Increase self-awareness and leadership effectiveness


Become a Certified Executive Coach for Leadership Development
Today’s organizations need more than traditional coaches. They need trusted advisors who understand people, leadership, culture, organizational systems, and change.
IOD’s Executive Coaching Certification Program (ECCP) is designed for Organization Development, Human Resources, Leadership Development, Talent Management, and Learning & Development professionals, consultants, and experienced leaders who want to transition into Executive Leadership Coaching or add Executive Leadership Coaching to their existing professional practice.
ECCP combines proven Leadership Development coaching practices with IOD's Organization Development approach, preparing you to coach not only the individual leader, but also the organizational system in which that leader works.
Increase self-awareness and leadership effectiveness
Navigate leadership and career transitions
Lead organizational change and transformation
Strengthen executive presence, emotional intelligence, and strategic thinking
Build high-performing teams and cultures
Develop resilience and adaptability
Lead people through uncertainty and AI-driven disruption
Translate leadership growth into organizational impact

ECCP is especially valuable for professionals who understand people and organizations and want to add Executive Coaching to their professional capabilities.
Many coaching programs focus primarily on the individual coaching conversation. IOD goes further. ECCP integrates Executive Coaching, Organization Development, Leadership Development, Systems Thinking, and Organizational Change, preparing participants to understand both the leader and the organizational environment in which leadership occurs.
Graduates receive:




Build practical Executive Coaching capability through observation, real coaching conversations, feedback, reflection, and supervised practice.
Observe coaching demonstrations and examine the behaviors and approaches of effective coaches.
Practice coaching through structured exercises, coaching labs, and real-world coaching conversations.
Receive feedback from faculty, peers, and coaching partners to strengthen your coaching practice.
Examine your coaching presence, assumptions, strengths, and developmental needs through reflection.
Apply your learning through supervised coaching practice with real coaching clients.
Integrate Coaching, Leadership, and Organizaton Development through practice.
Use a professional coaching process and establish effective coaching agreements.
Demonstrate an ICF-aligned coaching mindset, ethics, and professional presence.
Create trusted coaching relationships that support open and meaningful dialogue.
Use questioning, listening, reflection, feedback, and accountability effectively.
Help leaders navigate behavioral change, career transitions, and expanded responsibilities.
Develop emotional intelligence, executive presence, strategic thinking, agility, and resilience.
Apply assessments, competency models, and leadership development tools.
Translate coaching insights into measurable executive development goals and actions.
Use an OD perspective to understand leaders within their organizational systems.
Support leaders through organizational change, uncertainty, and transformation.
Connect coaching with leadership development, talent, and succession strategies.
Design internal coaching programs and evaluate their leadership and organizational impact.
The ECCP™ is designed around experiential learning because effective Executive Coaches develop their expertise through observation, practice, feedback, reflection, and real coaching experience, not lectures alone. Throughout the program, you will strengthen your coaching capabilities through:
Analyze leadership and organizational challenges and explore how coaching can support leadership effectiveness, transitions, behavioral change, and transformation.
Complete structured coaching practice with real clients, applying Executive Coaching skills while building confidence, presence, and professional capability.
Practice coaching conversations through demonstrations, coaching labs, role plays, and realistic leadership scenarios.
Participate in facilitated discussions, peer coaching, reflection, feedback, and collaborative exercises that strengthen your coaching approach.
Receive observation, feedback, and guidance from experienced faculty as you develop your coaching presence, questioning, listening, feedback, and accountability skills.
Demonstrate your Executive coaching capability by creating an executive coaching strategy implementation plan.

The ECCP program includes:

ECCP can help you expand your current role, move into a dedicated coaching role, or build a broader consulting practice.


Leadership has become increasingly complex. Executives are being asked to lead through artificial intelligence, workforce disruption, talent shortages, organizational transformation, employee disengagement, competing stakeholder expectations, and continuous uncertainty. Traditional leadership training alone cannot address these challenges.
Develop the coaching, leadership, systems thinking, transformation, and enterprise capabilities needed to coach executives and strengthen leadership effectiveness across the organization.
