Elevate your professional development and your reputation with the support of WABC’s global community. WABC Full Membership is our professional advanced level membership and is ideal for experienced and active business coaches.
WABC Full Membership is our professional advanced level membership for individuals. It recognizes those who are experienced business coaches, who are active practitioners in the field and who represent many professional roles (e.g., leader, manager, internal or external business coach, external consultant).
WABC’s individual memberships are professional level. Because of our specialized work as business coaches, an appropriate professional background from working within businesses and organizations is essential to ground your business coaching in real-world situations. Accordingly, your professional experience is the foundation for pursuing all WABC membership levels.
You can gather these 5 references yourself or ask your employer (or the person managing your coaching contract) to submit declarations about your references. Instructions and templates to fulfill this references requirement will be provided.
Your application must include a current résumé/CV or outline verifying your background experience. Please also familiarize yourself with our Credential Verification Policy.
*If you have not enrolled in or successfully completed an appropriate formal business coaching training program or assessment (WABC Accredited routes highly preferred), then you may be asked to participate in a membership eligibility interview.
As the business coaching industry has evolved, having an evidence-based business coaching credential is often expected by diverse clients in markets around the world. Virtually all current WABC members hold at least one WABC credential because our clients understand that our work is specialized and requires the right experience, skills and knowledge. Currently WABC offers two levels of membership for active business coaches at various stages in their careers.
WABC seeks to have an inclusive member community, and base our requirements on business experience, coaching experience and references. If you wish to be considered for membership and do not hold a WABC evidence-based business coaching credential, you may still apply for membership and must participate in an in-depth membership interview to further assess your eligibility and ability to meet WABC’s core standards and policies.
Yes. Your WABC membership is connected to you as an individual, not your organization, and is fully portable should your employment change and you continue to meet WABC’s eligibility requirements.
The membership term is valid for one year from the date your application is approved and your full payment is processed.
Memberships are required to be renewed on an annual basis.
You may request a refund of your membership fees, less the applicable administrative fee, within the first 30 days of membership at any level with these exceptions and conditions:
Since WABC has historically had an extremely low rate of new member withdrawal, members requesting refunds are asked to participate in a short exit survey.
There are no refunds available for renewing members.
After you become a WABC member, you’ll get access to a digital badge to easily verify and promote your membership on websites, email signatures and other marketing materials.
It’s dependent on the type of credential you hold. To maintain your CBC™, CMBC® or ChBC® credential, you must meet these two ongoing requirements, which both require fees:
Yes! It’s common for program participants to join WABC while they’re taking a WABC Accredited program. Please keep in mind that if you join during your program and allow your membership to lapse prior to program completion, you’ll be required to rejoin WABC and pay the associated fees before receiving the applicable WABC credential.
The length of time you to have to join depends on the level of the program and credential:
In all cases, graduates of WABC Accredited programs must meet all WABC’s standards for membership at the time they submit their applications and agree to all applicable terms and policies.
The general process to apply for WABC Full Membership
Our WABC Full Member Standards fully describe the requirements for this level.
We’ll first ask you some pre-qualifying questions to ensure this membership level is right for you. If it is, the application will ask you about your business coaching activities and other related information. Your application will be supplemented by an appropriate résumé or CV and five references. (You may be exempted from providing the supplemental information. See RÉSUMÉ & REFERENCES.)
We offer a variety of ways to make payment (e.g., credit or debit cards).
Are you currently pursuing a WABC credential?
If yes, click here.
We look forward to having you as our member. If you are already enrolled in a WABC Accredited program to earn RCC™, CBC™, CMBC® or ChBC®, please check with your trainer or employer to determine if joining arrangements have already been made on your behalf. If you’re not sure, please Contact WABC and we’ll be happy to guide you along at this early stage and before you start the application process.
If you are currently enrolled in, or have graduated from a WABC Accredited program, then you are exempted from providing a résumé or CV.
If you are currently enrolled in, or have graduated from a WABC Accredited program, then you will be exempted from providing five verifiable references if the training provider has screened for WABC Full Membership.
Our review commences once all required information (e.g., application, résumé or CV, five references) and payment is received. The full review time period is varied as it depends on when all suitable references are received, if additional information is required and if WABC is observing a bank holiday or scheduled break. See WABC’s office closure dates.
As the world’s leading business coaching association, sharing your affiliation with WABC can build your professional reputation. Our new membership and promo packages are designed to enhance your credibility, verify the authenticity of your affiliation, and share your accomplishment with your network.
