The Standard Bearer's Dilemma

Re-examining Mastery in Professional Coaching

Executive Summary

The global rise of professional coaching is a testament to the power of standardized practices and a shared ethical framework, largely stewarded by the International Coaching Federation (ICF). While these standards have been essential for establishing the profession’s credibility, this paper argues that the system now faces a critical inflection point — the Standard Bearer’s Dilemma. It puts forth a critique of the current credentialing process at the Master Certified Coach (MCC) level, on two interconnected fronts: the subjective “tunnel vision” inherent in the human assessment of mastery, which risks creating a “methodological echo chamber” and the systemic failures of transparency and accountability that create a “black box” around the evaluation process.

Through an analysis of the assessment BARS, the role of assessors, and the influence on training schools, this paper deconstructs how a system designed to ensure quality may inadvertently stifle diversity and risk the calcification of its own dogma. It then proposes a constructive path forward, centered on evolving assessment to include a professional dialogue (Viva Voce), establishing a Mastery Assessment Council to ensure accountability, and formally bridging the gap between coaching innovation and credentialing. The ultimate goal is to spark a dialogue that ensures professional standards serve as a floor for competence, rather than a ceiling for the rich diversity in which coaching mastery is expressed.