The Future of Coaching by Ian Perry

This week is ICF’s International Coaching Week and it’s a great opportunity to celebrate & discuss coaching. So, each day this week I’ve been hosting blogs from a variety of authors exploring various aspects of coaching. You can see them all in one place here.

To close the week of blogging it seems appropriate that the theme for today is “The Future of Coaching”.

This post has been written by Ian Perry (@ianperryemerge) – I hope you enjoy it!

The Future of Coaching

I don’t know the answer to this question, and as I have MBTI NP preferences I am happy to see how it all pans out really. Oh the possibility of it all!!!!

I thought I would try and add to David’s question by thinking about some potential scenarios to add to the debate at the end of this week’s discussion around coaching issues.

To construct the scenario’s I considered two drivers.

1. Regulation of the coaching profession
2. The move toward self-sufficiency in organisations to develop own coaching capabilities.

My scenario’s are:

Non-Regulation and Self Sufficiency

• More managers developing their coaching skills as business recognise the importance of people management skills
• Rise of self help and on line education programmes
• Fragmented approach to the practice with differing standards• Coaching done on the job and addressing work issues
• Increase in job satisfactions and satisfaction with Managers

Non-Regulation and Dependency on External Coaches

• A plethora of different coaches and “schools of coaches”
• A wide range of standards and ethics being applied
• Good coaches survive because they deliver great results or trusted by clients
• Large number of coach training providers
• Lack of good “buying” and contracting of coaching services
• Coaches offering a range of services and no clear view of their capability

Regulation and Dependency on External Coaches

• Professional qualification and accreditation
• Single body to represent coaching professionals
• Clear areas of practice
• Clients may find it too rigid and may look like counselling to many?
• Becomes expensive as coaches look for return on investment
• Clearer expectations and contracting with clients to clarify outcomes and ROI

Regulation and Self Sufficiency

• Management qualifications that include people development and coaching as modules
• Business schools to change their offerings
• Role of coaches to support, monitor and accredit practicing managers
• Coaching and development increasingly seen as part of the Managers job!

These are just my thoughts. I hope they add to the debate!

Ian Perry (@ianperryemerge)