Available to graduates of WABC Accredited Level 1 programs only
OPTION1:
US$540
WABC Full Membership™
+ NEW Membership Promo Package
+ NEW RCC Promo Package
OPTION 2:
US$505
WABC Full Membership™
+ NEW RCC Promo Package
Available to graduates of WABC Accredited Level 2 programs only
OPTION 1:
US$540
WABC Full Membership™
+ NEW Membership Promo Package
+ NEW CBC Promo Package
OPTION 2:
US$505
WABC Full Membership™
+ NEW CBC Promo Package
Available to graduates of WABC Accredited Level 3 programs only
OPTION 1:
US$540
WABC Full Membership™
+ NEW Membership Promo Package
+ NEW CMBC Promo Package
OPTION 2:
US$505
WABC Full Membership™
+ NEW CMBC Promo Package
Available to graduates of WABC Accredited Level 4 programs only
OPTION 1:
US$540
WABC Full Membership™
+ NEW Membership Promo Package
+ NEW ChBC Promo Package
OPTION 2:
US$505
WABC Full Membership™
+ NEW ChBC Promo Package
OPTION 1:
US$505
WABC Full Membership™
+ NEW Membership Promo Package
Available to graduates of WABC Accredited Level 1, Level 2, Level 3 and Level 4 programs only
New Members
Individuals may request a refund of their membership fee, less the applicable promo package(s) and administrative fees, within the first 30 days of membership at any level with these exceptions and conditions:
Since WABC has historically had an extremely low rate of new member withdrawal, members requesting refunds are asked to participate in a short exit survey.
Renewing Members
No refunds are available.
Please review the Terms of Membership for more details.
I have been a member of many professional associations of the years, and none have made as strong of an impression as the Worldwide Association of Business Coaches.
What impressed me the most about the WABC is the level and quality of interaction from leadership. A website inquiry led to a personal call from the WABC founder, Wendy Johnson. She took a personal interest and gave sound guidance regarding membership options, as well as credentialing suggestions and explained the unique value of business coaching, which had been my focal point. This personal touch was a fresh and welcome approach, instantly making me feel a sense of belonging. There are a myriad of coaching avenues, but it was divine intervention and a fellow Registered Corporate Coach™ (RCC™) who led me to WABC.
As a member of WABC, I truly feel part of a family of exceptional highly professional colleagues dedicated to delivering the highest standards in Business Coaching. I have expanded on my prior experience and knowledge, incorporating models, processes and understanding using evidence-based standards that are sound, reputable, relevant and, especially in these times, critical for organizations and leaders.
WABC offers a wealth of business coaching support, through networks, directory exposure, resources, along with foundational tools for coach development, executive education, and coaching selling platforms, but the personal touch is what is by far the most unique in the industry.
I am honored to be WABC credentialed and vetted. Yes, membership requires a precise verification of all third-party credentials, which adds tremendous credibility and value to WABC’s Business Coach Locator directory. After years of confusion around certification and affiliation, I am forever grateful to WABC for the challenge, knowledge, and opportunity to obtain a greater depth of neuroscience and evidence-based methodologies that allows me to grow my passion for coaching and to serve clients alongside a sophisticated coaching community.
I have been associated with WABC since 2010 when I chose to pursue the Registered Corporate Coach™ credential. A WABC credential best suits my needs because this association continues to stand out as the leading global authority on business coaching, complete with evidence-based standards and best practices.
Having a formal, globally recognized business coaching credential is important to me since I use business coaching practices daily within my international association. With the variety of credentials available through WABC, I can continue my professional development at every stage of my career. I’ve now also achieved WABC’s highest credential, Chartered Business Coach®, which reflects the high level of coaching and client engagement that I now practice.
My relationship with WABC is enhanced by my relationship with its founder, Wendy Johnson. She lives the values embodied within the WABC ethics, integrity and competencies. Her guidance, wisdom and perspective are anchors for my continuous growth as a member, and I am inspired to think bigger and better while always pursuing excellence. Wendy is a trusted colleague and I am so grateful to know her through WABC.
Having been in the coaching business for nearly 20 years, I have seen the coaching sector grow exponentially and witnessed the rise of many professional bodies. I am an advocate for WABC as there is a beautiful clarity that sits at the essence of all they do—they serve the needs of business coaches. This is in a large part to the clarity of leadership provided by Wendy Johnson, unwavering in her vision and boundaries about WABC’s place in the coaching world.
As a professional business coach, I can tell my clients that I am a member of a credible business coach professional body which acknowledges and recognizes the needs of coaches working in their sector. I have found the experience of re-certification a rigorous and provocative activity which has had me reflect meaningfully on my coaching practice. The benefit of this is being able to tell my clients, with integrity, that I have earned the right and provided the evidence to retain my WABC certification which is additive to my business coaching credentials.
The WABC Certified Business Coach™ (CBC™) and especially the WABC Certified Master Business Coach® (CMBC®) have set my coaching practice on a much higher plane of professionalism and utility. WABC holds their members to a very high level of standards, education and development that differentiate them in the business coaching industry.
WABC is the only coaching association to set standards exclusively for business coaching throughout the world, and it has been my go-to source for consideration of best practice in my business coaching endeavors. I appreciate the exquisite attention to detail, singular focus and evidence-based rigor this association provides to its practitioners. Although there are many fine associations in the coaching industry, for my professional needs, WABC is the best source for me.
