Core skills for coaches and mentors revealed

Industry experts have now identified what they believe could be a fundamental set of "core competencies" underpinning all types of coaching and mentoring practice.

The news was revealed at the European Mentoring and Coaching Council's (EMCC'S) conference in Brussels late last year.

The set of competencies covers a wide range of skills, from basic business management to the ability to work effectively and sensitively with clients.

It is one of the first results of the EMCC's major Standards Project, and it is already having an impact on the industry.

Project Director Pauline Willis said: "The coaching and mentoring industry now has the opportunity to use a common framework and language to support the design and evaluation of coaching and mentoring training and professional practice. This is could prove to be invaluable in helping the industry work together to further develop standards."

At the conference, Pauline Willis thanked individuals and organisations that had already contributed to the project and urged others to get involved too. Afterwards she said: "The EMCC is committed to supporting the development of standards that facilitate individuality and artistry as well as ensuring that clients receive services of high standard. To achieve this we welcome participation in our ongoing and future research from across the professional community as well as from clients of coaching and mentoring services."

She added that the results from the first stage of the project are already being used to support the development of standards across the coaching and mentoring industry.

The Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development (CIPD), whose Professional Standards include standards in Coaching and Mentoring is using the EMCC's research to support its work on standards development in 2004/2005. The CIPD has also pledged to work with the EMCC to reinforce and add to its ongoing work on standards in a process of continual improvement and development.

ENTO (the standard setting body currently responsible for the: Learning and Development; Advice & Guidance; and Personnel National Occupational Standards (NOS) will be using the research to inform its development of National Occupational Standards for Coaching & Mentoring (in a learning environment) which is due to complete at the end of May this year. ENTO is enthusiastic about the reciprocal, ongoing support and information sharing among those whose common aim is to raise standards of professional practice.

The conference attracted one of the largest attendance figures in its 11-year history. It was the first time the event had been held in mainland Europe and participants came from across the continent - and beyond.

Countries represented included: Austria, Belgium, Denmark, France, Germany, Ireland, Netherlands, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Turkey and UK as well as Australia, New Zealand, South Africa and USA.

Participants took part in a wide range of workshops and seminars covering many different aspects of the coaching and mentoring industry, and a special international meeting showed that there was a growing desire across Europe to share the EMCC's aim of ensuring high standards in coaching and mentoring practice.

EMCC co-chairman and conference co-ordinator David Megginson, visiting professor of HRD at Sheffield Hallam University said: "The international meeting was well attended by people from a range of countries. Some had already made great progress and others who were just beginning to ask the question, 'Would it be possible to form an EMCC country group in my country?"

For more conference details, and to find out more about the EMCC's Standards Project, please visit www.emccouncil.org.uk. Anyone wishing to find out more about the project or take part can also contact Pauline Willis on 01865 784 388.

- The EMCC has just announced that its 2005 conference will be held in Zurich on December 1 and 2, with pre-conference events on November 30.

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Contacts:

Standards Project: Pauline Willis
Conference: David Megginson
International: Julie Hay