Mentor Coach Program for Coach Trainers
Module 1: Foundation
Models and Promotes Ethical Practice
- Exploring what this mentor coaching competency means in practice and how it supports the development of coaches. We will examine how ethical practice is demonstrated through the mentor coach's behaviors and presence in both individual and group mentor coaching settings. Participants will also identify common pitfalls, ethical considerations, and areas requiring heightened awareness to ensure that mentor coaching remains aligned with ICF standards, the ICF Code of Ethics, and the developmental intent of the mentoring relationship.
Establishes and Maintains Mentor Coaching Agreements
- Examining the essential elements of effective mentor coaching agreements and exploring how to establish clarity around roles, responsibilities, expectations, and accountability within the mentoring relationship. Participants will learn how to co-create a focused and developmental mentor coaching process, including defining meaningful outcomes for both the overall engagement and individual mentor coaching sessions.
- We will explore how mentor coaches can partner with mentees to create a personalized Mentor Coaching Plan that supports growth aligned with the ICF Core Competencies and the mentee’s learning goals. Participants will review best practices for establishing and maintaining strong agreements throughout the mentoring journey, while also identifying common pitfalls and agreement-related challenges that can undermine the effectiveness of the mentor coaching process.
Module 2: Process management
Manages the mentor coaching process
- Exploring what it means to effectively manage the mentor coaching process in service of the mentee’s learning and development. We will examine the conditions that support the creation of a strong developmental partnership and how mentor coaches can collaborate with mentees to co-create and maintain a meaningful Mentor Coaching Development Plan.
- Participants will explore how to adapt the mentoring approach to the mentee’s goals, learning preferences, developmental needs, and pace of growth, while maintaining alignment with the ICF Core Competencies. We will also discuss how to regularly review progress, evaluate the effectiveness of the mentor coaching process, and make adjustments when needed to support continued development.
- Throughout the module, participants will explore best practices associated with managing the mentor coaching process, as well as common pitfalls and challenges that mentor coaches may encounter.
Developing ICF Core Competencies Through Targeted Practice
- This part focuses on practical ways of supporting competency development through focused mentor coaching activities. Participants will explore a range of targeted exercises, practice scenarios, and developmental interventions that mentor coaches can use to help mentees deepen their understanding of specific ICF Core Competencies.
- We will examine how to translate competency descriptions into observable coaching behaviors and how to design learning experiences that help mentees recognize, practice, and integrate individual competency elements. The emphasis will be on creating meaningful learning opportunities that build awareness, strengthen skill development, and support the transfer of learning into real coaching conversations.
- Participants will leave with a toolkit of practical approaches for helping mentees move from conceptual understanding to embodied coaching practice.
Module 3: Client Development
Conducts Formative Appraisals
- This module focuses on developing the mentor coach’s ability to assess coaching performance through a developmental lens. Participants will explore how to evaluate the extent to which a coaching conversation aligns with the ICF Core Competencies and the skill level associated with a specific credential pathway. Drawing on relevant ICF resources, including ACC and MCC Minimum Skill Requirements (formerly ACC and MCC BARS) and PCC Markers, participants will learn to identify competency demonstration in live and recorded coaching sessions and distinguish between different levels of coaching proficiency.
- Through guided practice, participants will strengthen their ability to listen for evidence of competencies, recognize patterns across coaching sessions, and provide feedback that supports learning and growth rather than judgment.
Facilitates Client's Skill Development
- This module focuses on how mentor coaches can effectively support the ongoing development of coaching capability while honoring each mentee’s unique coaching style, strengths, values, and professional identity. Participants will explore how to create a developmental partnership that fosters learning, confidence, and growth, while maintaining alignment with the ICF Core Competencies and the skill expectations associated with different credential levels.
- Through experiential learning and practice, participants will strengthen their ability to offer developmental feedback, share observations in a non-judgmental manner, and support mentees in translating insights into intentional skill development. The module will also explore how mentor coaches can model the ICF Core Competencies.
Module 4: Bias, Practice session
Bias, holistic/systemic approach in mentor coaching
- Participants will also explore common challenges and biases that can affect the mentoring process, and the formative assessment and learn approaches for maintaining a balanced, evidence-based developmental perspective.
- We explore mentor coaching from a systemic perspective, recognizing that coaching competencies do not develop in isolation but function as an interconnected system. Participants will examine how strengths or challenges in one competency can influence the demonstration of others.
- Using a systemic lens, mentor coaches will learn to identify patterns across competencies rather than focusing solely on isolated behaviors. Participants will explore how competencies can reinforce, enable, constrain, or weaken one another, and how this understanding can inform more effective developmental interventions. The module will help mentor coaches move beyond a checklist approach and support mentees in developing a more integrated, coherent, and sustainable coaching practice aligned with the framework and intent of the ICF Core Competencies.
Feedback exercise
- The module will include the review of a coaching recording, competency-mapping exercises, calibration discussions, and reflective partner work designed to help mentor coaches identify strengths, developmental opportunities, and emerging trends in a mentee’s coaching practice.
Module 5: Group Mentoring
Group learning environment
- This module focuses on creating and facilitating group mentor coaching experiences that are aligned with the spirit and standards of the ICF Core Competencies. Participants will explore how to establish a respectful, collaborative, and inclusive learning environment where psychological safety, mutual learning, and shared responsibility support the development of every group member. Particular attention will be given to creating agreements that encourage active participation, reflection, feedback, and peer learning while maintaining a developmental rather than evaluative atmosphere.
- Through practical examples and experiential activities, participants will examine how to facilitate live group mentor coaching sessions that provide meaningful opportunities for skill practice, observation, and reflection.
Dynamics
- The module will also explore strategies for managing group dynamics that may enhance or hinder learning, including balancing participation, working with varying levels of confidence and experience, and leveraging the collective wisdom of the group. Participants will learn how to create conditions in which all members can contribute to and benefit from the mentor coaching process while remaining aligned with the developmental intent of mentor coaching.