That excellence is due primarily to its founder, Wendy Johnson. Wendy is passionate about ‘good business’ in every form and business coaching in particular. She knows more about coaching than most of us in the industry ever will, and yet makes it her goal to continue to learn more each day. Aside from the outstanding association she’s built, I enjoy working with Wendy because she exemplifies the qualities I admire most—integrity, trustworthiness, commitment to excellence and a kind heart. I recommend her unreservedly, both as a businesswoman and as a person.
and access our global community
with exclusive thought leadership and resources
and help build coaching excellence
Elevate your professional development and your reputation with the support of WABC’s global community. WABC Affiliate Membership is our professional entry-level membership and is ideal for emerging, new and part-time active business coaches.
WABC Affiliate Membership is our professional entry-level membership for individuals. It recognizes those who are emerging, new and part-time business coaches and who represent many professional roles (e.g., leader, manager, internal or external business coach, external consultant). It’s also suitable for those who can’t quite meet the requirements for higher membership.
Once you are accepted as a WABC Affiliate Member, you can upgrade to higher levels of membership once you qualify and at any time during your membership term or at the time of your renewal.
WABC’s individual memberships are professional level. Even though WABC Affiliate Membership is entry-level, because of our specialized work as business coaches, an appropriate professional background from working within businesses and organizations is essential to ground your business coaching in real-world situations. Accordingly, your professional experience is the foundation for pursuing all WABC membership levels.
Your application must include a current résumé/CV or outline verifying your background experience. Please also familiarize yourself with our Credential Verification Policy.
*Means you intend to provide business coaching services over the next year, or are in the first 3 years of a business coaching practice, or have fewer clients than required for WABC Full Membership™.
** If you have not enrolled in or successfully completed an appropriate formal business coaching training program or assessment (WABC Accredited routes highly preferred), then you may be asked to participate in a membership eligibility interview.
As the business coaching industry has evolved, having an evidence-based business coaching credential is often expected by diverse clients in markets around the world. Virtually all current WABC members hold at least one WABC credential because our clients understand that our work is specialized and requires the right experience, skills and knowledge. Currently WABC offers two levels of membership for active business coaches at various stages in their careers.
WABC seeks to have an inclusive member community, and base our requirements on business experience, coaching experience and references. If you wish to be considered for membership and do not hold a WABC evidence-based business coaching credential, you may still apply for membership and must participate in an in-depth membership interview to further assess your eligibility and ability to meet WABC’s core standards and policies.
Yes. Your WABC membership is connected to you as an individual, not your organization, and is fully portable should your employment change and you continue to meet WABC’s eligibility requirements.
The membership term is valid for one year from the date your application is approved and your full payment is processed.
Memberships are required to be renewed on an annual basis.
You may request a refund of your membership fees, less the applicable administrative fee, within the first 30 days of membership at any level with these exceptions and conditions:
Since WABC has historically had an extremely low rate of new member withdrawal, members requesting refunds are asked to participate in a short exit survey.
There are no refunds available for renewing members.
After you become a WABC member, you’ll get access to a digital badge to easily verify and promote your membership on websites, email signatures and other marketing materials.
It’s dependent on the type of credential you hold. To maintain your CBC™, CMBC® or ChBC® credential, you must meet these two ongoing requirements, which both require fees:
Yes! It’s common for program participants to join WABC while they’re taking a WABC Accredited program. Please keep in mind that if you join during your program and allow your membership to lapse prior to program completion, you’ll be required to rejoin WABC and pay the associated fees before receiving the applicable WABC credential.
The length of time you to have to join depends on the level of the program and credential:
In all cases, graduates of WABC Accredited programs must meet all WABC’s standards for membership at the time they submit their applications and agree to all applicable terms and policies.
The general process to apply for WABC Affiliate Membership
Our WABC Affiliate Member Standards fully describe the requirements for this level.
We’ll first ask you some pre-qualifying questions to ensure this membership level is right for you. If it is, the application will ask you about your business coaching activities and other related information. Your application will be supplemented by an appropriate résumé or CV. (You may be exempted from providing the supplemental information. See RÉSUMÉ.)
We offer a variety of ways to make payment (e.g., credit or debit cards).
Are you currently pursuing a WABC credential?
If yes, click here.
We look forward to having you as our member. If you are already enrolled in a WABC Accredited program to earn either RCC™ or CBC™*, please check with your trainer or employer to determine if joining arrangements have already been made on your behalf. If you’re not sure, please Contact WABC and we’ll be happy to guide you along at this early stage and before you start the application process.
*If you are already enrolled in a WABC Accredited program to earn either CMBC® or ChBC®, you will need to join us as a WABC Full Member™. As explained above, please first check in with your trainer or employer before starting the application process.
If you are currently enrolled in, or have graduated from a WABC Accredited program, then you are exempted from providing a résumé or CV.
Our review commences once all required information (e.g., application, résumé or CV if required) and payment is received. The full review generally takes 1 – 2 business days unless additional information is required and/or WABC is observing a bank holiday or scheduled break. See WABC’s office closure dates.
As the world’s leading business coaching association, sharing your affiliation with WABC can build your professional reputation. Our new membership and promo packages are designed to enhance your credibility, verify the authenticity of your affiliation, and share your accomplishment with your network.
