Discover Diane’s story
A coach education: who is it really good for? For what purpose?
As coaches and trainers at Training & Coaching Square, we can give you dozens of reasons to attend an ICFaccredited coach training program to become a certified coach. And it is absolutely certain that ‘coach-like’ leadership is the future.
This time, we are giving the word to Diane Richier. Diane attended the COMBI: programme ROOT® + GROW® in 2022-2023. As a former consultant at Accenture, she now devotes all her time to coaching.
You attended the training as part of your role as a consultant. Why is it useful to integrate coaching skills?
I would like to break a myth: coaching education is not just for people who want to become coaches. Coaching skills are a distinctive asset to enrich and fulfill your professional and personal life. Integrating coaching competencies means developing a sense of observation, listening and reflection. This is how you develop a toolbox to guide your colleagues towards conscious and desirable choices – for them and for the organisation. In addition, it also means developing and enjoying a better understanding/awareness of yourself and your life project. Finally, whether you are a consultant, a manager or an HR professional, coaching training strengthen your (self)leadership to support your own development and that of others. In conclusion, it is about enhancing your connection with yourself and others.
Can you give some examples of how you applied what you learned in practice?
For me, the training period coincided with managing a ground-breaking project for both my company and the client. The training was a catalyst for bringing this demanding and ambitious project to a successful conclusion in terms of time, quality and teamwork. The coaching skills gradually helped me to approach complex situations with more mental distance and serenity, to tackle difficult conversations in a constructive and caring way, and to build closer relationships with the team and the stakeholders. At the same time, the training confirmed my passion for coaching: awareness is what drives me! So, in addition to my then role as a consultant, I was officially allowed to wear the hat of in-house coach within my company and to lead a coaching trajectory. Today, I have decided to take the leap and dedicate myself fully to coaching.
There are endless definitions of coaching. What does coaching mean to you?
First, coaching is not telling someone what to do, training them or sharing your experience. The word “coaching” is often misused to refer to a process where someone helps another person develop their skills. Coaching can help the coachee develop his or her skills, but not only that, and not in just any way. Coaching involves facilitating a person’s reflection process, overcoming internal resistance and external obstacles, and helping the person to develop and integrate their own solutions. For me, coaching means moving faster, further and in the direction we really want.
You have attended the ROOT GROW certified coach training course at Training & Coaching Square. What did the training provide you with?
The training goes deeper into the various technical, ethical and even contractual aspects of the coaching process. The training has allowed me to develop my attitude as a coach; I now feel equipped with a set of powerful coaching tools. Above all, the training has given me a deep awareness of who I am and who I want to be. I have always been naturally quite reflective and introspective – and yet I had no idea of the internal transformation that such a training programme could bring about. We talk a lot about learning, but we often forget that there is also a lot to ‘unlearn’ in order to be fully yourself.
Why Training & Coaching Square?
To me, Training & Coaching Square represents excellence in coaching. Their training programmes are rich and in-depth. The coaches and trainers each have decades of experience. It was important for me to learn from industry leaders, and Training & Coaching Square was the first training centre in Belgium to be recognised by the International Coaching Federation. The trainers/coaches create a reassuring atmosphere that encourages openness and learning. For me, the training days were synonymous with a journey of curiosity, discovery, exploration and experimentation.
What would you say to those who hesitate to make the leap?
I also feel completely surrounded, serene and excited and well-equipped to believe in my own coaching abilities. I invite professionals who are looking to strengthen their leadership and self-leadership to consider a coaching programme at Training & Coaching Square. One thing is certain: every effort is made to ensure that every participant benefits from the training!
Got curious after the interview with Diane?
Do you want to discover for yourself what coaching can do for you? Do not hesitate and contact us to register for a training course or to discover the free Taste & Test coaching webinar.(https://infosessie.trainingcoachingsquare.be/taste-test-en-webinar)