From Level 1 to Level 2: What Shifts When You Go Deeper into Coaching

At IECL, we often describe the coaching journey as just that, a journey. It starts with building foundational skills, and over time, something bigger unfolds - presence, confidence, and the ability to really meet people where they are.

For many, completing IECL’s Organisational Coaching Level 1 Certification is a pivotal moment. It’s often the first time they’ve been introduced to a structured way of having meaningful coaching conversations, using frameworks such as GROW and other foundational models and tools. It’s where the mindset shift begins from giving advice to asking better questions, from directing to listening.

It’s where, with practice, you shift from listening to responding to truly deep listening. It’s where you release yourself from the need to fix the problem, instead focusing on the next best question to uncover the insight. Way more powerful than any amount of advice.

So, what happens next?

That’s where Organisational Coaching Level 2 really changes the game.

If Level 1 is all about learning how to coach, build a structure, learn to hold space, and discover the power of curiosity.

Level 2: It’s about learning to be a coach.

With Level 2, you begin to rely less on tools and more on trust in the process, in the client, and in yourself. You become more intuitive, more attuned to what’s under the surface, and more comfortable with not always having the answer.

It’s not just about becoming a better coach; it’s about becoming more of yourself as a coach.

I know this from my own personal experience. Recently, I completed my PIECL certification, IECL’s full four-course pathway including both certification and accreditation. By the end, I wasn’t just using coaching tools; I was showing up with a kind of grounded confidence I didn’t have at the start. And those sessions where I might have slipped back into advisory, I am very aware they are never as impactful as the ones where I stay within the coaching mindset.

It's a bit like learning to drive. At first, it’s all structure and mechanics, but over time, the process becomes second nature, and coaching becomes the person in front of you, not the process itself.

In Level 2, we focus on the being of coaching, not just the doing.

You’ll learn how to:

• Work more intuitively, beyond a fixed structure

• Partner with your client rather than lead them

• Stay present and steady in the unknown

• Explore what’s under the surface, beliefs, patterns, values

• Apply real-time feedback from experienced mentors

It’s a deeper layer of presence, listening, and trust, and a powerful step forward, especially if you’re thinking about pursuing ICF credentials.

What Our Alumni Say

“I finally felt like a real coach, not just someone applying a model.”

“It gave me the confidence to coach anywhere, not just in a safe practice room.”

“This is where coaching became leadership.”

Thinking About Taking the Next Step?

Whether you’re building toward an ICF credential, expanding your coaching practice, or simply deepening your leadership capability, Level 2 is where coaching begins to feel fully integrated.

Explore our upcoming course dates Organisational Coaching Level 2.