Available to graduates of WABC Accredited Level 1 programs only
OPTION 1:
US$340
WABC Affiliate Membership™
+ NEW Membership Promo Package
+ NEW RCC Promo Package
OPTION 2:
US$305
WABC Affiliate Membership™
+ NEW RCC Promo Package
Available to graduates of WABC Accredited Level 2 programs only
OPTION 1:
US$340
WABC Affiliate Membership™
+ NEW Membership Promo Package
+ NEW CBC Promo Package
OPTION 2:
US$305
WABC Affiliate Membership™
+ NEW CBC Promo Package
OPTION 1:
US$305
WABC Affiliate Membership™
+ NEW Membership Promo Package
Available to graduates of WABC Accredited Level 1 and Level 2 programs only
New Members
Individuals may request a refund of their membership fee, less the applicable promo package(s) and administrative fees, within the first 30 days of membership at any level with these exceptions and conditions:
Since WABC has historically had an extremely low rate of new member withdrawal, members requesting refunds are asked to participate in a short exit survey.
Renewing Members
No refunds are available.
Please review the Terms of Membership for more details.
I have been a member of many professional associations of the years, and none have made as strong of an impression as the Worldwide Association of Business Coaches.
What impressed me the most about the WABC is the level and quality of interaction from leadership. A website inquiry led to a personal call from the WABC founder, Wendy Johnson. She took a personal interest and gave sound guidance regarding membership options, as well as credentialing suggestions and explained the unique value of business coaching, which had been my focal point. This personal touch was a fresh and welcome approach, instantly making me feel a sense of belonging. There are a myriad of coaching avenues, but it was divine intervention and a fellow Registered Corporate Coach™ (RCC™) who led me to WABC.
As a member of WABC, I truly feel part of a family of exceptional highly professional colleagues dedicated to delivering the highest standards in Business Coaching. I have expanded on my prior experience and knowledge, incorporating models, processes and understanding using evidence-based standards that are sound, reputable, relevant and, especially in these times, critical for organizations and leaders.
WABC offers a wealth of business coaching support, through networks, directory exposure, resources, along with foundational tools for coach development, executive education, and coaching selling platforms, but the personal touch is what is by far the most unique in the industry.
I am honored to be WABC credentialed and vetted. Yes, membership requires a precise verification of all third-party credentials, which adds tremendous credibility and value to WABC’s Business Coach Locator directory. After years of confusion around certification and affiliation, I am forever grateful to WABC for the challenge, knowledge, and opportunity to obtain a greater depth of neuroscience and evidence-based methodologies that allows me to grow my passion for coaching and to serve clients alongside a sophisticated coaching community.
I have been associated with WABC since 2010 when I chose to pursue the Registered Corporate Coach™ credential. A WABC credential best suits my needs because this association continues to stand out as the leading global authority on business coaching, complete with evidence-based standards and best practices.
Having a formal, globally recognized business coaching credential is important to me since I use business coaching practices daily within my international association. With the variety of credentials available through WABC, I can continue my professional development at every stage of my career. I’ve now also achieved WABC’s highest credential, Chartered Business Coach®, which reflects the high level of coaching and client engagement that I now practice.
My relationship with WABC is enhanced by my relationship with its founder, Wendy Johnson. She lives the values embodied within the WABC ethics, integrity and competencies. Her guidance, wisdom and perspective are anchors for my continuous growth as a member, and I am inspired to think bigger and better while always pursuing excellence. Wendy is a trusted colleague and I am so grateful to know her through WABC.
Having been in the coaching business for nearly 20 years, I have seen the coaching sector grow exponentially and witnessed the rise of many professional bodies. I am an advocate for WABC as there is a beautiful clarity that sits at the essence of all they do—they serve the needs of business coaches. This is in a large part to the clarity of leadership provided by Wendy Johnson, unwavering in her vision and boundaries about WABC’s place in the coaching world.
As a professional business coach, I can tell my clients that I am a member of a credible business coach professional body which acknowledges and recognizes the needs of coaches working in their sector. I have found the experience of re-certification a rigorous and provocative activity which has had me reflect meaningfully on my coaching practice. The benefit of this is being able to tell my clients, with integrity, that I have earned the right and provided the evidence to retain my WABC certification which is additive to my business coaching credentials.
The WABC Certified Business Coach™ (CBC™) and especially the WABC Certified Master Business Coach® (CMBC®) have set my coaching practice on a much higher plane of professionalism and utility. WABC holds their members to a very high level of standards, education and development that differentiate them in the business coaching industry.
WABC is the only coaching association to set standards exclusively for business coaching throughout the world, and it has been my go-to source for consideration of best practice in my business coaching endeavors. I appreciate the exquisite attention to detail, singular focus and evidence-based rigor this association provides to its practitioners. Although there are many fine associations in the coaching industry, for my professional needs, WABC is the best source for me.
