How do you develop your own skills and competencies as a coach or mentor?

1 Assess your strengths and gaps

The first step to developing your skills and competencies as a coach or mentor is to assess your current level of performance and identify your strengths and areas for improvement. You can use various tools and frameworks, such as the Coaching and Mentoring Competency Framework from the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development (CIPD), to evaluate your knowledge, skills, and behaviors in relation to the core competencies of coaching and mentoring. You can also seek feedback from your coachees, mentees, peers, and managers to gain a more comprehensive and objective perspective on your coaching and mentoring style and impact.

2 Set your learning goals and plan your development

Based on your assessment, you can set your learning goals and plan your development activities to address your gaps and enhance your strengths. You can use the SMART (Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant, and Time-bound) criteria to make your goals clear and realistic. You can also use the 70-20-10 model of learning and development, which suggests that 70% of learning comes from on-the-job experiences, 20% from social interactions, and 10% from formal education. For example, you can learn from coaching and mentoring others, observing and shadowing other coaches or mentors, joining a coaching or mentoring network or community of practice, reading books or articles, taking courses or workshops, or getting a coach or mentor yourself.

3 Apply your learning and reflect on your practice

Learning is not enough if you do not apply it to your coaching and mentoring practice. You need to experiment with new techniques, tools, and approaches, and monitor your progress and results. You also need to reflect on your practice and evaluate your effectiveness and outcomes. You can use various methods of reflection, such as journaling, self-questioning, peer review, supervision, or mentoring. Reflection helps you to identify what works well and what needs improvement, as well as to generate new insights and ideas for further development.

4 Seek feedback and support

Feedback and support are essential for your continuous improvement and growth as a coach or mentor. You need to seek feedback from your coachees, mentees, peers, managers, and other stakeholders on a regular basis, and use it to inform your actions and decisions. You also need to seek support from others who can help you with your learning and development, such as coaches, mentors, supervisors, colleagues, or experts. Support can provide you with guidance, advice, encouragement, challenge, or resources that can enhance your coaching and mentoring practice.

5 Update your skills and competencies

As a coach or mentor, you need to keep up with the latest trends, research, and best practices in coaching and mentoring, as well as in the fields and industries that you and your coachees or mentees operate in. You need to update your skills and competencies to meet the changing needs and expectations of your coachees, mentees, and organizations. You can do this by staying curious, open-minded, and flexible, and by engaging in lifelong learning and development. You can also renew or acquire relevant qualifications, certifications, or accreditations that can demonstrate your competence and credibility as a coach or mentor.

6 Celebrate your achievements and contributions

Finally, you need to celebrate your achievements and contributions as a coach or mentor. You need to recognize and appreciate the value that you bring to your coachees, mentees, and organizations, as well as to yourself. You need to celebrate your successes and milestones, as well as your challenges and learnings. You need to acknowledge your efforts and progress, as well as your impact and outcomes. You need to celebrate your growth and development as a coach or mentor, as well as as a leader.

7 Here’s what else to consider

This is a space to share examples, stories, or insights that don’t fit into any of the previous sections. What else would you like to add?