Here’s a comprehensive breakdown of the COMENSA Coaching Behavioural Standards Framework, drawn from the official published framework that underpins how coaches are assessed, credentialed and expected to behave professionally in South Africa.

COMENSA Coaching Behavioural Standards Framework

Overview

The COMENSA Behavioural Standards Framework defines the core competencies and behavioural expectations for professional coaches at three credentialing levels:

• CCC — COMENSA Credentialed Coach (Level 1)
  
  

• CSC — COMENSA Senior Coach (Level 2)
  
  

• CMC — COMENSA Master Coach (Level 3)
  
  

It is recognised as the benchmark for quality assurance, ethical coaching practice, and professional behaviour and is used in credentialing assessments.

1. Contracting

1. Coaches negotiate agreements for the coaching interaction including the relationship and process.
   
   

2. CCC: Sets out administrative aspects of the contract only.
   
   

3. CCC: Begins to explore what the client wants to work on.
   
   

4. CCC: Summarises learning and concludes with some evaluation.
   
   

5. CSC: Includes contract implications for both parties.
   
   

6. CSC: Explores client preferences and styles more deeply.
   
   

7. CMC: Aligns agendas of all parties transparently.
   
   

8. CMC: Explores client needs thoroughly and co‑designs success indicators.
   
   

9. CMC: Checks ongoing suitability of the coaching process.
   
   

2. Communicating

10. Coaches use communication skills that create clarity.
    
    

11. CCC: Uses basic clarifying questions.
    
    

12. CCC: Reflects client language to check understanding.
    
    

13. CSC: Demonstrates deeper listening for emotion and meaning.
    
    

14. CSC: Frames questions that stimulate insight.
    
    

15. CMC: Uses language that fosters autonomy and exploration.
    
    

16. CMC: Communicates in a way that creates psychological safety.
    
    

3. Building Trust & Rapport

17. Coaches develop safe relationships grounded in respect.
    
    

18. CCC: Builds rapport through honesty and respectful dialogue.
    
    

19. CSC: Recognises client emotions and responds appropriately.
    
    

20. CSC: Creates mutual understanding through responsive listening.
    
    

21. CMC: Anticipates unspoken needs to nurture trust.
    
    

22. CMC: Uses advanced relational skills to deepen client engagement.
    
    

4. Creating Awareness & Learning

23. Coaches help clients explore assumptions and perspectives.
    
    

24. CCC: Encourages reflection on issues at the surface level.
    
    

25. CCC: Frames learning questions that stimulate thought.
    
    

26. CSC: Expands awareness to underlying patterns and belief systems.
    
    

27. CSC: Encourages exploration beyond the obvious.
    
    

28. CMC: Supports clients to integrate insight into meaning.
    
    

29. CMC: Facilitates learning that redefines identity and potential.
    
    

5. Designing Actions & Accountability

30. Coaches support clients to define action steps.
    
    

31. CCC: Suggests basic actions and checks alignment.
    
    

32. CCC: Encourages simple accountability reflection.
    
    

33. CSC: Co‑designs actions that align with values.
    
    

34. CSC: Tracks progress with deeper client self‑reflection.
    
    

35. CMC: Designs complex integrated plans with meaning and purpose.
    
    

36. CMC: Holds clients accountable while preserving autonomy.
    
    

6. Self‑Management Behavioural Standards

These competencies focus on the coach’s internal capacities and professional maturity.

6a. Building Self‑Awareness

37. Coaches are reflective of their own triggers and biases.
    
    

38. CCC: Notices personal reactions and minimizes interference.
    
    

39. CSC: Uses self‑awareness to enhance presence.
    
    

40. CMC: Integrates self‑insight dynamically in coaching relationships.
    
    

6b. Personal & Professional Growth

41. Coaches actively seek growth opportunities.
    
    

42. CCC: Engages in basic professional development activities.
    
    

43. CSC: Seeks structured learning and reflective practice.
    
    

44. CMC: Leads others in professional and personal growth.
    
    

6c. Maintaining a Coaching Presence

45. Coaches stay grounded and attentive.
    
    

46. CCC: Demonstrates presence through focus and respect.
    
    

47. CSC: Shows resilience and adaptability in sessions.
    
    

48. CMC: Embodies an inviting, secure, and professional presence.
    
    

7. Context Management Behavioural Standards

7. Managing Diversity

49. Coaches respect cultural, personal, and contextual differences.
    
    

50. CCC: Acknowledges diversity in coaching conversations.
    
    

51. CSC: Integrates diversity in language and approach.
    
    

52. CMC: Creates inclusive spaces where diversity enriches learning.
    
    

Core Behavioural Themes Across the Framework

53. Client‑centred focus: Respecting the client’s agenda and autonomy.
    
    

54. Ethics & professionalism: Coaches behave with integrity, honesty, and responsibility.
    
    

55. Reflective practice: Continuous self‑review and growth.
    
    

56. Communicative clarity: Clear, respectful, and empowering communication.
    
    

57. Cultural awareness: Respecting different worldviews and contexts.
    
    

