b'TO TRAIN ORNOT TO TRAIN?That is the question - and a frequently asked onewhen it comes to coaching.However, I believe the more relevant question isnt whether or not one should have formal training as a professional coach, but rather how can we as coaches serve our clients in the most powerful way possible, while maintaining ethical and professional boundaries?Coaching is not counselling, consulting, mentoring or an opportunity for amateur therapy. It is also not what the coach would do in the clients situation. Understanding what coaching is, and is not, provides a framework for what coaches do and do not do when wearing the coaching hat.Coaching, at its best, is a remarkable skill that helps both individuals and teams to transform results, achieve goals and positively change their lives. At its worst, coaching can be meandering, misleading and destructive. Coaches have a great influence on their clients. Without codes of ethics and good practice,there is a danger that many people who call themselves coaches might be projecting their own personal beliefs, judgements and opinions and unwittingly stepping into the world of amateur therapy. This is not coaching.MASTER YOUR CRAFTMastery is when someone knows their craft from a theory Iperspective, has developed the practical experience to hear many coaches postulate that it is notmake it mean something, achieves results and continues to necessary to train formally in coaching skills. develop it further. As coaching is an unregulated industry in theUK and many other parts of the world, thisExperiential coach training offers the theory and enables statement is undoubtedly true. the practice of skills in a safe and supportive environment and provides constructive feedback. What is interesting is that many said coaches then offerThere are two principle reasons why this is important:coaching intensives or workshops to train other coaches in their own branded methodologies, which seems to be1. The development of coaching as a professionsomewhat incongruous. If training in new methodologiesIf coaching is to be taken more seriously as a profession, is deemed important, then surely training in essentialit needs to be based on a code of ethics and good foundational competencies is equally, if not more,practice and be aligned with a set of essential important?competencies.06'