The Competency Staircase
Understanding How Coaches Learn and Develop
This compilation is an educational resource developed by the British School of Coaching. This series is compiled as a foundational resource for coaches in training. Each article introduces a practical coaching tool or model, grounded in theory and supported by real-world application. Whether you’re preparing for ILM coaching qualifications or looking to deepen your understanding of best practice in coaching, this series offers research-informed insights to strengthen your coaching toolkit.
Learning a new skill—whether it’s driving a car or becoming a coach—often follows a predictable emotional and cognitive journey. The Competency Staircase (also known as the Four Stages of Competence model) offers a helpful way to understand the phases of learning, including the discomfort and breakthroughs that accompany growth.
This model is widely used in adult learning and coaching development programmes to help new learners reflect on where they are—and where they’re headed.
Why This Model Matters for Coaches
As a coach in training, recognising your own development process helps you:
- Normalise the feelings of awkwardness, frustration, or doubt
- Persist through the harder phases of learning
- Celebrate progress as you gain confidence and fluency
- Better support your coachees as they learn new behaviours themselves
The Four Stages of Learning
Stage 1: Unconscious Incompetence
At this stage, you don’t know what you don’t know. You may have observed others coaching or been coached yourself—but you haven’t yet grasped the full range of skills, tools, and mindset required. There is no shame in being here; it’s the natural starting point for all learners.
Example: Sitting in the passenger seat, you might think driving looks simple—until you are in the driver’s seat and realise how much there is to manage.
Stage 2: Conscious Incompetence
The moment learning really begins. As you start to practice coaching techniques—like asking open questions, holding silence, or using models—you become sharply aware of how much you don’t yet know. This stage can be overwhelming, even discouraging.
But here’s the key: awareness is progress.
Tip: Stay motivated, seek feedback, and trust that awkwardness is a sign you’re learning.
Stage 3: Conscious Competence
You’re starting to get it. With deliberate focus and repeated practice, you can apply coaching skills effectively. You still need to concentrate—perhaps mentally reviewing models before a session—but your confidence is growing.
At this stage:
- Your sessions begin to flow more naturally
- You recover more easily from missteps
- Feedback becomes a tool for fine-tuning, not just correction
Stage 4: Unconscious Competence
Eventually, coaching skills become second nature. You can focus fully on the client—not the method—because your internalised competence allows you to be present, responsive, and intuitive.
Think of it like driving: once you’ve mastered it, you can navigate traffic, change gears, and stay alert—without consciously thinking about every move.
Why Reflection Is Essential at Every Stage
Coaches must not only learn new skills but also reflect on how they are learning. The staircase is not always linear—coaches may move up and down the stages as they face new challenges or develop new approaches.
Tools such as reflective journals, supervision, and peer feedback help deepen awareness at every stage.
Conclusion
The Competency Staircase offers a reassuring and practical lens for anyone learning to coach. It reminds us that confidence follows conscious effort, and that mastery is not instant—but built through perseverance, practice, and reflection.
Wherever you are on the staircase, keep climbing.
References:
- Howell, W.S. (1982). The Empathic Communicator. Wadsworth Publishing.
- Maslow, A. (1954). Motivation and Personality. Harper & Row.
- Starr, J. (2021). The Coaching Manual. 5th ed. Pearson.
- Kolb, D.A. (1984). Experiential Learning: Experience as the Source of Learning and Development. Prentice Hall.
