Coaching: Why? What?

This blog is authored by Kiran Varri
Ask yourself: Why have you decided to become a COACH? Why? Why? (take a 2 min pause to think again)
These subset questions might help: Why? What was the motivation? Goal? Objective?
I asked myself too: The answer for me came: To Serve / To make a Living; in the same order.
I have recently been part of a conversation where the subject was: Accomplished/High-Quality Coach. Does this person have to be an MCC? Can an ACC /PCC achieve this coveted recognition? or, one who has no formal certification can still become one; with an illustrious list of clients/coachees who vouch for his/her Coach Ability & Quality. Please note, the endorsement is for: COACH role ONLY and not to be confused with Mentorship/Counseling and other available formats.
A few weeks ago, in the midst of a Coach Training session, a line struck my mind: Becoming an ACC is probably the 100th km of a 1000km journey. This happened to me at the near end of the 60hr classroom training. Did I get value from my classes & formal education? In my case, A definite YES!! To me, the formal education of becoming a COACH definitely worked; not just worked, it worked wonders.
I see myself far more transformed and different from whom I was at the beginning of the program. Was it ONLY due to the program structure? or ONLY due to my inner own capability? It wouldn’t have been possible without the union of program & high-quality effort from me. To me, Formal education became a SOLID foundation for a Burj Khalifa that I intend to build over it. Are you planning to build an Eiffel Tower or a 5-10 storied complex?
What did Formal Education of becoming a Coach do to you? Your story would definitely be different from that of mine. However, one answer stood out for me: Without a STRONG Foundation, hoping to become a Legendary Coach will be nothing more than a “Day Dream”. However, you have a choice to decide how you would like to build the Foundation: An ICF Certification / Self Education / Self-proclaimed COACH or any other possible option. A Solid Foundation is what matters. This is my realization. In my case, the brick & mortar came from my ACC program.
With this, the Foundation part of the conversation is done & dusted. Agree?
Now, how about “What” you build over the Foundation. In my effort to visualize this, all I could capture is as follows: Peer Coaching is a beginning / Pro Bono Coaching starts giving one Wings / Attending Coaching related events (webinars/supervisory coaching, etc) helps gain depth on the subject and help one form their own set of “Best Practices”.
Will this be sufficient to become an accomplished COACH? My confident answer is “NO”.
Endless self-education (from books/programs & event participation) to me seems to be the catalyst that can carry you to the Next Orbit. This is when we start talking of “Legends”. The rest will have to settle with the tile of a “professional”.
To reiterate: ONLY someone who is transformed from within and experienced the metamorphosis from within can achieve “Unmatched Mastery”. Why do I think so? What is not inside cannot come outside? And most of what a COACH does is “Transformational”; not transactional not peripheral.
How can one who is not “Transformed” within and in themselves, help someone else achieve “Transformation”?
My humble request: Think Again!! Why have you chosen to become a COACH? What is the Motivation? What is the Objective? And last but not least:
Have you experienced Transformation of such nature/level/depth, that the transformation that you can help your Coachee trigger within comes natural & effortless!!
Once your “Why” & “What” are answered, you will achieve full awareness of what is happening inside & outside of you. Happy Coaching!!