There are many routes into coaching. Coaching remains an unregulated profession, which means standards can vary widely. Some are short courses. Some are self-study. Some are built from years of experience in leadership, mentoring, consulting or HR. Then, there are programmes accredited by the International Coaching Federation (ICF) . Over the years, I’ve been asked many times: ‘Do I really need ICF accreditation?’ It’s a fair question. The answer isn’t about status or badges. It’s about...

A reflection on what’s changed, what’s stayed, and why we still love this work On 14–16 January 2016, we ran our very first Certificate in Coaching, North Point's coach training programme. It’s strange to write that now. Ten years on, almost to the day. At the time, we had no real sense of what the next decade would hold. We had a programme we believed in, a clear philosophy, and a deep conviction that coaching could be taught in a way that was both robust and human. Beyond that, it...

Feedback is one of those topics that seems simple in theory yet surprisingly tricky in practice. As a coach training provider, we see this all the time. Our students tell us that giving feedback can feel awkward, uncomfortable, and at times, even exposing. Receiving it can feel just as difficult, especially when it’s not delivered well. Most of us can remember a moment when feedback landed more like criticism than support. When someone told us something they thought it was helpful but it...