Build expertise in executive coaching models, ethics, coaching presence, trust building, and powerful coaching conversations.
Strengthen emotional intelligence, executive presence, strategic thinking, leadership agility, resilience, and overall leadership effectiveness.
Apply systems thinking to understand organizational effectiveness, culture, stakeholder dynamics, behavior, and organizational change.
Coach leaders through change, transformation, uncertainty, organizational resilience, and AI-driven workforce disruption.
Strengthen self-awareness, judgment, empathy, trust, collaboration, adaptability, and meaning-making in changing workplaces.
Coach leaders toward stewardship, long-term thinking, sustainable outcomes, and greater people, organizational, and stakeholder well-being.
Build coaching cultures, internal coaching programs, leadership pipelines, succession development, and executive sponsor engagement.
Evaluate coaching outcomes, leadership behavior, stakeholder feedback, leadership effectiveness, and organizational and business results.
Attend this webinar to learn more about the ECCP program and how to become Certified as an Executive Coach!
Webinars are 1 hour in duration, and can be watched on-demand



Participants share how ECCP strengthened their coaching capabilities, expanded their professional perspectives, and prepared them to create greater leadership impact.
I learned so much, both in my own development being on the receiving end of coaching, and in learning from our debrief. The coaching presence was phenomenal, as we modeled active listening, contracting, and a supportive process. In our debrief I learned the power of coaching the person (vs. the problem) and gained new insights into the importance of transparency and the distinction between passive vs. directive questioning. Thank you for bringing this great benefit to the program!
ECCP
Executive Coaching Certified Professional
I have enjoyed the class discussions and learning about how others are currently doing things. Since there is so much information we covered, having the material that is provided to reflect back on and use in the future will be so helpful. We might not be in the position to implement some of them right now, but being able to go back and pull from will be so helpful. I personally have learned so much and have enjoyed planting seeds within my company and look forward to exciting things that will happen because of me taking this class.
ECCP
Executive Coaching Certified Professional
The Executive Coaching Certification Program through the Institute of OD has provided me with a practical, experience driven learning environment to enhance my coaching practice. Not only does the program provide guidance for how to build a coaching strategy and program, but it helped me to enhance my coaching skills by following the ICF Executive Coaching Core Competencies, using assessments and 360's, and focusing on how to establish a process for coaching. This program provides participants with the opportunity to practice coaching and receive coaching from certified practitioners. I was able to recognize the difference between coaching, facilitation and consulting and have been so pleased with the knowledge and tools I have gained from this course.
ECCP
Executive Coaching Certified Professional
Explore common questions about the Executive Coaching Certification Program and what you can expect from the experience.
ECCP is designed for professionals who want to transition into Executive Leadership Coaching or add Executive Leadership Coaching to their existing professional practice. It combines proven Leadership Development coaching practices with IOD's Organization Development approach, preparing participants to coach both the individual leader and the organizational system in which that leader works.
ECCP is especially valuable for Organization Development professionals, Human Resources professionals and HR Business Partners, Leadership Development and Learning & Development professionals, Talent Management professionals, internal and external consultants, experienced leaders and executives, independent coaches and consultants, and Organizational Effectiveness and Culture Transformation professionals.
You will develop skills in Executive and Leadership Coaching, active listening and powerful questioning, building trust, feedback and accountability, executive presence and emotional intelligence, strategic thinking, leadership assessments, Executive Development Planning, coaching through change, systems thinking, team coaching, succession development, enterprise coaching strategy, and measuring coaching effectiveness.
Many coaching programs focus primarily on the individual coaching conversation. IOD goes further. ECCP integrates Executive Coaching, Organization Development, Leadership Development, Systems Thinking, and Organizational Change, preparing participants to understand both the leader and the organizational environment in which leadership occurs.
Yes. ECCP provides 40 coach-training credits/hours that support your professional journey toward the International Coaching Federation's Associate Certified Coach (ACC) credential.
No. Participants who intend to apply for an ICF credential should confirm and complete all current ICF education, experience, mentor coaching, performance evaluation, examination, and application requirements directly with ICF.
