualities. What was going on for you in the dynamic with the client, and how this is affecting your work from session to session? For example, identifying the importance of partnership in defining what to talk about and how to talk about it, which may relate to a reluctance to be a stronger presence on the ‘dance floor’.
- Mentor coaching leads to quick improvement! By agreeing experiments for the next session, and discussing together what has worked and what hasn’t, we can design and apply new skills really quickly. The changes that are possible from session to session can be quite dramatic.
- Mentor coaching maintains your edge. Where else are we getting feedback about our coaching? It’s easy to drift, to fall into patterns, or lose the awareness of how our work is progressing. Mentor coaching helps with all of that – and keeps your edge honed, and moving forwards.
- Mentor coaching can include the whole system. As a nature based coach, I am skilled at working out when, and how, to invite a client to consider their awareness and growth as part of a wider system. One which is includes community, nature, climate etc – not just ‘me, myself and I’. We can bring that lens to your work as well, helping you meet the Joint Global Statement on Sustainability commitment to “Use your skills not only to help individuals thrive, but to also co-create solutions for a healthier planet and society.”
I am delighted to include a testimonial from a recent mentee, which speaks to some of these points. She had 10 sessions as part of her renewal of her ICF accreditation.
Testimonial
At the outset James provided a clear framework about what mentor coaching is and what to expect from the sessions. Each session, we shared our thoughts relating to a recording and transcript of my coaching work that both of us had independently already reviewed and marked up against the PCC markers.
James also provided the opportunity for me, as the client, to choose how the sessions unfolded and we were able to use some of the time to discuss and explore the use of some coaching techniques.
James provided clear and constructive feedback based on the PCC markers, and partnered with me during each session to enable me to explore how I can grow and expand in my coaching by experimenting whilst remaining true to my unique style. He provided challenge whilst remaining empathetic and provided a safe space for open and honest conversations.
It has been an insightful and worthwhile experience and I would highly recommend it to other coaches. The impact of the mentor coaching is evident over the course of the ten sessions and my coaching has developed as a result.
Find out more about mentor coaching here.