Why is this so important? If a DC pas- sively hands him/her-self, and the practice, into the hands of an outside element ex- pecting a magical transformation, then that DC will certainly experience disappoint- ment. This will be true regardless of how erudite or talented the coach/consultant is. Improvement, refi nement and achieve- ment must be a journey that is shared by the DC and the coach/consultant, wherein the DC’s individual values and aspira- tions lead the way, and the coach’s blend of training, experience and ability provide realistic, practical and ethical tools for reaching these destinations.1 Once a chiropractor has worked out the purpose and direction for a practice enhancement relationship, and has de- cided which type of service would be the most useful – coach or consultant (see Part 1 of this article) – it is time to research individuals or groups to work with. tion programs where they may learn one, or more, of the many different coaching methodologies.” One of the most prominent educators of coaches – a group whose credentialing is fast becoming the most sought after, for coaches of all fi elds and professions – is called the International Coach Federation (ICF). In existence for over ten years, the ICF strives to train career coaches – for all disciplines – who meet international stan- dards of practice. The ICF aspires to sup- port the development of coaching as a self- regulating and distinct profession on an international level, and has developed its education and credentialing with this goal in mind. The interesting thing about this group is that it stands independent of all the disciplines for which it trains coaches. At this time, over 4,000 coaches, world- wide, hold ICF credentials.2 This growing roster includes Dr. Brian Kleinberg, a DC in Thornhill, Ontario, who The fi rst step, defi ning ‘you’, is crucial to success in almost any venture. ELEMENTS TO INVESTIGATE Training The question of how your coach or con- sultant has trained may be considered a mechanistic one, addressing only one di- mension of their potential merit. None- theless, it may offer some insight as to whether that individual is the right one to work with. Janice Hughes – who was quoted in Part 1 of this article – notes that this is a question seldom asked by chiropractors, and points out the answer received might be one of many. “Some people ‘fall into’ coaching,” says Hughes. “They begin to teach those around them about their own systems and, before they know it, their helpfulness de- velops into ideas that seem to really benefit DCs in practice – and so they begin coach- ing professionally.” “Others,” continues Hughes, “enroll in one of various available training certifica- notes, “The coaching profession, which is about 15 years old, is not fully regulated at this time so, in truth, anyone can refer to themselves as a coach and conduct coach- ing services. The ICF has set standards of practice and core competencies that every credentialed coach must be trained in, examined in and pledges to uphold and practice.” Kleinberg adds, “The vast majority of life coaches practicing today are now seek- ing credentialing, and within a few years, just as we have rigidly enforced regula- tion for chiropractors through our pro- vincial colleges, I suspect that the title of Life Coach will require a licensure, as well, through standardized credentialing.” Kleinberg states that his training as a coach does guide him to be co-active with his clients – that is, he strives to help the client discover the best answers so he/she can take ownership of the actions taken. This, he notes with conviction, is a very empowering process. “Effective coaching unblocks what’s blocked, or de-clutters what’s cluttered,” Kleinberg says. “The outcome should be a life of exciting new challenges, growth and achievement. To this end – and while I have no doubt that many coaches are do- ing a valuable service to their clients – you as the chiropractic consumer of coach- ing services should be aware that there is an important distinction to be made between credentialed and non- credentialed coaches.” Experience and location Also of interest to the DC questing for a practice consultant or coach might be the experience(s) which that individual brings to the table, and where he/she is located**. In terms of experience, there are a few particulars which might prove revelatory. The obvious are expanse of experience – number of years or of clients – refer- ences and testimonials from other/previ- ous clients – both satisfi ed and unsatisfied – and which DCs the coach has success- fully worked with in the past. This last feature points to the coach’s area of spe- cialization, in terms of what sort of needs, goals and paradigms are best served by his/her coaching methods, values and approaches. It might be worth considering a coach’s country of location, as well, when scout- ing out whom best to work with. With the current potential for relationships afforded by the internet, and the international ac- cessibility of any location by phone, any DC can, theoretically, work with any coach, anywhere. But, does a coach from out-of-country truly understand the envi- ronment, in which a practice is situated, enough to guide the DC in a meaningful and relevant fashion? When asked about potential differenc- es in coaching DCs in Canada versus the United States, Janice Hughes rose to the occasion. “Yes, there are defi nitely differences in practice needs and goals when you work with a Canadian versus an American chi- ropractor,” Hughes says. “Billing and compensation systems are different for the two groups. Coding issues are more detailed for Americans and compliance to **Practice consultants will be, at least, somewhat local as they should be present in your offi ce to work with you and your team. Therefore, the consideration of country of location, here, applies more to coaches. 34 • CANADIAN CHIROPRACTOR | DECEMBER 2008 www.canadianchiropractor.ca
Chiropractic + Naturopathic Doctor December 08: Page 34
