Coaching Around the World: On Becoming a Profession

Abstract

This chapter explores the notion of the professionalization of coaching and coaches based on the current work and previous experiences of the International Council for Coaching Excellence (ICCE). It provides a historical review of the evolution of the notion of coaching as a profession through key texts published by ICCE as well as existing research and policy documents. The themes identified are then traced through a brief examination of examples from four different countries (Canada, Portugal, Croatia and South Africa) with coaching systems at different stages of maturity. Implications for practitioners, and for the future of coaching as a profession are drawn, and recommendations for the future are proposed.