Mastery in Coaching
How to develop your coaching practice and raise the level of your coaching competence.
“Coaching is Conversational Mastery”
Ever wondered what it takes to develop your coaching skills to the next level. Beyond professional credentialing, beyond experiences, beyond coaching education, beyond any tools or techniques, how do we pursue mastery and why is that even important.
As a coach, it is crucial that we embrace a coaching mindset with a life-long learning attitude to grow and develop ourselves. Mastery is a pursuit of excellence, to push the boundaries and to gain a deeper understanding our ourselves and the people we are coaching.
When I conduct coaching education classes for leaders and coaches, I would often open the sessions with discussions around mastery. The masterful coach is one who isn’t tied up with trying to gain the next title to their name but a deep dive into who they are and how they are showing up in the moments with their clients. Mastery is the coaching journey that every serious professional coach would want to pursue and raise the level of their coaching competence.
What is mastery?
Let’s start by exploring mastery.
What is your first immediate thought when you hear the word mastery?
What behaviours do you see exhibited by someone who is in the state of mastery?
Mastery is a state of high-level skill, expertise, and proficiency in a particular field or activity. It refers to the level of excellence that a person has achieved through extensive practice, dedication, and continuous learning. Mastery involves the ability to perform complex tasks or solve challenging problems with ease and confidence. It is a state of being where a person has attained a deep understanding and comprehensive knowledge of a subject or activity. Mastery is often associated with individuals who have devoted significant time and effort to hone their skills and have achieved a level of excellence that sets them apart from others in their field.
What is mastery in the context of coaching?
In the context of coaching, mastery refers to the highest level of skill, expertise, and proficiency that a coach has achieved through extensive practice, continuous learning, and self-reflection. A coach who has achieved mastery has developed a deep understanding of the coaching process and can help clients achieve their goals with ease and confidence.
A coach who has attained mastery has a comprehensive knowledge of coaching techniques, tools, and methodologies and can use them effectively to support their clients in their personal and professional development. They have developed the ability to listen deeply, ask powerful generative questions, and provide insightful feedback that helps clients gain clarity, identify their strengths, and overcome obstacles.
Mastery in coaching involves ongoing learning, self-reflection, and a commitment to ethical practice. A coach who has attained mastery is always seeking ways to improve their coaching skills, staying up-to-date with the latest trends and research in the field, and seeking feedback from clients and other experienced coaches. They have developed a strong ethical foundation and integrate ethical practices into their coaching process.
Why should a coach pursue mastery?
Co-creating Better Outcomes for Clients. Coaches who have achieved mastery in coaching are better equipped to support clients in achieving their goals. They have a deeper understanding of the coaching process and can use a wide range of coaching tools and techniques to help clients gain clarity, identify their strengths, and overcome obstacles. Mastery in coaching translates into better outcomes for clients.
Increased Professional Credibility. Mastery in coaching is a mark of excellence that sets a coach apart from others in the field. Coaches who have attained mastery have a higher level of expertise and are more likely to be recognized and respected in their profession. They have a reputation for providing high-quality coaching services, which can lead to increased professional credibility and opportunities.
Personal Growth and Satisfaction. Pursuing mastery in coaching is a journey of personal growth and development. Coaches who are committed to continuous learning and self-improvement are more likely to experience personal satisfaction and fulfillment. Mastery in coaching can also lead to a sense of purpose and meaning in one's work.
Competitive Edge. The coaching industry is highly competitive, and coaches who have achieved mastery have a competitive advantage. They have a higher level of expertise, knowledge, and skill, which can lead to more significant opportunities and increase their coaching practice.
Do we need a reason to pursue mastery?
While having a specific reason for pursuing mastery in any field, including coaching, can be helpful in providing motivation and focus, it is not always necessary. Pursuing mastery can be a personal choice based on a desire to improve one's skills, knowledge, and expertise in a particular area.
Some individuals may pursue mastery for the challenge and personal satisfaction of pushing themselves to reach their full potential. Others may pursue mastery to make a positive impact on the lives of others or to contribute to their profession. Still, others may pursue mastery simply because they enjoy the process of learning and improving their skills.
