While the term “coach” can be used in numerous ways, by people of varying education and experience, here’s the Mullins Professional Group (MPG) perspective on what to look for in an executive coach.
What Coaching Means at MPG
Julia Mullins spent her corporate career in leadership development, building top talent programs and working with leaders through their critical leadership transitions. To support this work, Julia sought out specific coach training. She holds a certificate in Leadership Coaching for Organizational Performance from American University, a certificate in Neuroscience for Business from MIT, and took courses on ADHD to best serve leaders with ADHD. This combination of experience and education uniquely positioned her to support leaders in the corporate world; especially leaders with ADHD.
Beyond the ‘Coach’ Title
Committing to a coaching engagement can be a big investment. Make sure to ask lots of questions to make sure you are working with someone that is not only a great fit for you, but will also approach each coaching session with the experience you deserve.
Not sure what to ask? Here are some other topics to discuss when meeting potential coaches. Ask about what matters most to you.
Valid and world-class credentials
International Coaching Federation (ICF) is the gold standard of credentialing in many places, including the US. If you are in Europe, many highly regarded coaches hold EMCC Global credentialing. ICF certified coaches go through hundreds of hours of classroom, mentor coaching, and additional training. ICF designations also clue you in to how many client hours a coach may have under their belt.
Formal education
Post-graduate certifications by leading universities or established coach training programs, or MS in Coaching. ICF-credentialed programs are designated as:
- Level 1/Level 2/ACTP Path (Approved Coach Training Program)
- ACSTH Path (Approved Coach Specific Training Hours) or
- Portfolio Path
Relevant industry and leadership experience
Beyond the books, the right coach for you has experience with the industry or leadership challenges you may be facing. While a coach is meant to coach YOU, versus consult on and solve your leadership challenges, knowing they’ve been in your shoes may build trust faster.
Hundreds of hours
The Associate Certified Coach (ACC) from ICF requires 125 hours of education plus 100 hours of client coaching and an exam. The Professional Certified Coach (PCC) requires at least 500 client coaching hours logged, Master Certified Coach(MCC) requires 2,500 hours of logged client hours.
Track record
A coach can provide testimonials from past clients. Check out what MPG clients have said!
Interested in learning more?
If this article helped you decide what to look for in an executive coach, and you can find that with us, let’s work together. Fill out this contact form, and MPG will contact you within two business days.
