Coaching and mentoring is unregulated. Anyone can call themselves a coach or mentor. Desislava Dobreva (https://fb.watch/gTo8yioJbH/) made an interesting point today, not everyone is supposed to be a business coach (or a coach of any type).
My background is education. I struggled with the institutionalisation I saw. Especially, teaching music. I hated how a creative subject was boxed up and students were forced to conform to those predefined boxes.
It destroyed a passion for both music and learning. Thats difficult for a musician and perpetual student to live with. Yet, the wheel turns.
A few years of trauma and loss then a final huge upheaval earlier this year, led to some personal reflection and discovery.
I still love education, I still feel amazing when someone I help has that moment of clarity or insight. So the transition into coaching and mentoring seemed logical.
It’s unregulated, I can call myself a coach and charge what the hell I want…However, that doesn’t sit with my values and beliefs.
What do I believe?
I believe accreditation, qualification and accountability are crucial. They show you value yourself and your clients.
I voluntary mentor for the governments Help To Grow scheme via The Enterprise Nation. Due to this I’m a member of the Association of Business Mentors (ABM). This has led to studying for a level 7 in Executive Coaching and Mentoring via the Institute of Leadership and Management(ILM).
All of this means I have to meet a range of competencies and a code of ethics. These are set by the European Mentoring and Coaching Council (EMCC). This holds me accountable.
I don’t just call myself a coach and mentor and charging what the hell I want. I’m learning, I’m meeting competencies, I’m following codes of ethics. I’m being trained and peer reviewed by accredited, qualified and accountable people who also meet these competencies and follow these codes of ethics.
Think about that the next time you consider a coach or mentor for anything. What are theirs? Who holds them accountable?
- You can find my code of ethics and competence framework on the right hand menu here: https://emccuk.org/…/Accreditation/Accreditation.aspx
- You can find out about the ABM here: https://www.associationofbusinessmentors.org/
- You can find out about the level 7 certificate I’m studying here: https://www.i-l-m.com/…/8589-level-7-certificate-and…
- You can find out about Help to Grow and Enterprise Nation here: https://www.enterprisenation.com/
My first coaching or mentoring session is always free, just to see if we are suitable to work together. I’m always open to negotiation or on occasion barter regarding costs. If you are interested drop me a message answering these two questions: What are you looking to get support with? Why you think we should work together?