My main reason for supporting independent certification is to promote a consistent (not SAME) standard for coaching.
The profession, with its growing pains, has become diluted in many ways. I’ve heard from too many people who have had experiences with coaches who lack an understanding of what mastery in the profession means. The dissatisfied clients say things like, “Why did I hire a coach? They didn’t do anything for me that I couldn’t do for myself” and “All the coach ever did was say ‘what do you think you could do’”. Whether or not that’s completely true, when that threatens to become the common perception of coaching, the profession runs the risk of obsolescence and/or considered a just a fad.
Now, at the same token, I know coaches who are incredible and dedicated to mastery and will choose to not pursue certification.(Dan, I have a feeling you are in this category.) Personally, as a rebel at heart, I would prefer that certification remain optional, at the discretion of the individual coach.
So my decision to become certified and be involved in certification process, is to be an advocate for the coaching profession with the hope that these pursuits will assist in educating the public as to what to expect, or even demand, from coaching.
I realize this did not answer the ICF vs. IAC debate, so here’s my “nutshell” answer to that:
Which organization best aligns with your philosophy? Find out and make an informed decision based on your values and your needs.
For me it was IAC from the beginning, as the IAC standards, requirements and principles honored me as the professional I already was, while challenging me to gain to highest level of coaching skill that I could. I felt welcomed and encouraged to get involved as an equal. Someone recently told me they saw the IAC as the Apple™ of certification organizations. I agreed. With the IAC it’s not difficult to feel like you are, or can be, an integral part of the evolution of the organization as well as the profession.
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