Post 5: Subjectivity in Assessments - The Role of Assessor Bias

The Impact of Assessor Bias

Assessments are inherently subjective, influenced by the perspectives and biases of the assessors. This subjectivity can impact the evaluation of your coaching skills and create a sense of unpredictability in the credentialing process.

Understanding Assessor Bias

Assessors, despite their training, bring personal experiences, preferences, and biases to their evaluations. These biases can stem from cultural backgrounds, coaching philosophies, or even personal moods. While ICF works hard to standardize assessments, complete objectivity is challenging to achieve.

Stories of Subjectivity

I've worked with coaches who received vastly different feedback on similar sessions from different assessors. One coach, Emma, was praised for her direct communication by one assessor but found it too blunt by another. This inconsistency can be frustrating and demotivating.

Mitigating the Impact of Bias

• Diverse Feedback: Seek feedback from a diverse group of mentors and peers. This can provide a more balanced view of your skills.

• Self-Assessment: Develop a strong ability to self-assess against ICF core competencies. This internal benchmark can help you navigate external feedback.

• Open Dialogue: Engage in open dialogue with assessors when possible. Understanding their perspectives can provide insights into your evaluations.

Conclusion

Assessor bias is an unavoidable aspect of the credentialing process, but by diversifying your sources of feedback and maintaining a strong self-assessment practice, you can mitigate its impact. Our next post will focus on the importance of growth and continuous learning in your coaching journey.