Following a rigorous, 2 years, analysis process, the International Coaching Federation (ICF) has released in October 2019 an updated ICF Core Competency model. The famous 11 Core Coaching Competencies are now only 8. But stay assured that they didn’t leave nothing out, they actually added.

Please see below a comparison:

At a first sight, you can notice that:

  • There is a new competency – “ Embodies a Coaching Mindset”
  • The original 3 competencies – Powerful Questioning, Direct Communication and Creating Awareness are included in the new competency “ Evokes Awareness”
  • The original 3 competencies – Designing Actions, Planning and Goal Setting, and Managing Progress and Accountability are included in the new competency “ Facilitates Client Growth”

Also, we have to underline that Direct Communication is no longer a separate competency but shows up as sub-points in competencies 4. Cultivates Trust and Safety, 6. Listens Actively and 7. Evokes Awareness.

As you can see, the updated model includes all the existing competencies of the original model (some have been merged under new, clearer headings and some have been expanded) and therefore affirms the validity of that model and the competencies it describes. The new model has more consistent language and is better organized, simplified and more efficient because it is focused on defined actions and behaviours. There is also improved cohesion between the competencies and sub-competencies and the overall model is more succinct.

Shortly, the updates are:

  1. Ethical behaviour and confidentiality are paramount.
  2. Extended coaching agreement into three levels: agreements with the organisation, agreements pertaining to the overall client engagement and agreements relating to each coaching session.
  3. Improving the concept of partnership: to ensure that the work is client-centred, that the client has an equal voice in the coaching process and that there is mutual accountability (the coach is responsible for the coaching process, the client is responsible for his own growth).
  4. The coach is invited and expected to have a holistic view of his client as a person, bringing a topic in a given context, and consideration and integration of all these things are important in effective coaching practice. The coach takes into account the context and culture of the client in the coaching process. This includes things like family structures, values, beliefs, organizational culture, ethnicity, spiritual or religious practices, and general circumstances surrounding your coaching work.
  5. The concept of professional development and reflective practice.

We believe that the new competencies are easier to follow and better understood because of their increased clarity.

You can see the model with all the competencies and sub-competencies on ICF website.

We conducted a thorough review of our curriculum for We Grow Coaching Academy when the competencies were released to training providers and we made sure that all our courses and modules are aligned with the new competencies.