Yes. ECCP includes structured exercises, coaching labs, real-world coaching conversations, feedback from faculty, peers, and coaching partners, reflection, and 30 hours of supervised coaching practice with real coaching clients.
Yes. ECCP prepares you to help leaders navigate transformation, uncertainty, resistance, cultural change, and workforce disruption. The program also addresses change leadership, transformation coaching, organizational resilience, AI workforce transformation, and leading through uncertainty.
ECCP can help you expand your current role, move into a dedicated coaching role, or build a broader consulting practice. Career opportunities include Executive Coach or Leadership Coach, Internal Executive Coach, Executive Development Coach, Leadership Development Consultant or Manager, Organization Development Consultant, Executive Advisor, Independent Coaching Consultant, and Enterprise Coaching Program Leader.
ECCP provides live virtual learning with experienced faculty. The learning process combines evidence-based coaching concepts, coaching demonstrations, structured practice, feedback, reflection, supervised coaching practice, practical assignments, and a culminating program experience.
The future belongs to Executive Coaches who understand leadership, people, organizations, systems, and change, and can help leaders navigate transformation, uncertainty, and the evolving world of work.
ECCP prepares you to coach beyond individual performance by integrating Executive Coaching, Leadership Development, Organization Development, systems thinking, and transformation.
Organization Culture Change or Transformation involves deliberately altering the beliefs, values, behaviors, and norms that define the culture of an organization. Organization Culture Change consulting involves assisting organizations in transforming their existing culture or establishing a new desired culture within the organization. The organizational culture encompasses shared values, beliefs, behaviors, and norms that shape the way people work and interact within an organization. Culture change consultants help organizations identify their current culture, define the desired culture, and create strategies to bridge the gap between the two. They may conduct cultural assessments, facilitate workshops and training programs, develop communication strategies, and provide guidance to leaders and employees on how to align their behaviors and practices with the desired culture. This change is typically aimed at aligning the organizational culture with the company's vision, mission, and strategic objectives. Culture change initiatives often require a shift in leadership style, employee engagement, communication practices, and organizational practices to create a new cultural environment that supports desired outcomes such as increased collaboration, innovation, or adaptability.
Systems Design refers to the process of creating or modifying the systems and processes within an organization to optimize efficiency, productivity, and effectiveness. It involves analyzing the existing systems, identifying areas for improvement, and designing new systems or reconfiguring existing ones to meet organizational goals. Systems design may include aspects such as technology infrastructure, software applications, data management, workflow processes, and automation to enhance operational performance and streamline organizational activities.
Strategic Planning is the process of defining an organization's direction, setting goals, and formulating action plans to achieve those goals. It involves assessing the organization's current state, identifying opportunities and challenges, and developing strategies to effectively allocate resources and achieve the desired outcomes. Strategic planning typically includes analyzing the external environment, conducting internal assessments, setting objectives, formulating strategies, and establishing a framework for monitoring and adapting to changes in the business landscape. Strategy consulting services focus on assisting organizations in formulating and implementing strategic plans to achieve their long-term objectives. Strategy consultants also help organizations align their vision, mission, values, processes, and organizational structure with the strategic goals.
Organization Change Management (OCM) Strategy refers to the planned approach or roadmap that an organization follows to implement and manage changes within its structure, processes, technologies, or culture. OCM strategies involve identifying the need for change, setting goals, creating a plan, and executing and evaluating the change process. Organization Change Consulting involves developing and implementing effective strategies to manage and navigate organizational change. The consultant focuses on helping organizations transition smoothly from their current state to a desired future state, considering various factors such as technology advancements, market shifts, mergers and acquisitions, or internal restructuring. Consultants specializing in OCM work closely with organizational leaders to identify OCM processes and help implement a consistent approach to change management, and train internal consultants to lead change management projects and provide support throughout the change process. Consultants may develop assessments, develop communication and training programs, and provide guidance on change implementation to ensure successful organizational transitions. OCM design typically includes steps such as stakeholder analysis, communication and training plans, risk assessment, and monitoring progress to ensure a smooth transition and successful adoption of the changes.