That excellence is due primarily to its founder, Wendy Johnson. Wendy is passionate about ‘good business’ in every form and business coaching in particular. She knows more about coaching than most of us in the industry ever will, and yet makes it her goal to continue to learn more each day. Aside from the outstanding association she’s built, I enjoy working with Wendy because she exemplifies the qualities I admire most—integrity, trustworthiness, commitment to excellence and a kind heart. I recommend her unreservedly, both as a businesswoman and as a person.
and access our global community
with exclusive thought leadership and resources
and help build coaching excellence
We offer four WABC Accredited levels for maximum impact. WABC Accredited signifies that your offering is among the world’s most elite and rigorous business coaching training programs. For those seeking training that readies them for real-world business challenges, no other program distinction compares.
WABC knows that business coaching training must meet the rapidly changing demands facing businesses and organizations of all kinds around the world. To meet this need, WABC offers program accreditation at four levels.
The four WABC Accredited levels cover the full breadth and depth of development and professional offering in business coaching—practitioner, advanced, master and elite.
To earn any of the four levels, programs must be delivered at a professional level of engagement and must meet our professional standards and rigorous assessment process.
WABC Accredited is only available to training programs that offer business coaching as the main focus of their curriculum. This means over 75% of the learning hours within the program must be focused on the practice, theory and/or research of business coaching.
We accept applications from trainers who offer either:
Even if your program is brand new, or requires significant changes to meet WABC’s standards, you may still be eligible to register in our WABC program accreditation process.
Every applicant program must:
Level 1
Level 1 programs develop practitioner business coaches. Such programs focus on the practical elements of business coaching for participants with limited previous experience in formal focused coaching skills training, or with some experience that they wish to consolidate fully with best practice.
Level 2
Level 2 programs develop advanced business coaches. Such programs focus on consolidating technical skills and also encouraging the development of a sound theoretical underpinning to enable their participants to provide a full professional scope of practice and to work to more diverse agendas.
Level 3
Level 3 programs develop master business coaches who may also choose to specialize. Such programs fully explore, and provide critical engagement with, current approaches, methodologies and theories underpinning the work of business coaches to enable their participants to work to an open agenda that may have a more indirect impact on business outcomes.
Level 4
Level 4 programs develop elite business coaches who represent the highest level of professional practice. Such programs provide an in-depth process that facilitates an intensive examination based on advanced robust methodologies to enable their participants to demonstrate their senior expertise in operating at this level.
Organizations and businesses of all kinds have new challenges to face in our quickly changing global environments. Success today requires advancing on many fronts simultaneously, including facing new industry entrants and disruptors, adapting to customer demands, competing to attract and retain top talent, and establishing clarity of vision through tumultuous times. Leading organizations know business coaching is essential to support the alignment between organizational goals and the leaders, teams and individuals responsible for driving their success.
Organizations have new challenges to face in our quickly changing global environments. Success today requires advancing on many fronts simultaneously, including facing new industry entrants and disruptors, adapting to customer demands, competing to attract and retain top talent, and establishing clarity of vision through tumultuous times.
As these challenges grow increasingly intertwined, traditional siloed thinking lacks the relevance to operate effectively in this new context. It takes enduring commitment to continuously focus on the right business initiatives at the right time, find the precise balance of objectives, resources and timing, and build transparency and accountability at all levels of an organization to realize sustained success.
This shift requires new knowledge and skills. Developing a learning mindset, building resilience and adopting adaptability are key to driving growth, innovation and peak performance from leaders, teams and individuals alike. Achieving organizational goals requires alignment and accountability at every level of an organization.
As organizations rise to meet these demands and realize their strategic intents, business coaching can support the alignment between organizational goals and the leaders, teams and individuals responsible for driving their success.
Business coaching impacts individuals, teams and the organizations they work within. A business coach will leverage their expertise to build on the current state of both the organization and the individuals within it, to enhance performance and leadership potential. It is a role that is, by nature, supportive, disruptive and progressive.
Business coaching is distinct in that it addresses the needs of both the individual and the organization they work within. This distinction makes business coaching a unique discipline within the world of coaching more broadly. Business coaches can go by many names—including executive coach, organizational coach, leadership coach, or corporate coach—yet each one focuses on the shared business goals and objectives of both the client and the organization. This dual focus separates business coaching as a distinct practice from all other kinds of coaching.
Business coaches support organizational goals and objectives, at an individual or team level, by identifying opportunities and supporting clients in their actions to achieve results. The business coach’s role can take on many forms—it can be supportive, disruptive and progressive to encourage insights, development, change and growth.
Business coaching is industry agnostic, meaning the competencies of an effective business coach can be applied to any sectors or industries. Some business coaches may choose to specialize and offer their services in a particular industry. This is especially true with WABC business coaches, as they are required to have business and organizational experience before earning their WABC credentials.
Business coaches are strategic partners who build your business and operational success. Among the broad array of service offerings, business coaches may help:
Business coaching engagements can be initiated for many reasons—ultimately, the goal is to remove roadblocks or challenges or to stimulate new insights or pathways so a business, company or organization can achieve its full potential and sustain or grow its market position.
Business coaching helps leaders, individuals and teams respond more effectively to change and accept greater accountability. It is often used to help high-performers reach even greater success as they engage with new opportunities for growth, at both a professional and organizational level.
An internal manager is taking over a new team and wants to understand how to integrate into an existing dynamic and build trust.
