My Number One Recommendation
by Tina Stoltzfus Horst, M.S., Master Trainer
When I became a coach over 20 years ago, Kathy was a part of my training group. We chose to continue a peer coaching relationship, and met by phone every month for several years. We grew our coaching skills while building a deep, authentic relationship that remains significant to both of us to this day!
I’ve been training coaches around the world for almost two decades. My number one recommendation for growth after foundational coach training is to meet regularly with a peer coach.
What are the benefits? There are so many! First, coaching another coach will keep you sharp. Another coach knows what the coach role entails. They’ll notice when you slip up and give advice or when you ask a great question that becomes a turning point in the conversation. You’ll be more aware of using good technique and sticking to coaching values, and you’ll get quality feedback from someone who understands coaching.
Second, for new coaches in particular, you are learning how to build coaching into your life, ministry and workplace. You are embracing a new part of your identity as “coach”. Because peer coaching is based on a shared passion for coaching, it reinforces the coaching identity and values we all want to integrate, new coach or not.
A third benefit is community. As coaches, we often work alone; building relationships with other coaches is very important. As Kathy shares, “It was a huge gift to have this trusting relationship in which we could share our hopes, dreams, obstacles, and hearts. We entrusted parts of our stories to each other…” Kathy and I built a strong and lasting friendship partly due to years of peer coaching. Though I knew Kathy before our training began, she and I have both witnessed many, many peer coaches develop deep, long lasting relationships— even when the coaches don’t know each other at the start!
A fourth benefit is that we demonstrate integrity and consistency when we believe in coaching enough that we regularly get coaching ourselves. After all, as coaches, we are asking others to make an investment in their personal growth! Let’s model that for our clients by having a coach ourselves.
Finally, the beauty of peer coaching is that you can give and receive great coaching for free! When I led the NGO Coaching Mission International, I desperately needed an executive coach! But working in a nonprofit/missions setting meant money was short. I found an amazing executive coach interested in peer coaching; we exchanged coaching regularly for almost 9 years. This made a huge difference in my development as a leader, and saved hundreds of dollars every month. For those pursuing an ICF credential, peer coaching is considered “paid” rather than “pro bono” in the ICF context, and qualifies towards your coaching experience hours!
I hope you’re determined to experience all the benefits of peer coaching! Finding the right person is part of that process. You could:
Continue meeting with a peer from your training cohort
Reach out to another coach in the FOCOS Platform Community, or one from a local coaching group or professional organization.
Share your name with others in FOCOS Platform who are looking for a peer coach, here: https://forms.gle/UWBzo5UFfA8dncYv5
Don’t miss out on the benefits of peer coaching! As Kathy says, “Ask God to bring the right person across your path and then trust your heart to know who is the right peer for you.”