Ask yourself this question: Am I pursuing mastery to grow my coaching practice or am I pursuing mastery to gain deeper insights of coaching?
Too often, we think of mastery as climbing levels or layers, and when we attain higher levels we have arrived. Mastery should not be seen as a destination but should be seen as journey of limitless depth and breadth.
“My reason is my resolve in this journey. When the journey seems long and arduous and the end is no where in sight, it’s the resolve within that pushes me forward and fuels me.”
Jedidiah Alex Koh, BYS, MCC
What is my reason?
Finding your personal reason or resolve to pursue coaching mastery can involve a process of self-reflection and exploration. It may be helpful to consider what motivates you and what you hope to achieve through pursuing mastery in coaching. You might reflect on your values, interests, and strengths and how they relate to coaching. You could also seek inspiration from other coaches who have achieved mastery and explore the benefits they have experienced. Finally, you may consider the impact that pursuing mastery could have on your personal and professional growth and how it could help you make a positive difference in the lives of others. By taking the time to reflect and explore, you can find a personal reason or resolve that will provide you with the motivation and focus to pursue mastery in coaching.
Let’s be real.
Have an honest conversation with yourself. You may use these questions prompts to help guide your reflections:
What motivates me to become a coach, and what do I hope to achieve through coaching? (Think back to the very first time you experienced coaching and how did that made your feel or what were your memories of it)
What are my values, interests, and strengths, and how do they relate to coaching?
How has coaching impacted my life, and what inspires me to continue on this journey?
What challenges have I faced as a coach, and how can pursuing mastery help me overcome them?
What do I hope to gain personally and professionally by pursuing mastery in coaching?
How do I envision myself as a coach who has achieved mastery, and what impact could I have on my clients and the coaching profession?
What can I learn from other coaches who have achieved mastery, and how can their experiences inspire me to pursue mastery in coaching?
How can pursuing mastery in coaching help me make a positive difference in the lives of others and contribute to the greater good?
How is the pursuit of mastery going to help me grow into a better person?
How do I begin to think about my own journey of catching mastery?
Many coaches or leaders read a book or listened to a podcast or watched a video and got inspired by the other persons’ journey and want to copy or model what they do. Often, this process of copying or modelling leads them feeling frustrated. The reason they felt that way is because they haven’t found their own internal alignment and congruence with what they truly want.
Here are some suggestions for your to consider about your own journey:
Reflect on your current coaching skills and knowledge: Take some time to assess your current level of coaching skills and knowledge. This can help you identify areas where you may need to improve and where you can focus your efforts in pursuit of mastery.
Set clear goals: Based on your reflections, set clear goals for what you want to achieve in your coaching practice. These goals can serve as a roadmap for your journey towards mastery.
Create a plan: Develop a plan of action for achieving your goals. This plan can include specific actions, such as taking additional training or coaching sessions, attending conferences or workshops, and seeking out mentorship or guidance from experienced coaches.
Focus on continuous learning: Commit to a lifelong journey of learning and development. This can involve reading books, articles, and other resources on coaching, attending webinars or online courses, and seeking out feedback from clients and colleagues.
Practice, practice, practice: Practice is essential to mastery. Set up opportunities to practice your coaching skills, whether through role-playing with colleagues, working with volunteer clients, or taking on challenging coaching situations.
Evaluate your progress: Regularly evaluate your progress towards your goals and adjust your plan as needed. Celebrate your successes and learn from your failures, always seeking to improve and refine your coaching practice.
When you have thought about how you would like to begin your journey. It’s critical to learn the foundational principles of mastery. There was a book I once read called “Mastery” by Robert Greene, in that book, Greene explores the paths to mastery taken by historical figures such as Leonardo da Vinci, Mozart, and Charles Darwin, as well as contemporary masters in various fields. He identifies the key strategies and principles that these masters used to achieve mastery, including a deep commitment to learning and practice, the willingness to take risks and learn from failure, and the cultivation of a unique creative vision.
