Released on = December 22, 2005, 3:57 pm

Press Release Author = Total Success Institute

Industry = Small Business

Press Release Summary = Why do Coaches need to be certified. How you should select
a life coach to work with and the type of questions you should ask.

Press Release Body = A current online survey of Life Coaches and people interested
in Life Coaching has revealed that only 22% believe that having some type of
certification from an accredited training body is absolutely essential.

Presently there is a debate going on in the Coaching Industry about the merits of
having a form of accreditation from a 'recognized body\'. The question has to be
asked in light of the survey documented at http://www.peer.ca/CertVote.html

The proponents of Certification tend to believe that Certification will provide an
indicator of a certain level of performance and competence from the Coach and will
somehow protect the Client.

Kim Gregory of Gregory Coaching stated that 'Finding a great coach takes effort -
just like finding a great dentist or plumber takes effort! It\'s difficult to know
how to select a great coach, I suggest that we know one when we find one. It just
feels \"right\".

Most coaches offer a Free Complimentary session before you engage their services.
What other profession does that? None that we know of. The real criteria for a
good coach, because it is such a vastly personal issue, is whether or not they help
you make changes in your life and deliver results. And because you can try before
you buy, then the onus is on the buyer. What's more, you can fire a coach anytime
you wish to.

Does having a "Certification" ensure that a coach's practice will thrive? Clearly
the answer is no. Skill and marketing savvy among other things determine the
success of any coach, and any business for that matter.
Cliff Stockamp from Total Success Institute the Indianapolis based Coaching and
Coach Training Company, and one of the larger coaching companies with over two
thousand coached clients from 10 countries, states that "Qualification" not
"Certification" is the true litmus test in coaching. Life experience and the
ability to effectively interface with clients from diverse backgrounds and get them
to take action and get results is the hallmark of a good or great coach. End of
story."

Mr. Stockamp goes on to say that 'we have developed a cutting edge curriculum and
delivery system whereby in our 6 person micro-class, we are able to secure enough
referrals to create another class. People ask me 'how do you do it?' It's simple:
our clients get tremendous value and results and we ask those clients for referrals
and we give them an incentive for doing so'. Makes sense to me.

My suggestion to the Life Coaching industry is to concentrate on doing what we do
best and help our clients improve their lives rather than try and protect the
industry and those clients who might be taken advantage of if they really exist.
Furthermore, if someone hires a "bad coach"-- who is it that is truly responsible
for that experience? What most coaches teach and would say: They are both
responsible for the experience. And isn't that how we learn?


Gavin Allinson


Web Site = http://www.totalsuccessinstitute.com

Contact Details = Gavin Allinson