Professionalising the profession

From as far back as I can remember in my Professional Coaching career I have constantly reflected and asked myself:

• In an unregulated profession, how do clients really know if they are getting the best that the Coaching world has to offer?
• What is the difference and how do you quantify the potential ‘value add’ between an unqualified Coach, a day-1 qualified Coach, and a Coach having practiced for 10 years?
• Why do we often find ourselves as Coaches questioning the traditional boundaries of Coaching, and how does this impact the role Coaches play when it comes to our clients’ mental health and well-being?

From the very beginning at MRA, we had a clear ambition to differentiate ourselves, and to apply self-regulation. For us, self-regulation in an unregulated industry is critical. It not only means we continually raise our own standards and can confidently answer the questions posed above, but it also means that we feel a great sense of responsibility towards our clients to set the bar extremely high so we can deliver the very best that Coaching has to offer.

This ambition is the driving force behind our approach at MRA for how we select, train, supervise and continually develop our Professional team of Executive Coaches: https://www.matthewradley.co.uk/meet-the-team

Our stringent Professional Standards apply to our whole team. All MRA coaches must have the following:

• A Post Graduate Certificate in Coaching (and Supervision where necessary)
• Be working towards PCC (ICF) or Senior Practitioner (EMCC) status as a minimum, and onwards to MCC and Master Practitioner status – the highest levels achievable
• MBTI and EQ-360 licences
• Training in neurodiversity
• Training in Statutory Directorship
• Mental Health First Aid England (MHFA) qualification
• Deep understanding and application of the MRA Safeguarding Policy
• Tutors for the ‘Coaching with Confidence Training Programme’ must receive internal and external verification for our EMCC awarded offer
• Accreditation and sign-off to deliver the MRA suite of programmes
• Commitment to delivering in line with our brand values https://www.matthewradley.co.uk/our-approach
• Full programme of Professional Coaching Supervision
• Full programme of Continuing Professional Development (CPD)
• £5m insurance

This is a big ask both in terms of time and financial commitment in order to achieve these standards. However it is an ask we will continue to make, and in doing so demonstrates our Coaches’ passion for not only professionalising themselves but also the Coaching industry. At MRA, we are proud to make this the minimum requirements for our Associate Coaches.

So ask yourself, what standards do you look for when choosing a Coach to work with? What Is the impact of accepting anything less? Giving you confidence in your selection is of vital importance to us, so please go ahead and ask our coaches whatever you like in terms of how we work to ‘professionalise the profession’ every day.

And if you believe we should be doing even more, challenge us – we’re up for it!

Matthew Radley, Founder of MRA

EMCC Global Master Practitioner