What You Can Expect From A Coach

The International Coach Federation, the unofficial credentialing organization in the business, also has its set of “Coaching Competencies”:

A. Setting the Foundation

1. Meeting Ethical Guidelines and Professional Standards
2. Establishing the Coaching Agreement

B. Co-Creating the Relationship

3. Establishing Trust and Intimacy With the Client
4. Coaching Presence

C. Communicating Effectively

5. Active Listening
6. Powerful Questioning
7. Direct Communication

D. Facilitating Learning and Results

8. Creating Awareness
9. Designing Actions
10. Planning and Goal Setting
11. Managing Progress and Accountability

Looked through another “lens”, according to the International Association of Coaches, a coach will be displaying these masteries:

1.        Establishing and maintaining a relationship of trust - Ensuring a safe space and supportive relationship for personal growth, discovery and transformation.

2.        Perceiving and affirming the client’s potential - The coach recognizes and helps the client to acknowledge and appreciate his or her strengths and potential.

3.        Engaged listening - Give full attention to the words, nuances, and the unspoken meaning of the client's communication; the coach is more deeply aware of the client by listening beyond what the client is able to articulate.

4.         Processing in the present - The coach is attentive to the client, processing information at the level of the mind, body, heart and/or spirit, as appropriate. The coach expands the client’s awareness of how to experience thoughts and issues on these various levels, when and as appropriate.

5.        Expressing - Expressing is the manner in which the coach communicates commitment, direction, intent, and ideas.

6.        Clarifying - Reduce/eliminate confusion or uncertainty; increase understanding and the confidence of the client.

 7.        Helping the client set and keep clear intentions - Keeps the client focused and working towards intended goals.

8.        Inviting possibility - Creating an environment that allows ideas, options and opportunities to emerge.

9.        Helping the client to create and use support systems and structures - Helping the client identify and build the relationships, tools, systems and structures he or she needs to advance and sustain progress.

Source:  The IAC Coaching Masteries.  There you will find these masteries greatly elaborated.

Coachville says you can expect the coach to display these 15 proficiencies:

1. Engages in provocative conversations.
2. Reveals the client to themselves. 
3. Elicits greatness.
4. Enjoys the client immensely. 
5. Expands the client's best efforts.
6. Navigates via curiosity. 
7. Recognizes perfection in every situation.
8. Hones in on what is most important.
9. Communicates cleanly.
10. Shares what is there.
11. Champions the client.
12. Enters new territories.
13. Relishes truth. 
14. Designs supportive environments.
15. Respects the client's humanity. 

Source: Coachville. There you will find these proficiencies greatly elaborated.