In a recent LinkedIn post I posed this question –
Do you think coaches search for more certifications when feeling doubtful of their abilities?
It got a lot of comments and engagement, so I thought I’d explore it a little more in this article.
Let me start by saying that I love learning, in fact I would describe myself as a learning magpie. Learning feeds my curiosity value, and I love to learn with and from others, the richness of the dialogue is so rewarding.
In most of the jobs I have had in my career I have gained qualifications as a matter of course, even when they weren’t in my specialist area of Learning and Development. When I worked for a mortgage advisor, I became CeMAP qualified, when I work as an Emergency Response Trainer, I studied for my Diploma in Health Emergency Planning, and as a coach I went all the way to an MSc in Coaching and Behavioural Change.
I also firmly believe that an appropriate qualification and accreditation are important for the coaching profession as a mark of credibility, a quality standard you might say. What I’m curious about is the driver behind our need for further certifications, our gathering of more tools, techniques and badges.
Here are the questions I’m curious about.
Sometimes it’s about us doubting ourselves and our abilities, is it a need for validation perhaps?
Do we use it as a way to avoid the vulnerability of actually just doing ‘it’?
Or as a way of avoiding leaning into our insecurities and doubts about doing ‘it’?
Is our inner voice saying, “I’ll be good enough when…….”?
Are we falling into the trap of comparison, when we see other coaches announcing their certifications or accreditations?
What stories are we carrying about education and its importance (or not) from our early lives?
Is it simply another form of procrastination?
Are we under-valuing the learning that comes from practice and experience because it doesn’t come with a certificate or a badge?
Is it feeding our ‘knower’ tendencies, the need to be the expert or have all the answers?
I know I am as eager to add tools and techniques to my coaching toolbox as the next coach, CPD is important to me. However, I’m now also thinking about CPPD (Continuing Professional and Personal Development), a phrase coined by Julia Carden and Elizabeth Crosse. I think the personal development side may well help me to answer some of those questions I’m curious about (and many more I imagine) more than any tool or technique is going to.
What questions have resonated for you? And what curious questions might you add?
About the Author
Melissa is a Leadership Coach and Certified Dare to Lead™ Facilitator based in Dorset, with a particular interest in supporting leaders and coaches to be more courageous in their work and lives.
Find out more about Dare to Lead for Coaches, Dare to Lead for Leaders or One to One and team coaching.
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