A business coach can help facilitate a smooth transition and provide the leader with clarity on how to build a vision and engage their team effectively.
An organization is going through a business transformation related to their goals, processes or technologies.
A business coach can help manage change effectively by implementing strategies to support the transition and adoption of the new priorities.
A president or CEO is ready to step down and is looking to build a succession plan to ready the organization for a significant leadership change.
A business coach can help the leader transition their expertise and knowledge effectively, and build clarity of vision while navigating a complex leadership handover.
If a team isn’t working well together, performance challenges and missed targets are common symptoms of underlying tension and lack of trust.
Business coaches can work with both individuals and teams to improve their dynamic, build trust with one another and find new ways to collaborate to increase productivity.
Supporting mental health is instrumental in retaining top performers and building an optimal, innovative work environment.
A business coach can improve employees’ understanding of how they contribute to an organization’s priorities, how to maintain an appropriate work/life balance, and how to be more authentic and open within the workplace.
The Worldwide Association of Business Coaches (WABC) leads the business coaching industry in identifying the qualities, actions and skills you need to drive leading business outcomes and harness emerging opportunities.
As the industry leader since 1997, WABC has elevated business coaching practices worldwide and helped countless coaches, clients and companies successfully navigate complexity and achieve tangible business results.
Our global community spans more than 125 countries, and includes business coaches who work with entrepreneurs, managers, CEOs, presidents and professionals from all industries, all sectors, and all organizational sizes.
Enhance your customer service experience and build trust and loyalty with clients. Business coaching can help improve relationships and align individuals’ actions more closely with performance goals.
Drive performance with your team by strengthening internal engagement to drive greater innovation and more insightful decision-making. Improve the confidence, emotional intelligence and communication skills to motivate team members towards better performance.
Improve your organization’s ability to more effectively deliver on your mission to the communities you serve. Boost creativity, innovation and accountability for your programs, and more clearly articulate the need in ways that resonate with the public.
Increase the efficacy of your program delivery by thinking more strategically and spotting opportunities that drive greater results. Build support more effectively, both within your organization and with external partners and stakeholders.
Gather the right information from clients by asking more insightful questions and tailoring your approach more effectively. Guide your clients towards clarity by offering clear, strategic intent.
Build trusted partnerships founded on advice, authenticity and a sense of being in your client’s corner. Enhance your strategic deliverables with solutions that address clients’ challenges realistically and effectively.
Strengthen the ability to identify client needs and get to the root cause of operational challenges more effectively. Gain a wider strategic view on how technology infrastructure supports business and operational strategy.
Build organizational roadmaps that take into account the diverse requirements across departments. Equip teams with the relationship-building skills and empathy needed to drive stakeholder satisfaction.
Increase employee focus by fostering a positive working environment through setting clear expectations of organizational priorities and safety. Align business objectives and team priorities more closely by equipping leaders with the skills to manage their teams more effectively.
Improve your customer service experience with increased loyalty and customer satisfaction. Build a supportive and respectful culture that takes into account the importance of a team member’s overall wellbeing, including their mental health.
Business coaching offers many ways to achieve your business objectives and build a business coaching culture within your organization. Take the next step towards achieving sustainable performance improvement with WABC.
Search the WABC Business Coach Locator to find your qualified coaching partner in accelerating your professional or organizational achievement.
Are you a champion of business coaching within your organization and want to introduce WABC to your employer to see what’s possible?
Whether your organization has a business coaching program or is interested in building one, WABC accredits in-house programs to ensure that your employees are trained to coach using the latest research-informed best practice and global standards.
Many organizations see the value in using business coaching to unlock the potential within their organization, but don’t know where to start.
WABC offers a range of consulting and business services to identify opportunities and improve business coaching within organizations.
The Worldwide Association of Business Coaches (WABC) drives business coaching excellence as the global leader in robust, evidence-based practices. We support leaders, coaches, clients and companies with the knowledge, skills and resources to successfully navigate complexity and improve individual and operational performance alike. Our global community elevates all types of organizations, industries, and sectors using business coaching to achieve their strategic organizational and business objectives.
Leading Business Excellence™
WABC is a self-regulating body that behaves as though it is regulated. We set professional standards, a code of ethics and integrity, definitions and competencies that our organization, representatives, members and providers are committed to upholding.
A consistent global standard for business coaching as a distinct discipline is critical to the evolution of our profession and industry.
As the first organization to create evidence-based business coaching standards, we strive to build public trust in WABC business coaches as a reliable and ethical community, committed to upholding rigorous standards and acting in our clients’ best interests.
Our purpose is the ambition underpinning why we exist. As the core philosophy to who we are and why our work matters, our purpose is the foundation that grounds and guides the broader impact we strive to achieve.
WABC understands that to lead is not simply to act, but that the intention of our actions matters most. Leaders must be accountable to those we serve, and our values, ethics and integrity must align with the impact we want to create—for people, for the planet and for the common good.
At WABC, we are committed to unifying business leadership by establishing the highest global standards for business coaches and business coaching training providers available today.
