Competence as a coach requires a commitment to professional mastery. Mentor coaching refines fundamental coaching skills into the ability to respond simply and masterfully to the client. From the first moment of the conversation, every aspect of our coaching impacts the client. The way we form questions. The degree of partnership. The pauses.  In the same way that we invite clients to observe themselves; mentor coaching provides coaches the opportunity to observe their presence and process as a coach.

Benefits of Mentor Coaching: For Coaches

Mentor coaching provides focused competency development and a “laboratory” to experiment with new skills. Learning takes place through a combination of coaching practicums, competency discussions, and reviewing your recordings. Mentor coaching distills the essence of each marker by looking at what it means, its importance, and how it can sound in a coaching conversation. Neuroscience concepts are applied in learning to craft customized responses that facilitate client discovery. Developing proficiency in coaching microskills leads to fluidity and organic responses in each phase of the conversation.

Benefits of Mentor Coaching: For Clients

Mentor coaching equips coaches to hear and respond to what is important in the conversation. In the deluge of data from the client, the coach is able to skillfully focus on the whole person. Rather than responding with filler that doesn’t move the conversation forward, we hear the meaning behind the client’s words and choose a response that will benefit the client. Transformation happens when each aspect of the conversation is connected back to the client’s core agenda.

How to Customize Your Mentor Coaching Path

• Mentor coaching can be a regular element of your credential renewal process. Consider setting up a one-time mentoring session to review a particular coaching conversation.
• Mentor coaching can be entirely one-on-one or in a combination of group sessions along with the three required hours of individual mentor coaching.
• All ACC coaches are required to have 10 mentor coaching hours each time they renew. These mentor coaching hours can count toward the 40 required CCEUs.
• PCC coaches can also count mentor coaching hours toward their 40 hours of required CCEUs.
• Once over 1800 coaching hours have been logged, consider MCC mentor coaching to begin incorporating those skills in your coaching. Even as an MCC, I pursue mentor coaching to continue refining my craft. Whether you choose to work one-on-one with a mentor coach or join a mentor coaching group, investing in your development as a coach will reap significant dividends for you and the clients you serve.

Email Carissa for more information on upcoming cohorts.

Learn more about Carissa on LinkedIn and her website: Courageous Leaders.