The International Coach Federation 11 core competencies were created to be employed by coaches around the world to effectively operate their coaching practices.  These competencies continue to be used as the foundation for the ICF credentialing process.

About The ICF Core Competencies

The International Coach Federation (ICF) established eleven core coaching competencies that were developed to support a broader understanding of the skills and approaches used within today’s coaching profession. They also support coaches in calibrating the level of alignment between the coach-specific training expected and the training they have experienced. The Core Competencies are grouped into four clusters according to those that fit together logically based on common ways of looking at the competencies in each group.

The International Coach Federation 11 Core Competencies

A. Setting the foundation

1. Meeting ethical guidelines and professional standards

Ability to comprehend ethical standards and be able to apply them in your coaching practice.

2. Establishing the coaching agreement

Ability to discuss in detail and clearly the terms of the coaching contract.  A coaching agreement enables both the client and the coach to come to a mutual understanding of the expectations of the coaching relationship.

B. Co-creating the relationship

3. Establishing trust and intimacy with the client

Ability to foster a positive and trusting relationship with your coaching clients, it is important to   create an environment that will encourage your client to feel comfortable and open up to you about their fears, and goals they desire to achieve.

4. Coaching presence

Ability to be fully conscious and create spontaneous relationships with the client, employing a style that is open, flexible, and confident.

C. Communicating effectively

5. Active listening

Ability to truly engage with your clients and focus on what they are saying. It is essential that the coach pays attention to both the verbal communication and non-verbal cues.

6. Powerful questioning

Ability to ask thought-provoking questions that reveal the information needed for maximum benefit to the coaching relationship and the client.

7. Direct communication

Ability to communicate clearly with the client, Clearly and politely define goals and objectives as well as strategies or techniques to be used throughout the coaching relationship.

D. Facilitating learning and results

8. Creating awareness

Ability to integrate and accurately evaluate multiple sources of information and to make interpretations that help the client to gain awareness and thereby achieve agreed-upon results.

9. Designing actions

Ability to work alongside his or her clients in designing action steps that work; actions that will yield extraordinary results in their personal or professional lives. 

10. Planning and goal setting

Ability to develop and maintain an effective coaching plan with the client.

11. Managing progress and accountability

Ability to hold attention on what is important for the client, and to leave responsibility with the client to take action.

Are you ready to change the trajectory of your clients’ professional or personal lives? If your answer is yes, then appropriately applying these international coach federation 11 core competencies will enable you to accomplish that.

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Margaret K. Olubiyi
Life Coach
Writer, Coaches Training Blog community