What is the IAC? International Association of Coaching

The IAC is a global organization for the coaching industry founded by Thomas J. Leonard who is often considered the founder of coaching as a profession.

As a member of the IAC, a coach acknowledges and agrees to a pledge of specific ethical, business and professional guidelines. This organiztion recognizes 9 areas of masteries and anyone desiring certification must coach at a high level of mastery in each of the categories. The 9 Masteries are as follows:

1. Establish and maintain a relationship of trust.
2. Perceive, affirm, and expand the client’s potential.
3. Engaged listening.
4. Process in the present.
5. Expressing.
6. Clarifying.
7. Help the client set and keep clear intentions.
8. Invite possibility.
9. Help client create and use supportive systems and structures.

Mastery 1, Establish and maintain a relationship of trust: The coach ensures a safe space and supportive relationship for the client’s personal growth, discovery and transformation.

Mastery 2, Perceive, affirm, and expand the client’s potential: The coach recognizes and helps their client acknowledge and appreciate their own talents, strengths and potential.

Mastery 3, Engaged listening: The coach gives full attention to the client’s words, nuances, and unspoken communication such as body language, voice inflection, and even in the words the client avoids.

Mastery 4, Processing in the present: The coach is fully in the present moment while working with a client, and also brings awareness of the present to the client enabling them to experience thoughts and issues at various levels of mind, body, heart, and spirit which brings the client to a level of greater self awareness and appropriate, positive action.

Mastery 5, Expressing: This has to do with the coach’s level of communication with the client, that it is clear, concise, appropriate, and effective.

Mastery 6, Clarifying: The coach assists the client to clarify, eliminate confusion, and increase confidence which brings out key values and opens up new, exciting possibilities.

Mastery 7, Help the client set and keep clear intentions: By the end of each session, the client has clarity about what they want to accomplish or how they want to transform.

Mastery 8, Inviting possibility: The coach creates an environment which allows fresh ideas, options, and opportunity to emerge from the client.

Mastery 9, Help the client create and use supportive systems and structures: The coach assists their client in developing the relationships, tools, systems and structures they need to sustain and advance their forward progress.

Jane has been an IAC member since 2007.