Level 7 for Executive and Senior Level Coaches and Mentors

This course has been designed to develop your coaching and mentoring skills, as a leader and as a practising coach/mentor, to help improve management performance, communication and interpersonal skills. The course consists of four online workshops and four coaching/mentoring/supervision meetings to support your development and help you apply your learning.

These workshops use best practices to identify the skills, knowledge, and behaviours of an effective coach/mentor within an organisational context, or to develop your own coaching/mentoring practice. Ongoing practice, reflection, feedback and review are key elements throughout the course. The course aims to enable you to feel confident in using your coaching and mentoring skills within an organisation or privately, and leads to an internationally recognised ILM qualification. As you go through the workshops, there will be lots of coaching and mentoring practice, some of which will focus on course content. This practice and feedback help to build confidence in your ability as a coach/mentor.

The course is run by Dominic Morris, a member and master practitioner of the European Mentoring and Coaching Council (EMCC), who abides by their standards and ethics. He coaches and mentors leaders and senior managers across many organisations and will be able to offer practical tips and advice as you go through the training. Dominic will also act as your supervisor during your coaching and mentoring practice.

An ILM-specific session follows workshop 1 to discuss the Level 7 qualification. This will include an ILM induction and a full exploration of the three assignments, with hints and tips on completing them.

ILM qualifications include one year's study membership to The Institute of Leadership, providing further support including online resources written by leading professionals, events, webinars and a quarterly magazine.

What is included

• 4 workshops
• ILM-specific session for the Level 7 qualification
• 4 coaching/mentoring/supervision individual support sessions
• ILM Level 7 Certificate qualification
  • ILM registration
  • ILM certification
  • Study membership with The Institute of Leadership
  • Assignment support and marking of three assignments
  • Coaching/mentoring supervision

Course Content

• Defining coaching and mentoring - what are the differences and similarities
• Understanding how we can use coaching and mentoring within an organisation
• Measuring the value of coaching and mentoring to individuals and organisations
• Identifying potential barriers to an effective coaching and mentoring programme
• Understanding effective coaching and mentoring processes: GROW, TGROW, OSCAR
• Identifying the importance of reflective practice and supervision for effective coaching and mentoring
• Understanding values and ethics in a coaching and mentoring context
• Exploring the knowledge, skills and behaviours of an effective coach/mentor, including:
  • Agreeing coaching and mentoring contracts
  • Confidentiality in your coaching and mentoring practice
  • Building rapport
  • Listening
  • Questioning
  • Probing
  • Reframing
  • Challenging and supporting
  • Giving and receiving feedback
  • Identifying limiting beliefs
  • Key coaching and mentoring questions
  • Your internal and external communication
  • Keeping your coaching goal-oriented
  • Note-keeping and action planning
• Identifying communication theories and models which are helpful in your coaching and mentoring practice
• Identifying common pitfalls and how to overcome them
• Planning, preparing and goal setting for an effective organisational coaching and mentoring programme
• Measuring your own coaching and mentoring ability and reflecting on your own professional development

How your development is supported

The workshops are group sessions carried out on set days, roughly 4-6 weeks apart.

The workshops will include breaks for tea/coffee and lunch. You will receive a Zoom calendar invite for each workshop, ILM session, and Coaching/Mentoring/Supervision meeting.

Level 7 Certificate for Executive and Senior Level Coaches and Mentors

The qualification is designed for senior managers or Human Resources (HR)/Organisation Development (OD) professionals who wish to develop their expertise and credibility in the fields of Executive or Senior level coaching and mentoring, or to establish coaching at an organisational level. They are also ideal for professional coaches and mentors seeking to enhance and accredit their experience with a nationally recognised qualification.

To achieve your ILM Level 7 Certificate qualification, you will need to complete three assessments.

1. Understanding the Principles and Practice of Effective Coaching and Mentoring at an Executive or Senior Level

Assignment 1 aims to provide the learner with an understanding of the principles and practice required for effective coaching or mentoring at an Executive and Senior Level. You are required to complete an assignment; the suggested word count is 5,000 to 7,000 words, not including appendices. ILM Learning outcomes:

• Know how to effectively contextualise coaching or mentoring practice at an executive or senior level
• Understand the principles and practices required for effective coaching or mentoring at an executive or senior level
• Understand methods for evaluating coaching or mentoring at an executive or senior level

2. Undertaking Coaching or Mentoring at an Executive or Senior Level

Assignment 2 requires the learner to undertake a minimum of 20 hours of coaching or mentoring at the Executive and Senior Level. You will receive ongoing feedback from your supervisor, including formal feedback, based on recorded or observed coaching or mentoring sessions totalling 4 hours, which will be used as part of your assessment. You will be able to identify areas for improvement through feedback and ongoing review. You are required to submit a portfolio of evidence and records of coaching and mentoring undertaken. ILM Learning outcomes:

• Be able to agree and establish a contract to coach or mentor individuals at an executive or senior level
• Be able to plan, deliver and review 20 hours of coaching or mentoring at an executive or senior level with a minimum of 2 and a maximum of 3 individuals

3. Reflecting on Your Ability to Perform Effectively as a Coach or Mentor at an Executive or Senior Level

Assignment 3 aims to have the learner holistically review their ability to perform as a coach or mentor at the Executive and Senior Level. You are required to submit a reflective journal, which provides a holistic and reflective review that links with the supplementary evidence of practice collected in assignment 2. ILM Learning outcomes:

• Be able to review own ability to perform effectively as a coach or mentor at an executive or senior level
• Be able to plan own future professional development activities
• Be able to construct a profile and position themselves as a coach or mentor at an executive or senior level

The ILM qualification includes ongoing feedback and tutorial support for your coaching, mentoring and assessments, with mentoring calls and supervision.