DE&I consulting services focus on helping organizations foster a diverse, equitable, and inclusive workplace. Consultants assess the organization's current DE&I initiatives, develop DE&I strategies and policies, conduct training on unconscious bias and cultural competence, establish employee resource groups, and guide leaders in creating inclusive leadership practices. They work with organizations to attract and retain diverse talent, create inclusive hiring processes, and implement programs that promote diversity, equity, and inclusion at all levels. DE&I consultants aim to create an environment where all employees feel valued, respected, and have equal opportunities for growth.
Organization Design or Redesign refers to the process of structuring an organization to align its structure, roles, processes, and systems with its strategic objectives. It involves reviewing and potentially revising elements such as reporting lines, departmental structure, job roles and responsibilities, decision-making processes, and overall organizational hierarchy to optimize efficiency, coordination, and effectiveness within the organization, ensuring that it is well-positioned to achieve its goals. Organization Systems Design or Redesign consulting focuses on designing or restructuring the systems and processes within an organization to optimize efficiency, effectiveness, and overall performance. This service involves analyzing existing organizational systems, such as workflows, communication channels, decision-making processes, and information management systems, to identify areas for improvement. Consultants work closely with organizational leaders to redesign these systems, incorporating best practices, automation, and streamlining processes to enhance productivity and achieve organizational goals. They may also provide recommendations on implementing new technologies or software to support the redesigned systems and ensure successful integration within the organization.
Leadership Development Strategies focus on cultivating effective leaders within an organization. Consultants work with organizations to assess leadership capabilities, identify leadership gaps, and design leadership development programs that enhance leadership skills, competencies, and behaviors. These strategies may include executive education, coaching and mentoring programs, leadership training workshops, and succession planning initiatives. The aim is to build a strong leadership pipeline and foster a culture of leadership excellence throughout the organization.
Team Development Strategies focus on improving the effectiveness and performance of teams within an organization. Consultants work with teams to enhance communication, collaboration, and decision-making processes. They facilitate team-building activities, provide training on effective teamwork and conflict resolution, and help establish clear roles and responsibilities. Team development strategies may also involve conducting assessments to identify team dynamics and strengths, and designing interventions to improve team cohesion, trust, and productivity.
Human resources (HR) consulting services assist organizations in optimizing their HR practices and processes. Consultants work with HR departments to enhance talent acquisition and retention strategies, develop compensation and benefits programs, design performance management systems, implement employee engagement initiatives, and ensure compliance with labor laws and regulations. They may also provide guidance on organizational restructuring, workforce planning, employee relations, and HR technology implementation. HR consultants help organizations align their HR practices with business objectives and create a positive and productive work environment.
Organizational Change Management (OCM) Consulting helps organizations navigate and implement significant changes in structure, processes, technology, or culture. It involves developing a structured approach to change by identifying the need for transformation, setting goals, and executing a comprehensive change strategy. Consultants work closely with leaders and teams to assess impact, design communication and training programs, and ensure employee adoption and buy-in. OCM consultants address resistance, cultural shifts, and behavioral challenges while fostering a positive change culture. They provide ongoing guidance throughout the change process, ensuring a smooth transition and sustainable adoption of new systems, processes, or structures. OCM design typically includes stakeholder analysis, risk assessment, progress monitoring, and leadership training to enable internal change management capabilities. By leveraging strategic planning and expert support, organizations can successfully manage transitions and drive long-term success.
Organizational development (OD) consulting services focus on helping leaders lead change initiatives to improving organizational effectiveness and results. Consultants work closely with leaders to assess the organization's current state, identify areas for improvement, create action plans and design interventions, and implement changes to enhance employee engagement, teamwork, leadership development, and organizational culture. They facilitate strategic planning, conduct organizational assessments, and implement initiatives such as talent management, succession planning, performance management, and employee training and development programs. OD consultants aim to align people, processes, and systems to drive sustainable organizational growth and change.