There are several key ideas or principles that I have found useful for coaching mastery:
Apprenticeship: Greene emphasizes the importance of apprenticeship in achieving mastery. By studying under a master in your field and learning through hands-on experience, you can develop the skills, knowledge, and mindset needed to achieve mastery.
Resistance: Greene suggests that resistance and obstacles are an essential part of the journey to mastery. By embracing challenges and setbacks and seeing them as opportunities for growth and learning, you can develop the resilience and grit needed to achieve your goals.
Creative Intelligence: According to Greene, creative intelligence is a key characteristic of masters in all fields. By cultivating a unique creative vision and developing the ability to think outside the box, you can set yourself apart and achieve greatness in your field. This involves developing a deep understanding of the principles and conventions of your field while also embracing experimentation and exploration.
As we relate this back to coaching mastery, it is worth considering getting your own personal coach to walk this journey with you. I have had the privilege to journey with many coaches from different domains and coach them to brave their stories. The benefits they gained through having a coach with them is that they have someone to partner them in their thinking, awareness building, challenge them to push their level of performance to the next level and explore the unknown.
Principles of Mastery in Coaching
Over the years I had identified several principles that helped in developing coaching mastery. And one of my signature programs that I run was Mastery in Coaching (MIC) and it has been such a popular program that leaders and coaches enjoy learning and resisting. Using the acronym MIC I have developed 3 key principles of mastery in coaching.
My key principles of Mastery in Coaching:
“Embrace the Moment, honor the Ineffable, and cherish the Caesura - these are the three keys to unlocking the full potential of your coaching mastery. By staying present in the Moment, learning to work with the Ineffable, and using Caesuras to inspire deep reflection and insight, you can help your clients achieve breakthroughs and lasting change.”
Jedidiah Alex Koh, BYS, MCC
1) Principle of the Moment: As coaches, we need to be attuned to the present moment in order to truly understand our clients and help them achieve their goals. The Principle of the Moment involves learning to savour and appreciate the small, everyday moments in life and in coaching conversations, observing and learning from them to deepen our understanding of our clients and their needs. By staying present and fully engaged in the moment, we can gain valuable insights and develop stronger connections with our clients.
2) Principle of the Ineffable: Coaching involves working with clients to achieve deep, meaningful change in their lives. However, there are often experiences and emotions that are difficult to put into words. The Principle of the Ineffable acknowledges that there are times when words fail us, when we struggle to find the right expression to describe something so powerful. As coaches, we need to be comfortable with silence and able to hold space for our clients when they are struggling to articulate their thoughts and feelings. By recognizing the power of the ineffable and learning to work with it, we can help our clients achieve breakthroughs and lasting change.
3) Principle of the Caesura: Pauses in thought, in conversations, and in life can be incredibly powerful. The Principle of the Caesura involves learning to appreciate and use these pauses to inspire deep reflection and insight. As coaches, we need to be comfortable with silence and able to give our clients space to think and process their thoughts and feelings. By using caesuras intentionally in our coaching conversations, we can help our clients gain clarity, see things from a new perspective, and make breakthroughs that might not have been possible otherwise.
Let’s deepen our understanding of these 3 principles:
Use the following reflective questions to help guide you.
Principle of the Moment:
How often do you find yourself getting distracted or caught up in your own thoughts during coaching conversations? What impact does this have on your ability to truly understand your clients?
What small, everyday moments have you observed in your coaching conversations that have provided valuable insights or learning opportunities? How can you incorporate this awareness of the present moment into your coaching practice?
How can you help your clients stay present and engaged in the moment during coaching conversations? What strategies or techniques can you use to facilitate this?
2. Principle of the Ineffable:
When have you experienced the power of the ineffable in your coaching conversations? How did you work with this experience to help your client?
How comfortable are you with silence and holding space for your clients when they are struggling to articulate their thoughts and feelings? What can you do to improve your ability to work with the ineffable?
How can you help your clients develop greater self-awareness and emotional intelligence so that they can better articulate their thoughts and feelings during coaching conversations?