Our purpose is brought to life through our values, which guide how we remain actively committed and accountable to our clients, to one another and to ourselves.
We adapt to key stakeholder and market demands by developing great business coaching services and products. We stay on the leading edge by continually seeking feedback and improving practical value to business coaches, clients, members, providers and other key stakeholders.
We lead the business coaching market with new services and products by actively experimenting and researching new approaches. We continually set bold, new goals that are both strategic and evolutionary to nurture renewal, innovation and high quality.
We celebrate the diverse skills, talents, experiences and cultures of our global community, including business coaches, clients, members, program providers, committees, partners, alliances, executives, advisers and support team. We nurture, develop and grow socially responsible leaders at every level of our association to help realize our purpose in action.
We believe that our business coaching community can achieve anything with the right support behind them. We challenge ourselves to deliver service that is:
We believe that business is a potent force for solving social problems, and that leading with intention demands broad and deep corporate integrity. We strive to conduct our business in ethically, socially and environmentally responsible ways.
Our achievements are only possible when we commit to see them through together. We are loyal partners who commit with respect and gratitude. We stay true to our purpose and values, and do what is right to uphold these values as we navigate both adversity and success.
At WABC, our mission and vision focus our core philosophies of purpose and values into what we aim to achieve, for the business coaches we serve and the distinct industry we represent.
Our mission is to develop, advance and promote the business coaching profession worldwide.
We are committed to enhancing business coaching as a distinct discipline and building awareness, credibility and trust in business coaches everywhere.
We envision a world with a business coach working within every organization, business and government worldwide.
We believe business coaching makes for better leadership, strategic thinking and organizational management. Our goal is to raise the profile of business coaching to become standard best practice for high-performing businesses and organizations.
At WABC, we believe that business is a potent force for solving social problems, and we are committed to building public trust and credibility in business coaching as a global industry.
Business coaches often work with those in a position of leadership, who can greatly influence the business decisions and culture of the organizations they represent. Especially when facing complex dilemmas, business coaches must have the courage to challenge their clients’ perspective and guide them towards ethical choices. Business coaches also need to know when they themselves may be encountering ethical dilemmas and how to reconcile competing interests and agendas.
The unique nature of our role makes it clear that each of us needs to possess a strong ethical orientation as we carry out this important work. It is for this very reason that WABC invested in developing a Code that could match to the challenges we, and our clients, can sometimes face.
The current WABC Code of Business Coaching Ethics and Integrity embodies the highest ethical standards and includes our Principles and our Safe Harbor Conciliation and Adjudication Process. It’s one of the most advanced and comprehensive codes of its kind in the world today, and is one of the key differences that set WABC business coaches apart from other kinds of coaches.
Our Code is reviewed regularly to be relevant to the latest in best practice. It serves to guide not only our day-to-day business interactions and decision making, but also provides direction during uncertain times to help us think deeply about how to conduct all our coaching across business contexts and cultures.
WABC is committed to unifying continued excellence—of bringing business coaches, members, providers, and partners together to share expertise and support colleagues, clients and organizations across the world.
We work alongside businesses and organizations both big and small, and WABC business coaches are united by the principles, philosophies and ideas that give us a common foundation and elevate our practice
Our members represent everything from Fortune 100s to not-for-profits, entrepreneurs and enterprises, start-ups and small businesses. WABC business coaches drive transformations, both big and small, in organizations across sectors, industries and business size, and can support the success of your business too.
Our WABC Accredited program providers voluntarily hold themselves up for ongoing scrutiny against the highest business coaching standards in the world. Fewer than 1% of the world’s business coaching programs have met our standard of accreditation.
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At the heart of WABC is a team of passionate individuals who commit their breadth and depth of their experience and expertise to supporting this vibrant association. We are also supported by committees, task forces and other working groups as needed to further our organizational goals and objectives.
“At WABC, we lead the best by committing to be the best—the best in high standards, quality service, and evidence-based thinking.”
Wendy Johnson is guided by an ethics-based ambitious vision: to have a business coach working within every organization, business and government worldwide.
Leading WABC is the ideal way for Johnson to leverage her passion and precision for the benefit of business coaches worldwide. Since 2002, WABC has become the leading global voice for business coaches, their training providers and their clients.
Under Johnson’s leadership, WABC has:
As a global thought leader in business coaching, Johnson continuously contributes to our community through a wide range of activities including coaching, mentoring, supervising, speaking, writing and reviewing of business coaching books and articles.
Johnson’s background is diverse, with expertise in business coaching, human dynamics, behavioral science and criminal justice. Before building her successful business coaching practice, Johnson ExeC Group, she served as a high-profile investigator, a law enforcement officer and a mental health therapist. These positions deepened Johnson’s commitment to public service, social responsibility and ethical behavior, traits that have defined her work at WABC.
Johnson holds several academic degrees including an MA in Counseling Psychology from the Adler School of Professional Psychology, as well as certifications in mediation, negotiation, conflict analysis, management, interrogation and investigation and business coaching.
“WABC’s steadfast commitment to business coaches, corporate ethics, integrity and evidence-based standards/practices is exactly what organizations worldwide need today.”
