subject: Professional Associations For Executive Coaches In Vancouver, Canada [print this page] If you are an executive coach living in the Vancouver area and you want to build your skills, and network with like-minded professionals, here are a number of professional associations which you may want to get involved with. Each of the associations offers something unique, yet has a distinct advantage for professional coaches.
Worldwide Association of Business Coaches - Based on Vancouver Island, this is the first international professional association which is exclusively for the business coaching industry. It offers advanced credentialing standards for internal and external coaches. What stands out about this association is that it uses a competency model as the foundation for their programming. The competencies were developed by an expert industry panel and are geared exclusively for business coaches. If you decide to get one of their internationally recognized coaching credentials, you also get graduate level course credits which can be applied towards a Masters Degree or PHD. http://www.wabccoaches.com/
International Coach Federation - The International Coaching Federation (ICF) is the largest non-profit professional association of personal and business coaches and it has a Vancouver chapter which has been growing at a rate faster than the ICF itself. It offers professional development workshops, monthly networking events, and a widely recognized credentialing process. The competency model used seems more geared towards life and career coaches than business coaches, yet the core skills do apply. http://icfvancouver.org/main/summary
The BC Organizational Development Network (BCODN) - The BCODN is a virtual learning community of practitioners in a wide variety of organizations. Members are professional coaches, consultants, and internal practitioners. The organization is best suited to leadership coaches who have an interest in organizational development. They offer great workshops designed to build awareness of the profession and to build skills in areas such as team development, leadership, and systems theory. In 2010, they are offering their first virtual conference. http://www.bcodn.org
Coaches Training Institute, Vancouver - The Coaches Training Institute has a Vancouver chapter for graduates of their coaching program. The group is fairly informal, yet offers networking opportunities, and professional development. Many of the coaches share information and offer support to one another as they try to build their professional practice. http://www.thecoaches.com/
Each of these associations will help an executive coach to build their skills and provides networking opportunities in the coaching community in Vancouver. Before picking which one is best for you, it is recommended that you clarify what you want to accomplish. If you want to build your understanding of business coaching competencies, WABC may be the best choice. If you want to develop core coaching skills, ICF may be for you. Or, if you want to develop as a coach and consultant, BCODN may be a good place to start. If you are a graduate of CTI, and want some ongoing support, the Vancouver Chapter will give you that. Either way, getting involved will have you feel connected in your industry and expand your professional network.
