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ICF Proposal to eliminate the 3-tiered credentialling system for coaches

Joan

I am forwarding this email sent to me by Deborah Coleman, MCC . I would like to get a discussion going here in Vancouver about the proposed new credentialling strategy recommended by the ICF.   I was pleased that Deborah summarized it for me - reviewing the prosposed new credentialling strategy was,honestly, at the bottom of my task list.  When I learned that they were proposing a 1 tiered system, I was shocked, and would very much like to hear a wide range of perspectives to get information out there and give us time to process our thoughts and communicate our position to the ICF. Please see Deborahs note below:

Thanks.

Joan

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Dear Fellow Coaches,

I was recently informed about intentions by the International Coach Federation to eliminate the 3-tiered credentialing system for professional coaches.

Even more recently, I was heartened to learn of a grassroots initiative to voice our dissent about this move.

 A fellow coach forwarded this email below on behalf of those who have made the forum of www.icfcoachestakeastand.org possible.

It is a terrific opportunity to let the association know where its membership stands on this issue. 

 I've added my name to the website letter and I hope that after your due consideration, you will regard this with the same seriousness.

If you are in agreement that this direction is not at all helpful to our profession, you will add your name too.

 Your colleague, Deborah

 Dear Colleagues, 

I have been involved in a grass roots effort for the past two weeks to stop the move by the ICF Board of Directors to dissolve the three tiered credentialing system into a single credential.  Over 80 strong (including past ICF presidents, every past ICF credentialing committee chair, ACTO coach training schools, and global representation from ACC, PCC, and MCC credentialed coaches) have spearheaded this effort that spontaneously emerged following ICF Assessors meetings where, once again, the concerns about this move went unheard. 

I have attached a PDF of the letter co-created by individuals participating in this grass roots effort.

Please visit the website www.icfcoachestakeastand.org and decide for yourself where you stand on this dissolution of the three tiered credentialing system. The site went live on September 30. If you are in agreement, please " sign " the letter that will be sent to each member of the ICF Board of Directors.  You can also send your own email separately to ICF board members outlining your position.

We need everyone, whether a current credential holder or not, who is willing to join this effort to do so--because numbers count. This is our opportunity to Take a Stand for what we believe is best for the coaching field and each of us as ICF member coaches.

Please forward this e-mail and its attachment to coaches in your network and ask for their support. (

if you would like a copy of this letter, please email me directly and I will send it to you - I do not have the rights to attach a document to this posting. thanks, Joan)

 

 

Replies to this Topic

Daniel

These questions are to inspire discussion and are not biased either way.



 Why do you want to keep the three tiered system?

What makes it of such concern for you?

From what i have heard directly from coaches going through advanced credentialing it is mostly about "hoop jumping".

What is the real reason the ICF is eliminating it?

Surely there must be good jusification. Apparently there aren't very many master coaches, or more specifically coaches who are willing to go through the MCC process.

 

Daniel

Here is an email that arrived today regarding the controversy that is arrising from this change.

db

 

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The ICF Board of Directors sincerely regrets any confusion and concern that has resulted from our communication regarding work on the credentialing program that many member volunteers have been doing since 2007.
First of all, let me apologize for not clearly communicating what is happening around our credentialing work and the purpose behind it. And secondly, let me assure you that no final decisions have been made or will be made in December. All we are learning in this input phase will be shared with you in further open conversations and provide additional opportunities for member input.
I sincerely appreciate how important and dear to many of our hearts this topic is. I want to reinforce to you now that what has been shared is a proposal-a concept idea that the Board needs to get your opinion on.
Our true intent is to engage in conversations with our members, credentialed coaches and other stakeholders, about what we've learned in the validation of the credentialing process so that we could truly enhance both the process and the credentials.
Over the past few weeks we have been engaged in conversations with various groups, including the ICF Past Presidents, and reviewed online feedback. We have already learned a great deal! In particular, your input has helped us see how our initial communications mixed two ideas together and created confusion.
One idea is to improve the process of credentialing to achieve more objectivity, consistency, fairness and capacity. The second idea was to look at the value of the three credentials and how they portray internationally recognized standards of excellence. Now that we see this, we commit to creating more clarity about these two different ideas in future communications.
Again, no final decision on how to enhance our credentialing program has been made. In December, the Board will meet and review the many comments, questions and ideas that coaches from around the world have shared with us. After this, we will share the collective learnings gathered and engage you in further dialogue.
I am sure you can appreciate the enormous complexity of the work we are doing here, and how inadequate one mode of communication alone is. Please join us in as many different ways as you can to contribute to our learning conversations.
There are many ways you can engage with us to share your comments and questions:
• Open conversations via teleforum with members of the Board and Credentialing Committee; please visit the ICF Event Calendar for bridge line and dialing instructions;
• E-mail isocomments@coachfederation.org;
• Follow and share feedback on the ICF blog. With the suggestions and assistance from several of our members, our blog has launched to support our community conversation;
• Attend a special meeting/lunch on the afternoon of Friday, December 4 at the 2009 ICF Annual International Conference in Orlando. I'll be sharing more details with you on this shortly.
You may have also been following conversations around this work on other social networking sites, including the Coaching Commons site and LinkedIn. We certainly appreciate the work of coaches who have been taking the time to hold these important discussions. For more information, please click here to reference frequently asked questions and more details on Coachfederation.org.
I look forward to hearing from you on this important issue and working together to strengthen our credentialing program.
Warm Regards,
Karen Tweedie, PCC
2009 ICF President

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