Royal Roads unique business coaching program
©Kathy Smith: Sept, 2001 - Business Examiner

The Executive Coaching Graduate Certificate Program at Royal Roads University is not short on intensity. The comprehensive course prepares people for coaching careers and has been added to the university's curriculum due to the rising popularity of personal and business coaching.

"It's a growing field that we want to be in the forefront of," says Nigel Bailey, executive director of the Centre for Effective Organization. Bailey says coaching as a career has been catching on in Canada over the last few years, so much so that Royal Roads has become the first Canadian university offering a program of this kind.

"This is not a stand-alone program," says Bailey, remarking that the course has been designed according to the International Coaching Federation's (ICF) core competencies and code of ethics. The ICF is a non-profit governing body that certifies personal and business coaches. Located in Washington, DC, the federation has over 176 chapters in 30 countries. "From our perspective regarding training, we follow the ICF guidelines," says Bailey.

The course contains approximately 350 hours of instruction and practical training, 60 hours of on-site participation, and the rest is completed by distance education (typically 12-16 hours per week). The final three on-site days include a panel-assessed coaching practicum that Bailey says is unique to the program.

"The course is limited to 22-25 people, which is a good facilitator/learner ratio," he says, adding that all exercises are team-oriented. Day one of the six-day onsite module at the beginning of the course has students learning about the computer technology required for them to use during the distance modules. Students are expected to study, research and converse as a team using various techniques such as email, discussion groups, bulletin boards, etc.

Participants include those who have their own consulting practice and are looking to add coaching to the services they provide (external coaches) or they come from management positions in public or private organizations and want to add value and better functioning to their organization (internal coaches). All require under-graduate education before enrolling. "There is a rigorous screening process for this course," says Bailey. "Not everyone gets in."

Among the important personal qualities one must bring to the course are strong communication skills, an interest in self-development and working with a team. Bailey says it's also important for people to recognize coaching as a continuous learning experience. "When you get involved in coaching, it really is a continuum," Bailey says.

The inaugural run of the six month course wraps up at the end of this month. The course instructors are themselves successful professional coaches, which makes them great examples for students as they learn. Graduates are encouraged to keep in contact with their peers and instructors, thus ensuring the education continuum. Adds Bailey,"In the future, we will use coaching graduates as mentors for new incoming participants."