3. Principle of the Caesura:
What role do pauses and silences currently play in your coaching conversations? How can you be more intentional about using caesuras to inspire deep reflection and insight?
How can you use caesuras to help your clients gain clarity and see things from a new perspective? What questions or prompts can you use to facilitate this?
How can you balance the need for silence and reflection with the need to keep the conversation moving forward and maintain momentum towards the client's goals?
How do we grow in mastery?
Continuously seek out learning opportunities: Attend workshops, conferences, and training programs to expand your knowledge and skills. Read books and articles by experts in the field of coaching to stay current and deepen your understanding.
Seek feedback: Ask for feedback from clients, colleagues, and mentors to gain insights into your strengths and areas for improvement. Use this feedback to identify areas where you can grow and develop your coaching skills.
Practice regularly: The more you coach, the more opportunities you have to develop your skills and gain mastery. Seek out opportunities to coach in different contexts and with a diverse range of clients to broaden your experience and understanding.
Build a Self-Reflective coaching practice: Take time to reflect on your coaching sessions, both before and after the session. Use this reflection to identify areas where you can improve and to build on your strengths.
Engage a Coach: Find a coach who can partner with you on this journey. To hold you accountable to your growth and challenge you in areas of your comfort zone and push you on the journey towards coaching mastery.
What are the common pitfalls when pursing mastery in coaching?
Over-reliance on techniques: While coaching techniques can be helpful, over-reliance on them can lead to a lack of authenticity and connection with clients. Mastery in coaching involves developing your own unique coaching style and approach that is grounded in your strengths, values, and personality.
Focusing on fixing rather than facilitating: Coaching is not about fixing problems or providing solutions; it is about facilitating a process of self-discovery and growth for the client. As a coach, it's important to focus on helping the client explore their own insights and solutions rather than imposing your own ideas and opinions.
Lack of self-awareness: Developing self-awareness is a key part of growing in mastery as a coach. Without self-awareness, it can be difficult to recognize your own blind spots and areas for improvement. Regular reflection and seeking feedback from others can help you develop greater self-awareness.
Burnout: Pursuing mastery in coaching can be demanding and require a lot of time and energy. It's important to take care of yourself and avoid burnout by setting boundaries, practicing self-care, and seeking support when needed.
Stagnation: Mastery in coaching involves ongoing learning and development. It's important to avoid complacency and continuously seek out opportunities to expand your knowledge, skills, and experience as a coach.
It’s time to raise the bar.
“Our coaching is the portrait of the standards we set for ourselves. Elevate those standards, and watch as our mastery transcends like a masterpiece on the canvas of life."
Jedidiah Alex Koh, BYS, MCC
How do we raise our own bar?
Just one word.
Commit.
Commit to making a difference. Commit to making one small step. Commit to making mastery the soul of your coaching practice. Commit to growth.
What’s your next step?
Pursuing mastery in coaching is a journey that requires dedication, commitment, and an unwavering focus on personal growth and development. By embracing the key principles of mastery in coaching, such as the Principle of the Moment, the Principle of the Ineffable, and the Principle of the Caesura, coaches can deepen their understanding of themselves, their clients, and the coaching process.
To raise our own bar for coaching excellence, we must commit to making a difference, one small step at a time. Mastery is not achieved overnight, but through a sustained effort to continually improve, learn, and grow. We must commit to making mastery the soul of our coaching practice, placing it at the heart of everything we do.
One way to pursue mastery in coaching is to seek out coaches, mentors and learning opportunities that challenge us to expand our knowledge, skills, and perspectives. We must be willing to take risks, make mistakes, and learn from failures. It is through these experiences that we gain the insights and knowledge needed to become true masters of our craft.
Ultimately, the pursuit of mastery in coaching is not just about achieving success in our careers, but about making a positive impact on the lives of others. By committing to growth and development, we can inspire and empower our clients to achieve their own goals and dreams. So let us commit to the journey of mastery, knowing that each step we take brings us closer to becoming the best version of ourselves and making a meaningful difference in the world.
