RCTP Spotlight: Northwestern University Offers Board Certified Coach Training

Northwestern University is a CCE Registered Credential Training Provider, and its Executive Learning & Organizational Change (ELOC) Level 1 Coaching Certificate is approved for individuals seeking to earn the Board Certified Coach (BCC) credential.

The ELOC Level 1 Coaching Certificate is within the School of Education and Social Policy, which generates research in human development, learning, and performance at individual, organizational, and even societal levels, says Michelle Lee Albaugh, PhD, Assistant Director of Coaching. She recently shared some insights with us on the program and the future of coaching.

What made you decide to offer BCC training?

We realized that although the Northwestern name is synonymous with the highest quality educational experience, the marketplace sometimes asks coaches to present an additional credential. When choosing an organization and credential to align with, CCE and the BCC were a natural choice. The BCC credential fits well with the university context in that it honors previous educational experiences that prepare someone to be a great coach, and it also credentials individuals in related fields, not just coaches.

What sets your coaching program apart from others?

We practice coaching and discuss challenging issues specifically as they relate to the workplace. Of course, the coaching we do often has a strong positive effect on clients’ personal lives as well, but our focus is on coaching in organizations. Our grads have been very successful in creating the coaching opportunities they learned coaching to create, whether that’s launching a private practice, starting an internal coaching function in their organization, adding coaching to their array of other professional services, or using a coaching approach to lead more effectively and compassionately.

What sort of feedback have you gotten from those who have completed the BCC training, if any?

We’ve heard—both from those who completed the training and those who are considering getting their coaching education and training with us—that having a choice of credential is a big plus. 

Who may benefit from coaching, and how? How do coaches help others?

Well, I am a bit biased here. Honestly, I think everyone can benefit from quality coaching—both the coaches and their clients. Coaching helps leaders be more self-aware and intentional about their leadership, as well as compassionate toward their people. In my view, coaching helps workplaces be more humane places to work, one leader at a time.

What do you think the future of coaching will look like?

I believe there is a powerful synergy possible between coaching and diversity, equity, inclusion, belonging, and justice work. We have seen the devastating effects of passively allowing injustice and inequality to persist, and coaching is uniquely well-positioned to help leaders at all levels of organizations see what they have been socialized to overlook—and then deliberately, intentionally, compassionately begin to effect change where they have influence. 

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