Employee Engagement Strategies aim to create a work environment where employees feel motivated, committed, and connected to the organization. Consultants assist organizations in measuring employee engagement levels, identifying factors that influence engagement, and developing strategies to enhance it. These strategies may include initiatives such as fostering a positive work culture, improving communication and recognition practices, providing opportunities for growth and development, promoting work-life balance, and empowering employees to contribute their ideas and opinions. The goal is to create a work environment that fosters high employee morale, satisfaction, and productivity.
Performance Management involves establishing systems and processes to monitor, assess, and improve employee performance. Consultants work with organizations to design and implement performance management frameworks that align with organizational goals and values. This includes setting clear performance expectations, defining key performance indicators (KPIs), establishing regular feedback and coaching mechanisms, conducting performance evaluations, and linking performance outcomes to rewards and recognition. Performance management systems aim to drive individual and team performance, align employee efforts with organizational objectives, and support employee development.
Career Planning/High Potentials initiatives involve designing strategies and programs to support employees in planning and advancing their careers within the organization. Consultants work with organizations to establish career development frameworks, provide guidance on career paths and progression opportunities, and assist in identifying and nurturing high-potential employees. They may offer career counseling, development planning, and training programs to enhance employees' skills, competencies, and knowledge needed for career growth. Career planning initiatives aim to engage and retain talented individuals by providing them with a clear path for advancement and professional development.
Job Redesign/Analysis is the process of reevaluating and modifying job roles and responsibilities to optimize efficiency, productivity, and employee satisfaction. Consultants analyze existing job descriptions, tasks, and workflows to identify opportunities for improvement. They may conduct job analyses to determine essential skills, competencies, and qualifications required for each role. Based on these findings, consultants provide recommendations for job redesign, such as clarifying roles and responsibilities, redistributing tasks, and implementing automation or technology solutions to streamline processes and enhance job satisfaction.
Executive Coaching, Competency Development, and 360 Feedback are individual-focused strategies that aim to enhance leadership and professional effectiveness. Consultants provide executive coaching services to senior leaders, offering personalized guidance, support, and feedback to help leaders develop their strengths, address developmental areas, and enhance their leadership capabilities. Competency development involves identifying and developing specific skills and competencies required for success in particular roles or functions. 360-degree feedback involves collecting feedback from multiple sources, including peers, subordinates, and superiors, to provide a comprehensive assessment of an individual's strengths and areas for improvement.
Culture Strategies focus on shaping and transforming the organizational culture to create a positive and productive work environment. Consultants assist organizations in assessing their current culture, identifying areas for improvement, and developing strategies to align the culture with the desired values, behaviors, and goals. This may involve initiatives such as defining core values, establishing cultural norms, enhancing communication and collaboration practices, promoting diversity and inclusion, and fostering a culture of continuous learning and innovation.
Talent Management Strategies involve designing and implementing initiatives to attract, develop, engage, and retain top talent within an organization. Consultants work with organizations to develop comprehensive talent management strategies that encompass recruitment and selection processes, onboarding programs, performance management systems, career development frameworks, succession planning, and employee retention strategies. The goal is to ensure the organization has the right people in the right roles, with opportunities for growth and development that align with their skills and aspirations.
Mentoring Programs involve establishing formal or informal relationships between experienced employees (mentors) and less experienced employees (mentees) within an organization. Consultants assist organizations in designing and implementing mentoring programs that facilitate knowledge transfer, skill development, and career growth. They establish mentoring guidelines, match mentors and mentees based on specific criteria, provide training and resources for mentors, and monitor the progress of the mentoring relationships. Mentoring programs aim to enhance employee development, engagement, and retention by leveraging the expertise and wisdom of experienced professionals.
Succession Planning is the process of identifying and developing internal talent to fill key leadership positions within an organization when they become vacant. Consultants work with organizations to create succession planning strategies that align with the organization's long-term goals. They assess the current talent pool, identify high-potential employees, and design development programs to groom them for future leadership roles. Succession planning may involve creating development plans, providing leadership training, and implementing strategies to ensure a smooth transition when key positions need to be filled.