Mentor Coaching – Competencies in Action

Join us on Thursday, November 19, 2026, from 11:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. (New York) for the ICF Mentor Coaching Community of Practice session, Mentor Coaching – Competencies in Action, with Carly Anderson and Lerae Gidyk, where you’ll explore real-world mentor coaching dilemmas and gain practical insights into providing supportive, non-judgmental, competency-based feedback. 

Who Is This For?

• Mentor coaches who want to apply the ICF Mentor Coaching Competencies to real-world coaching situations. 
• Mentor coaches who are looking to strengthen their approach to individual and group mentor coaching. 
• Mentor coaches who want to navigate the Mentor Coach Specialization (MCS) transition and strengthen their competency-based practices. 
• Coach educators and program leaders who want to improve mentor coaching experiences and support coach development. 
• ICF assessors and experienced coaches who are looking to explore mentor coaching dilemmas and exchange insights with peers. 

What You Will Learn:

• Identify common dilemmas in individual and group mentor coaching and examine their impact on coach development. 
• Apply the ICF Mentor Coaching Competencies to real-world scenarios through case-based discussions. 
• Evaluate approaches for delivering clear, supportive, non-judgmental, competency-based feedback. 
• Examine how trust, psychological safety, and group dynamics influence mentor coaching relationships. 
• Develop practical strategies for navigating ambiguity, supporting individual growth, and managing the mentor coaching process with integrity. 

Course Details

The ICF Mentor Coaching Competencies provide a framework for supporting coach development through effective, ethical, and competency-based mentor coaching. However, understanding these competencies is only the beginning. Applying them in real-world situations requires awareness, flexibility, and the ability to navigate complex developmental conversations. 

In this interactive ICF Mentor Coaching Community of Practice session, Carly Anderson and Lerae Gidyk will guide participants through practical case studies that explore the challenges of providing supportive, non-judgmental, and corrective feedback. Participants will examine how mentor coaches can meet coaches where they are in their development while encouraging growth and maintaining alignment with the ICF Core Competencies. 

The session will focus on the four domains of the ICF Mentor Coaching Competencies: Foundation, Process Management, Client Development, and Group Mentor Coaching. Through real-world scenarios, participants will explore how these domains inform mentor coaching relationships, guide developmental feedback, and support effective learning environments. 

Using composite, anonymized case studies from individual and group mentor coaching settings, participants will examine the tensions that can arise when balancing encouragement with direct feedback. Discussions will address how mentor coaches can maintain trust and psychological safety while identifying opportunities for growth, honoring each coach’s unique style, and offering observations grounded in the ICF Core Competencies. 

Participants will also explore how these challenges differ between individual and group mentor coaching. In individual settings, mentor coaches may need to balance direct feedback with maintaining a supportive developmental relationship. In group settings, additional considerations include confidentiality, varying levels of experience, and creating an inclusive environment where feedback supports both individual and collective learning. 

Rather than relying on a traditional lecture format, this session emphasizes active participation and shared learning. Participants will engage in two rounds of small-group breakout discussions, each focused on a different mentor coaching case. These conversations will provide opportunities to reflect on practical challenges, exchange perspectives, and explore approaches to applying the competencies. 

A whole-group discussion will bring participants together to share observations, identify common themes, and consider how the insights gained can strengthen their mentor coaching practices. 

Whether you are an experienced mentor coach, a coach educator, an ICF assessor, or a coach navigating the Mentor Coach Specialization transition, this session offers an opportunity to deepen your understanding of the ICF Mentor Coaching Competencies and learn alongside peers. 

Join this collaborative learning experience to explore meaningful mentor coaching dilemmas, strengthen your approach to developmental feedback, and gain practical insights you can apply in your own mentor coaching relationships.