Really? Could it be this simple? Does everything come down to these two questions? If we asked these questions regularly, could life be easier to navigate?

Children know this wisdom instinctively, right? They know what they really want — food, a toy, a hug, an ice-cream cone — and they are more than willing to ask for help to get it! Then, we grow up and we begin to take on the attitude that life doesn’t work like this – that we can’t have what we really want. Hmmm…what if we could?

In coaching, we’re all about the belief that our clients can indeed have what they want, and our work is engaging with them to get it. It’s the core of the coaching model, however we each approach it — “where are you right now, and where do you want to go?” or, “who do you want to be?” or, “what do you want to do?” or, “what’s in your heart?” As coaches, we do a great job believing in our clients. It is sometimes harder to have that same strong and sure belief in ourselves. It’s why I and all the coaches I know have coaches of our own!

The wisdom in the movie struck me as brilliantly wise, and just like I do with my clients, I am now asking myself, ‘what do I really want?’ and ‘how do I ask for help to get it?’ So, in this moment, just try asking yourself the two questions: What do I really want? Am I willing to ask for help to get it?

Today, coaching is maturing and coming of age. The marketplace is becoming more savvy and sophisticated too. When people look for a coach, they are more likely to ask about certification, credentials and experience. I always advise clients to do the due diligence; interview coaches, and then make sure they hire a professionally trained and credentialed coach.

Coaches who have been trained by an accredited school and then credentialed through the International Coach Federation have achieved the highest standards the profession offers. They can be sure that they are bringing quality and excellence to their clients. The clients can be sure that their coach will adhere to the ethics and standards held by the ICF and maintain a professional relationship.

When you look for a professional in any area, an accountant, a lawyer, a doctor, a plumber, you want to be sure that the individual is completely trained and is certified to provide you with a service. It’s a way of saying to the marketplace, “Yes, you can trust me to do the very best job for you, because I have been trained and certified by the best.”

More and more over the years, as companies hire internal coaches, they are requiring that coaches go through an accredited program. To maintain consistency and quality, companies from Blue Cross/Blue Shield to Shell Oil have found that coaching is a viable and valuable modality for their workforce.

Coaches who study and work to gain a credential are showing that they are committed to their profession. They are proud to hold a credential which clearly states to the world that they are serious and dedicated professionals.

As coaching continues to grow and expand, credentialing will also continue to rise in importance. The more coaches there are in the world, the more our clients will demand that we rise to achieve the highest standards. A coaching credential serves to communicate these standards with no uncertainty. Our clients can feel secure in knowing that their credentialed coach brings credibility, training, experience and excellence to the coaching relationship.

As you choose your coach training school, make sure the program is an Accredited Coach Training Program with the International Coach Federation.

Her conversation was very intense; she was quite heated up, and was frankly what I would call “righteously indignant” about a variety of topics. I suddenly thought: “I recognize her.” I realized that I was this young woman once upon a time — so sure of my own opinion, my own views, and my own ‘righteous indignation.’ And so, in that moment, I was able to let go of my judgment.

Lately, I’ve been very aware of how that young woman still shows up in me. How, as much as I want to be in a place of not judging others, I still do it with alarming frequency. And, I would rather not. But, there you have it — I still do.

Here is what I also know: when I judge others, I’m really judging myself. So, as long as I’m aware of doing it, aware of that ‘judgmental voice’, I can either choose to continue to listen to it, or I can make a new choice. Here then, is the real work to be done — on how I judge myself. In that moment of awareness, I can choose to love myself a little more.

I believe that to be a masterful coach, one must be masterfully self-aware. What’s your self-awareness today?