Doug Abrahamson brings broad and deep strategic management skills gleaned over decades of experience across multiple organizations and fields of practice.
For over 25 years, Doug has passionately championed the need to improve strategic management and planning skills within the field of public safety and security in Canada, the United States, Australia and the United Arab Emirates. Simultaneously, he has conducted research, authored numerous articles and book chapters, and presented on the need for evidence-based policy and practice, stakeholder engagement, good governance and business coaching within both the public and private sectors.
Doug’s work has given him an opportunity to collaborate with organizations such as Charles Sturt University (AU), the Justice Institute of British Columbia (CA), Rabdan Academy (AE), Saskatchewan Global Transportation Hub Authority (CA), Police Executive Research Forum (US) and the Victoria Police Department (CA).
Doug has an MBA from Royal Roads University (RRU) and a Doctorate of Public Policy from Charles Sturt University (CSU). He maintains his academic standing through his continued role as adjunct faculty with CSU, Honorary Research Associate with the Justice Institute of British Columbia, journal and book/chapter authorship and role as independent peer reviewer for three international academic journals.
“The need for great leadership, capability and confidence has never been greater. At the center of this need is the leader’s willingness to change and evolve to meet the current demands. Business coaching is a change enabler and WABC is the best in class at understanding and supporting this imperative.”
David Kincaid is among North America’s most recognized and respected opinion leaders in the field of brand management. He is the Founder and Managing Partner of Level5 Strategy, one of Canada’s leading strategic brand consultancies.
Prior to starting Level5, David was Chief Marketing Officer at Corus Entertainment where he helped set the organization’s corporate vision, values and positioning. Before Corus, David was Senior Vice-President of Marketing and Strategic Planning at Labatt Breweries of Canada, where he led the company’s expansion into the United States, Mexico and the Dominican Republic with successful turnaround and launches of brands such as Budweiser, Stella Artois and Keith’s.
David has a BA from Queen’s University, is a frequent lecturer and speaker at Canada’s leading business schools and conferences, and serves as Adjunct Professor of Marketing at the Smith School of Business, Queen’s University. In 2013, David was recognized by his industry peers when inducted into the American Marketing Association’s “Marketing Hall of Legends,” and has published two books.
“WABC’s content is developed from a deep understanding of the business coaching domain, the evolving needs of members, and its deep commitment to standards. WABC is positioned to be the go-to source for business coaches around the world.”
Michele Ann Jenkins has been working in web content management since people first realized web content should be managed. She got her start programming medical vocabulary management tools, then joined the San Francisco dotcom frenzy to work on Open Source web content management systems for the burgeoning online publication industry.
With 20 years of web development experience and a strong background in information science, Michele quickly analyzes client and user needs to translate them into actionable strategies that drive user engagement. Focusing in information architecture (IA), usability and content strategy, she finds creative ways to apply IA best practice and builds frameworks that are useful, solid and beautiful.
After many years of travel and working for UN organizations in Europe, she settled down in Montreal, Quebec to focus on information architecture and taxonomy.
Michele has a BA and an MLIS from McGill University, where she has taught courses in Online Community Development and Knowledge Taxonomies.
Steve Lanning and Hal Wright of the United States founded the National Association of Business Coaches (NABC) in 1997. NABC experienced steady growth within the first five years while the business coaching industry became one of the fastest growing professions in North America. NABC was positioned as “the association of choice” for business-focused coaches and the international business market.
To further global growth, NABC sought out a visionary leader to elevate the organization into a prestigious international association. Wendy Johnson of Canada shared the same vision—of an organization who could elevate excellence in business coaching, and unify business leadership throughout the world.
On May 31, 2002, Wendy Johnson transformed NABC into a new privately held federal corporation in Canada, and became WABC Coaches Inc.
WABC Coaches Inc. conducts business as the Worldwide Association of Business Coaches (WABC), and serves and develops business coaching markets around the world.
Elevate your professional development and your reputation with the support of WABC’s global community. WABC offers different levels of professional membership to meet the needs of business coaches and leaders in their fields throughout their careers.
Elevate your professional development and your reputation with the support of WABC’s global community. WABC offers different levels of professional level membership to meet the needs of business coaches and leaders in their fields throughout their careers.
Champion your continued development and industry awareness with access to exclusive thought leadership and research. Connect with professional business coaches from all over the world and amplify your voice as a leader in our industry.
With members from all around the world, our members are committed to business coaching as a distinct profession, with the experience it takes to achieve your coaching potential.
Our members represent everything from Fortune 100s to not-for-profits, entrepreneurs and enterprises, start-ups and small businesses.
Although we work alongside every kind of business and organization, WABC business coaches are united by a commitment to excellence, an ethical compass, and the desire to learn and grow.
Entry Level
Our professional entry level membership is ideal for emerging, new and part-time active business coaches who represent many roles (e.g., leader, manager, internal or external business coach, external consultant).
ADVANCED LEVEL
Our professional advanced level membership is ideal for experienced and active business coaches who represent many roles (e.g., leader, manager, internal or external business coach, external consultant).
