"I'm not sure I'm ready yet," is one of the most common things I hear from PCC coaches who are thinking about MCC. I remember saying and feeling that myself. Yet, what are we really saying here? What are we not ready for, exactly?
Fear of failure, and why it holds us back
Being ‘ready’ (or not) is a reflection of how we see ourselves. It’s our judgment in respect to our (technical) ability to get somewhere, and it's also a sense of our mental and physical capacity to cope with a new experience.
It seems that when we say we’re “not ready,” we often make sweeping generalisations that keep us stuck. We fear we might fail, or we judge ourselves too harshly and set the bar unrealistically high. Instead of focusing on the specific areas where we feel unprepared, we paint our entire capability with one broad brush and write ourselves off before we even try.
Curiosity is the cure
Curiosity gives us back our power. When we approach MCC with wonder, rather than worry (and alongside someone who can recognise readiness and offer grounded judgement), we create space for authentic development. By looking at our shadows, we illuminate them and see them clearly for what they are. It is then that what we once thought of as mistakes becomes our most powerful source of information.
What currently has power over you? There is so much value in being specific about our fears.
Is it anxiety about your recorded sessions?
Is the idea of being examined again after many years a bit scary?
Maybe you dread the thought of filing paperwork or putting together evidence?
You name it, I’ve probably experienced those same fears.
Actually, really do name it. That’s part of the work.
Reframing MCC as ‘an experience’
Everything changes when you let go of result-oriented thinking and view MCC as something to savour, not something to achieve. I was delighted when one of my recent webinar guests shared:
"I don't want to see this as a goal. I want to see it as an experience!”
This reframe can transform the entire MCC journey from a 'test to pass' into an opportunity for meaningful growth and discovery.
Moving from performance anxiety to genuine curiosity is liberating. Instead of trying to ‘prove’ your MCC competence, you get to explore deeper levels of listening, presence, and self-awareness.
On your path to MCC, you’ll quickly learn that performance and technique only get you so far.
There are often many pathways towards a goal, and you need to think on your feet and trust your intuition. Our ability to stay with the unknown, rather than frantically searching for the "right" answers, better serves our clients' interests.
In my Level 3 training programme, we practice navigating these moments of uncertainty. As with musical improvisation, MCC coaching is about mastering the fundamentals, then trusting what emerges in the moment. Naturally, you need to build the foundations first, but then you must get out of your own way.
Community and peer support
The path to MCC can be joyful if we surround ourselves with a supportive community because growth happens naturally when we feel safe. Learning is a vulnerable and natural human process which doesn’t need to feel painful or anxiety-inducing.
By working with peers and experienced assessors, we transform our solitary struggles into collaborative learning opportunities. Our relationships with others who are on similar journeys give us opportunities to expand our impact by empowering ourselves and our peers.
I attribute so much of my success in getting my MCC credential to my excellent mentors and the communities who helped me see myself more clearly.
Leveraging strengths, not focusing on flaws
The MCC journey, at its heart, is an invitation to step more fully into who you already are as a coach. Rather than focusing on deficits to repair, MCC is about allowing your natural coaching wisdom to flourish.
This autonomous process of refining your coaching craft empowers you to make personal and intentional choices about the coach you become.
The path of mastery builds on your existing strengths by recognising the "magic" - as my co-facilitator Belinda MacInnes calls it - that already exists within you after years of coaching experience, and when you let go of what gets in the way to be fully there with your client.
How will you know when you’re ready for MCC?
So many of us delay taking action because we’re waiting to feel ready. If you’re expecting an arrival sign for coaching mastery, you may be disappointed.
In my experience, one of the most important aspects of readiness you need is a willingness to see this journey as an adventure.
Readiness is rarely a feeling. It’s a choice.
If you’re reading this, you’re already demonstrating the natural curiosity which master coaches thrive on. To walk this path, you need courage, curiosity and compassion (especially towards yourself).
Courage is not the absence of fear; it is choosing to act despite being somehow afraid. Everything you have learned on your coaching journey so far is your preparation. The greatest hurdle I see for most PCCs is choosing to trust that they are already enough.
Ultimately, MCC enhances what you offer your clients by bringing you closer to your true voice. Going for MCC is your opportunity to grow, refine your self-awareness and deepen your presence.
What if you stopped waiting to feel ready?
If this approach resonates with you and you're curious about making your MCC journey an enjoyable, growth-oriented experience, I'd love to discuss your path forward.
Let's connect to explore whether this approach aligns with your coaching journey. You can reach me directly to schedule a conversation about your MCC path and how I can support you in making it an enriching, enjoyable experience.
The magic is already within you - let's create the conditions for it to emerge.
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