ICF Coaching Core Competencies

Updated ICF Core Competencies

• The International Coach Federation (ICF) announced an updated ICF Coaching Core Competency Model after a rigorous, 24-month coaching practice analysis.
• The competency model is based on evidence collected from over 1,300 coaches worldwide, including ICF Members and non-members, from diverse backgrounds.
• The ICF Core Competency Model, developed nearly 25 years ago, remains critically important to coaching practice.
• New elements integrated into the model emphasize ethical behavior, confidentiality, a coaching mindset, ongoing reflective practice, distinctions between coaching agreements, partnership between coach and client, and cultural awareness.
• The updated Core Competency model went into effect in the second half of 2021

Foundation

• One part of the coaching foundation is Demonstrating Ethical Practice
• Definition: Understands and consistently applies coaching ethics and standards of coaching
• Demonstrates personal integrity/honesty in interactions with clients, sponsors, and stakeholders
• Is sensitive to clients' identity, environment, experiences, values, and beliefs
• Uses appropriate and respectful language with clients, sponsors and stakeholders
• Follows the ICF Code of Ethics and upholds Core Values
• Maintains client confidentiality per stakeholder agreements and laws.
• Maintains distinctions between coaching, consulting, psychotherapy, etc.
• Refers clients to other support professionals when appropriate.

Co-Creating the Relationship

• Another part of the coaching foundation is Embodying a Coaching Mindset
• Definition: Develops and maintains a mindset that is open, curious, flexible and client-centered
• Acknowledges clients are responsible for choices
• Engages in ongoing learning and development as a coach
• Develops ongoing reflective practice to enhance coaching
• Remains aware/open to context and culture influence on self/others
• Uses self-awareness/intuition to benefit clients
• Develops/maintains ability to regulate emotions
• Emotionally and mentally prepares for sessions
• Seeks outside help if necessary
• Establishes and Maintains Agreements between client and stakeholders to set clear coaching expectations
• Definition: Partners with the client and relevant stakeholders to create clear agreements about the coaching relationship, process, plans and goals.
• Coaching engagement agreement definition that Explains what coaching is, what is not, and the process to clients and stakeholders
• An agreement on what is/is not appropriate, what is/is not being offered, and the responsibilities.
• Reaches agreement about guidelines/parameters like logistics, fees, scheduling, duration, termination, confidentiality, and inclusion of others
• Partners with the client & relevant stakeholders to establish overall coaching plan/goals
• Partners with the client to determine if there is client-coach compatibility
• Partners with the client to identify or reconfirm what they want to accomplish in the session
• Partners with the client to define what the client believes they need to address or resolve to achieve what the client wants.
• Partners with the client to define or reconfirm measures of success for what the client wants to accomplish in the coaching engagement or individual session
• Partners with the client to manage the time and focus of the session
• Continues coaching in the direction of the client's desired outcome unless the client indicates otherwise
• Partners with the client to end the coaching relationship in a way that honors the experience
• Cultivates Trust and Safety by partnering with the client to create a safe, supportive environment for honest sharing
• Definition: Partners with the client to create a safe, supportive environment that allows the client to share freely. Maintains a relationship of mutual respect and trust.
• Seeks understanding of the client's identity, environment, experiences, values, and beliefs
• Demonstrates respect for the client's identity, perceptions, style, and language, adapting coaching accordingly.
• Acknowledges and respects client talents, insights and work in the coaching process
• Shows support, empathy, and concern for the client
• Acknowledges and supports the client's expression of feelings, perceptions, concerns, beliefs and suggestions
• Displays openness during interactions to build trust with the client
• Maintains Presence by being fully conscious and present with the client, employing a style that is open, flexible, grounded and confident
• Definition: Is fully conscious and present with the client, employing a style that is open, flexible, grounded and confident
• Remains focused, observant, empathetic, and responsive to the client
• Demonstrates curiosity during the coaching process
• Manages one's emotions to stay present with the client
• Shows confidence in working with strong client emotions during coaching
• Comfortable working in a space of not knowing
• Creates and allows space for silence, pause or reflection

Communicating Effectively

• Listens Actively to fully understand what is said in the clients system
• Definition: Focuses on what the client is and is not saying to fully understand what is being communicated in the context of the client systems and to support client self-expression
• Considers the client's context, identity, environment, experiences, values, and beliefs in communicating
• Reflects/summarizes what the client communicated to ensure clarity and understanding
• Recognizes and inquires when there is more to what the client is communicating
• Notices, acknowledges and explores the client's emotions, energy shifts, non-verbal cues or other behaviors
• Integrates the client's words, tone of voice and body language to determine the full meaning.
• Notices trends in the client's behaviors and emotions across sessions to discern themes and patterns
• Evokes Awareness with tools that facilitate client insight and learning by using techniques such as powerful questioning, silence, metaphor or analogy
• Definition: Facilitates client insight and learning by using tools and techniques such as powerful questioning, silence, metaphor or analogy
• Considers client experience when deciding what might be most useful
• Challenges the client to evoke awareness or insight
• Asks questions about the client, such as their way of thinking, values, needs, wants and beliefs
• Asks questions that help the client explore beyond current thinking
• Invites the client to share more about their in-the-moment experience
• Notices what is working to enhance client progress
• Adjusts the coaching approach in response to the client's needs
• Helps the client identify factors that influence current and future patterns of behavior, thinking or emotion
• Invites the client to generate ideas about how they can move forward and what they are willing or able to do
• Supports the client in reframing perspectives
• Shares observations, insights and feelings, without attachment, that have the potential to create new learning for the client

Cultivating Learning and Growth

• Facilitates Client Growth with the client to transform learning and insight into action. Promotes client autonomy in the coaching process.
• Definition: Partners with the client to transform learning and insight into action. Promotes client autonomy in the coaching process.
• Works with the client to integrate new awareness, insight, or learning into their worldview and behaviors
• Partners with the client to design goals, actions, and accountability measures that integrate and expand new learning.
• Acknowledges and supports client autonomy in the design of goals, actions and methods of accountability
• Supports the client in identifying potential results or learning from identified action steps
• Invites the client to consider how to move forward, including resources, support and potential barriers
• Partners with the client to summarize learning and insight within or between sessions
• Celebrates the client's progress and successes
• Partners with the client to close the session