Performance Coaching receives International Coach Federation's accreditation
Kim Chaudoin | 615.966.6494 |
Lipscomb University recently became the only four-year university in the southeast to receive the International Coach Federation’s Accredited Coach Training Program (ACTP) accreditation for its performance coaching program.
Housed in the College of Professional Studies, Lipscomb’s Performance Coaching Program offers a graduate certificate program designed to prepare individuals to use cognitive coaching, life coaching, transformational coaching and other methods to develop their own coaching approach.
“Professionalism is important to us in preparing coaches who have a strong code of ethics and follow a high set of standards in their practice,” said Nina Morel, dean of the College of Professional Studies. “So, we sought the most rigorous accrediting process we could find, and the International Coach Federation is recognized around the world as the best. Lipscomb’s program is built around the competencies that ICF requires which prepares our graduates to go anywhere throughout the world and make an impact on others as highly skilled, competent professional coaches.”
Morel said the goal from the foundation of Lipscomb’s program was for it to be the best in the country, and this accreditation is a continued affirmation of its quality and success.
The accreditation comes after a rigorous two-and-a-half year process through which a team of independent assessors evaluated the Lipscomb program’s curriculum, coaching model and approach, instructors, entrance requirements, learning objectives and delivery method among other standards.
“As a result of our ACTP accreditation, Lipscomb’s Performance Coaching Program is now included among coaches training programs considered the gold standard by the International Coach Federation (ICF),” said Michael Cauley, director of performance coaching at Lipscomb. “With technological systems rapidly driving organizational change, whether a company is considered tech or not, coaching provides the necessary learning partnership for leaders and teams to successfully succeed in change.”
Lipscomb graduate Tracey Powers said the accreditation reflects the quality of the program.
“ICF ACTP credentialing is important in the development and attraction of coach candidates to Lipscomb University,” said Powers, chief people officer at Vaco. “The designation speaks volumes for the depth of the curriculum, the dedication of the coaches, and the commitment of the university to fostering a coaching culture.”
Although the field of professional coaching is relatively new, it has quickly emerged as a key tool used by individuals to help reach their full potential in the workplace and in all aspects of life.
“People are seeing more and more the value of coaching. It is a holistic approach to improving a person’s performance and to help them be the best they can be no matter what career path or field they choose,” said Morel. “By training effective coaches, we are not only impacting those whom they will coach, but we are also making a difference in the well-being of those coaches. The more they help others, the more satisfied and successful they will be as well.”
Lipscomb’s performance coaching methodology is centered around the concept of BECOME — Behavior Experience Collective Opportunity Movement Evaluation. Through this process, coaches are trained to evaluate a coachee’s competencies introducing the story of experience, to listen to the story told through the coachee’s lense without judgement, to develop a learning relationship with their client for the purpose of change, to build a coaching plan in collaboration with the client, to implement the plan and to evaluate the return on investment of the coaching relationship.
Lipscomb’s College of Professional Studies offers a graduate Performance Coaching Certificate. The 15-credit-hour program includes courses in leadership skills and assessment, applied coaching skills, active listening, foundations of ethical coaching and coaching mentorship and practicum. Cohorts begin each fall and spring semester for both online and on-campus students.
Want to know more about the Lipscomb University College of Professional Studies’ Performance Coaching Program? Visit www.lipscomb.edu/professionalstudies and click on the graduate studies tab.