‘How relevant, up-to-date or in other words ‘good’ can a Wellington based coach really be?’ is a fair question. Wellington is ‘the world’s coolest little capital’ (Lonely Planet’s words, not mine!), yet sometimes it might feel slightly off the beaten track and at the end of the world.

In today’s interconnected world, distance between locations really isn’t an issue any more: a Wellington based coach can easily stay up-to-date with the most recent knowledge, practices and research from the world’s leading practitioners. Therefore, a Kiwi coach can receive tuition first hand from the top coaching gurus – and equally, can provide top notch coaching to clients around the world. Add to that the current restrictions of face-to-face interactions globally and the location of New Zealand is entirely benign.

Additionally, the by now rather ‘normal’ on-line options give involved coaches the chance to interact and apply their expertise. Using the latest research findings from leading Neuro-scientists, Mindfulness Researchers as well as veritable legends of the coaching world is one of the benefits from this.

At the moment there is a real concerted drive to formalize and improve the coaching profession and its image. “Don’t people just call themselves ‘Coach’ nowadays”? I sometimes get asked. Sure, some people indeed do and therefore it is a good idea to check if the person you’re considering

• has completed professionally credible training (eg through IECL in Australia);
• has a proven track record and provides references (do check those!);
• belongs to a reputable industry association (such as ICF); and if possible
• has a University qualification in coaching (eg from CSU in Sydney, Australia).

If your potential coach ticks most or all the above criteria, you can be confident, that he or she is worth considering – no matter their physical location. A coach that fulfills the above criteria and has invested in significant professional development has made a commitment to their business. In a profession like coaching, where there is literally no physical ‘hardware’ required, investment in professional training and qualifications therefore become the ‘tools of the trade’. Consequently, if you want to be sure you’re dealing with a committed professional who adheres to a Code of Ethics and who has the depth of expertise to do an excellent job, it’s worth to do some research about the person first.

None of the above-mentioned approaches to establish professional expertise is critically affected by the physical location of the coach however. And hence, I make the bold claim, that a qualified professional Executive Coach can be found anywhere, including the world’s coolest little capital: Wellington, New Zealand!

TurboCoach – supercharge your success!