Agile Coaching Certification Curriculum 2026

Key Topics:

Professional coaching foundations – definition and value in agile contexts

Coaching mindset – beliefs about people, potential and resourcefulness

Coaching ethics, agreements, confidentiality and boundaries in organizations

Key Topics:

Five stances – teaching, mentoring, facilitating, consulting and coaching

Choosing and shifting stances based on context, capability and risk

Balancing expertise with coaching, resisting the urge to “solve”

Key Topics:

Active listening – internal, focused and global listening

Listening for beliefs, values, emotions and patterns; removing barriers

Powerful questioning – open, curious and insight‑evoking questions; avoiding leading and “why” traps

Key Topics:

Direct communication – sharing observations without judgment, feedback that builds awareness

Coaching presence – being fully present, managing distractions, using intuition responsibly

Creating safety and trust – rapport building, psychological safety and managing emotions

Key Topics:

GROW model – structuring coaching sessions with Goal, Reality, Options, Will

Other models – CLEAR, Co‑Active, solution‑ focused and appreciative inquiry

Adaptive coaching – flexing models and following the client’s agenda

Coaching triads – coach, client, observer roles and feedback frameworks

Real coaching conversations, reflection and skill integration

Debriefing key learnings, challenges and insights

Key Topics:

Creating awareness – reframing, surfacing assumptions and using silence

Designing actions – client‑generated options, SMART actions and obstacle removal

Accountability structures – self, peer and coach accountability

Key Topics:

Understanding resistance as protection and common resistance patterns

Coaching through resistance – naming, exploring and working with fear and uncertainty

Handling challenging coaching moments – emotional intensity, plateaus and when to pivot

Key Topics:

Team coaching vs individual coaching – team as the client and systems thinking

Team development stages and coaching interventions

Power, influence, conflict dynamics and team communication patterns

Key Topics:

Characteristics of high‑performing agile teams – safety, dependability, clarity, meaning

Building psychological safety – behaviors and coach interventions

Coaching self‑organization – levels of autonomy and avoiding directive control

Key Topics:

Observing teams – interaction patterns, energy levels and communication quality

Providing constructive team feedback

Coaching within agile ceremonies – retrospectives, planning, stand‑ups and stakeholder sessions

Integrated coaching sessions using selected models and stances

Observer feedback focusing on presence, questions and impact

Reflection on breakthrough moments, growth areas and personal coaching style

Key Topics:

Coaching agreements – goals, roles, confidentiality and success measures

Structuring one‑on‑one, team and peer coaching in organizations

Routines and practices to sustain an agile coaching practice

Key Topics:

Continuing development – supervision, mentoring and learning communities

ICAgile learning paths and ICF credentialing options

Personal development planning – self‑ assessment, goals and accountability partnerships