Coaching methods
Professional coaching competencies
In Latvia, where I come from, coaching has been available as a professional service for more than fifteen years, yet public understanding of this profession, the service and the benefits it brings is still limited. I have planned a series of blog articles to improve readers’ understanding of professional coaching, with more detailed information about coaching competencies that will help you form a picture of what to expect from working with a competent coach.
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In Latvia, where I come from, coaching has been available as a professional service for more than fifteen years. Unfortunately, public understanding of this profession, the service and the benefits it brings is still limited. There are various reasons for this situation, but that is a separate topic. This time I have planned a series of blog articles in which I introduce readers to the competencies of a professional coach, as defined by the International Coaching Federation (ICF). The aim of these articles is to improve readers’ understanding of professional coaching by giving more detailed information about coaching competencies, which will help you form a picture of what to expect from working with a competent coach.
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What are coaching competencies?
ICF thoroughly updated its competency model in 2019, after several years of work with experienced coaches from various countries, and it came into use in ICF credentialing in 2021. In 2025 ICF reviewed the model again, drawing on input from about 3,000 coaches worldwide: the eight competencies stayed the same, while some of the detailed descriptions under them were added or reworded. ICF publishes the full model on its website, and you can read it by following this link.
All ICF members and credential holders pledge to uphold the ICF Code of Ethics, and the eight competencies form the foundation of the ICF credentialing exam. In other words, every ICF-credentialed coach has been assessed against them. The competencies can be seen at the same time as guidelines, as goals and as criteria for a professional coach’s work with clients.
All ICF members and credential holders pledge to uphold the ICF Code of Ethics, and the eight competencies form the foundation of the ICF credentialing exam. In other words, every ICF-credentialed coach has been assessed against them. The competencies can be seen at the same time as guidelines, as goals and as criteria for a professional coach’s work with clients.
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The eight coaching competencies:
• Demonstrates Ethical Practice
• Embodies a Coaching Mindset
• Establishes and Maintains Agreements
• Cultivates Trust and Safety
• Maintains Presence
• Listens Actively
• Evokes Awareness
• Facilitates Client Growth
In the next eight articles I will describe each competency in more detail and add my own comments on how I understand each one and apply it in my work with clients.
This article is based on my Latvian article “Profesionālu kouču kompetences”, published on 27 April 2021. It was translated into English and its facts were updated in October 2026.
• Embodies a Coaching Mindset
• Establishes and Maintains Agreements
• Cultivates Trust and Safety
• Maintains Presence
• Listens Actively
• Evokes Awareness
• Facilitates Client Growth
In the next eight articles I will describe each competency in more detail and add my own comments on how I understand each one and apply it in my work with clients.
This article is based on my Latvian article “Profesionālu kouču kompetences”, published on 27 April 2021. It was translated into English and its facts were updated in October 2026.
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