For years, I’ve been designing and delivering tailored learning and development programmes, helping leaders and managers around the world build the skills, knowledge, and behaviours that drive success within their organisations. When my organisation decided to venture into Apprenticeships in England, I knew we had to be part of delivering the Level 5 Coaching Professional standard.
This apprenticeship was designed by the pioneering trailblazer group to meet the growing demand for professional coaching in the UK. It’s a comprehensive framework that includes one-to-one coaching, team coaching, leadership coaching, and the integration of coaching into organisational culture and governance to support future ways of working. As a qualified coach with a passion for helping individuals and organisations grow, this was music to my ears!
What made this apprenticeship truly stand out was its recognition of NLP (Neuro-Linguistic Programming) as an essential part of coaching—something that, for the first time, was woven into the core competencies of the programme. The opportunity to teach apprentices how to integrate NLP techniques into their coaching practice felt like the perfect moment to elevate coaching skills to a whole new level.
The Power of NLP in Coaching
The journey began with introducing the NLP Model of Communication, a fundamental concept for understanding how we process and filter information. This model served as the foundation for everything that followed—essential for teaching other coaching techniques and models. We couldn’t move forward with other NLP tools until the apprentices fully grasped this core principle.
Once the foundation was set, we dove into key NLP techniques like Anchoring, Reframing, and Perceptual Positioning (a powerful adaptation of the Empty Chair technique from Gestalt Therapy). These techniques allow coaches to guide clients in transformative ways—shifting mindsets, breaking through limiting beliefs, and fostering personal growth. One of the most powerful tools was teaching apprentices how to use cause-and-effect conversations to help clients develop a sense of ownership, autonomy, and growth. It was truly transformational to watch our apprentices realise the power of these conversations in shifting mindsets and creating sustainable change.
A Hands-On, In-Person Approach
At the heart of our approach is the belief that coaching is best learned through direct, personal interaction. While some organisations have shifted to hybrid or virtual-only models, we made the conscious decision to deliver all our training in-person. Why? Because we wanted to give our apprentices the chance to build their confidence and competence in a supportive, hands-on environment. A space where practice, feedback, and a growth mindset were front and centre.
Of course, we recognise that many of our apprentices will eventually work in virtual coaching spaces, so we didn’t leave that aspect out. Once apprentices were confident in their in-person coaching skills, we introduced workshops on the nuances of virtual coaching. This helped them adapt to the different dynamics of online coaching while still leveraging the full power of NLP techniques.
The Life-Changing Potential of NLP
While the Level 5 Coaching Professional Apprenticeship doesn’t lead to a formal NLP qualification, it does introduce apprentices to the life-changing potential of NLP in coaching. By integrating NLP into the coaching framework, we’ve opened a doorway to new ways of thinking, working, and leading.
The result? Coaches who are not only equipped with essential coaching skills but also empowered to bring lasting change to individuals, teams, and organisations. It’s an exciting time for coaching, and we’re thrilled to be part of this transformative journey.
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