MANILA, Philippines — There are people who want to be a coach because they sincerely like helping people, have an amazing way with words, is a source of advice by people grappling with a heartbreak, a tough decision, a plan gone awry, or even just a nagging feeling that something’s not quite right with their world.
“The first step to going professional,” said Julius Ordoñez, the first and only Filipino to hold the credential of Master Certified Coach (MCC) today, “is to be very clear about what coaching is, exactly. It is not about offering advice, or fixing anyone’s problems. That is a very risky place to begin your journey as a coach. You need to start right, and ICF Philippines can show you how.”
Ordoñez got his certification from the International Coach Federation (ICF), a US-based organization of some 27,000 professional coaches, with presence in over a hundred countries worldwide, including the Philippines. ICF defines coaching as “partnering with clients in a thought-provoking and creative process that inspires them to maximize their personal and professional potential.”
The ICF is the best way to go for every aspiring coach, according to Ordoñez, who stated that ICF is the gold standard, with a code of ethics that sets the quality of practice for all its members.
The ICF equips its members through various training programs and competency-building initiatives, while its progressive credentialing system employs a mix of evaluation measures including rigorous interviews, examinations and assessments. It lays down three tracks with corresponding requirements in terms of education and coaching practice.
To apply for the Associate Certified Coach (ACC) credential, one must have completed at least 60 hours of training and a minimum of 100 hours of coaching practice, while for the Professional Certified Coach (PCC), one needs to have undergone at least 125 hours of training and 500 hours of actual coaching practice.
For the Master Certified Coach (MCC) level, one is required to have finished at least 200 hours of training and 2,500 hours in coaching practice, and only ICF-approved or accredited training programs may be counted valid in any of these levels.
Coaches who have earned their ICF credentials become part of an elite and self-regulating corps, serving as standard-bearers of the coaching profession. These ICF credential-holders can wield significant influence in expanding and professionalizing the coaching practice in their respective parts of the world.
ICF Philippines has also been actively involved in many international learning events. It hosted the first ever International Coaching Summit in the Philippines in 2015 where it brought together renowned coaching gurus and professional coaches from all over the world.
The continuing thrust of ICF Philippines is to bring international resources to the local coaching community. On Nov. 8, it is hosting the biggest coaching and leadership event in South East Asia – the International Coaching Summit 2019 to be held at the Conrad Hotel in Pasay City.
For aspiring coaches, coaching professionals, corporate leaders, entrepreneurs, consultants and educators, the event is expected to be a unique and exciting forum for knowledge sharing. To register and find out more about the summit, visit icfphilippinescoachingsummit.com or call (02) 8127177.