‘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.
In today’s interconnected world, physical distance 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. How? Here are a few thoughts.
Some of the ‘gurus’ of Management and Leadership thinking have visited New Zealand, such as Marshall Goldsmith last year and Simon Sinek a few weeks ago. So, local coaches could receive tuition first hand and having seen these great thought leaders live and ‘in the flesh’, they project a lasting impression – and motivation in spades, in my case.
Of course, it’s not only face-to-face with the big names, where great coaches develop their knowledge. Professional groups, associations and institutes worldwide provide great opportunities to formalise quality education and ensure high professional standards of this relatively new profession and that includes development opportunities in New Zealand.
Additionally, many on-line options give involved coaches the chance to interact and learn from eminent researchers in the field. Connecting with Neuroscientists, Mindfulness Researchers as well as veritable legends of the coaching world is only a keyboard stroke away. And incredibly, a lot of these world leading experts are happy to share their expertise through offering their time and knowledge. It seems like there is a real concerted drive to formalise 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 fulfils the above criteria has invested in significant professional development and made a commitment to their business. In a profession like coaching, where there is literally no physical ‘hardware’ required, investments 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 worth for you to do some research 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!