How the Framework Is Used

58. COMENSA credentialing evaluators assess coaches against these standards.
    
    

59. Coaches must demonstrate competence in these behaviours to progress in credential levels.
    
    

60. Training programmes are aligned and benchmarked against this framework.
    
    

61. The framework assures clients that accredited coaches uphold globally recognised professional behaviours.
    
    

Credential Levels & Behaviour Expectations

Designation: COMENSA Credentialed Coach (CCC)

62. Shows foundational understanding of each competency.
    
    

63. Demonstrates respect, clarity, and basic reflective practice.
    
    

64. Begins to integrate client‑centred contracting and communication.
    
    

Designation: COMENSA Senior Coach (CSC)

65. Deepens relational and communication skills.
    
    

66. Integrates diversity and advanced listening.
    
    

67. Guides clients to deeper insight and accountability.
    
    

Designation: COMENSA Master Coach (CMC)

68. Coaches at advanced levels with strategic presence.
    
    

69. Designs high‑impact learning and transformation processes.
    
    

70. Leads and mentors other coaches professionally.
    
    

Behaviour Examples (Illustrative Only)

71. Asking questions that expand client awareness.
    
    

72. Listening for meaning, not just content.
    
    

73. Co‑creating action steps that align with client values.
    
    

74. Reflecting self‑bias and adjusting approach.
    
    

75. Respecting client cultural norms.
    
    

76. Contracting for session goals before exploration.
    
    

77. Demonstrating curiosity rather than judgment.
    
    

78. Designing indicators of success with clients.
    
    

79. Supporting clients to draw their own conclusions.
    
    

80. Maintaining neutrality in emotional conversations.
    
    

Self‑Development & Standards

81. Coaches log their continuous professional development.
    
    

82. Supervision forms part of ongoing professional practice.
    
    

83. Coaches reflect on their own practice regularly.
    
    

84. Growth opportunities are sought intentionally.
    
    

85. Behavioural standards guide ethical decision‑making.
    
    

Ethics & Professional Conduct

86. Coaches must align to the COMENSA Code of Ethics.
    
    

87. Ethical behaviour is judged against behavioural standards.
    
    

88. Compliance assures trust and credibility for clients.
    
    

89. Serious breaches can lead to complaints and investigations.
    
    

90. Standards help coaches operate legally and responsibly.
    
    

Professional Impact

91. Coaches with strong behavioural competence achieve deeper client impact.
    
    

92. The framework distinguishes professional vs emerging practice.
    
    

93. It ensures coaches use evidence‑based and ethical approaches.
    
    

94. Corporates seek COMENSA‑credentialled coaches for quality assurance.
    
    

95. The framework supports consistent coaching experiences.
    
    

96. It aligns South African practice with global expectations.
    
    

Summary

97. The COMENSA Behavioural Standards Framework defines professional coaching excellence.
    
    

98. It outlines 9 competencies across contracting, communicating, trust building, learning facilitation, action design, self‑management and diversity.
    
    

99. Each competency has behavioural indicators for three credential levels (CCC, CSC, CMC).
    
    

100. Credentialing assessments measure coaches against these standards to ensure high‑quality, ethical professional practice.

Here’s a practical rubric you can use to assess COMENSA coaching behavioural competencies across all three credential levels (CCC, CSC, CMC). It’s based directly on the COMENSA Behavioural Standards Framework and its indicators for observable behaviours at each level.

 COMENSA Behavioural Competencies Rubric (Levels 1–3)

This rubric helps assess how well a coach demonstrates the nine core behavioural competencies across three credential levels recognized by COMENSA:

• Level 1 – COMENSA Credentialed Coach (CCC)
  
  

• Level 2 – COMENSA Senior Coach (CSC)
  
  

• Level 3 – COMENSA Master Coach (CMC)
  These descriptions can be used for self‑assessment, mentorship, training evaluations, or credentialing preparation.
  
  

 Core Competency Categories

Competency Areas

1. Contracting
   
   

2. Communicating
   
   

3. Building Trust & Rapport
   
   

4. Creating Awareness & Learning
   
   

5. Designing Actions & Managing Accountability
   
   

6. Building Self‑Awareness
   
   

7. Personal & Professional Growth
   
   

8. Coaching Presence
   
   

9. Managing Diversity
   (Behavioural examples for each shown below)
   
   

 Rubric Scale

Level

Behavioural Descriptor

0 – Not Evident

Coach does not demonstrate the competency.

1 – Emerging

Basic attempt but inconsistent or superficial.

2 – Competent

Demonstrates consistent, expected performance.

3 – Advanced

Consistently strong, context‑adapted execution.

4 – Mastery

Highly skilled, deeply reflective, nuance‑rich performance.

 1) Contracting

Level

Behaviour

CCC

Establishes basic administration (session times, confidentiality), begins to explore client goals.

CSC

Clarifies mutual expectations, explores client preferences, checks understanding of coaching roles.

CMC

Co‑designs success indicators and outcomes, aligns stakeholder agendas, revisits contracting throughout engagement.

 2) Communicating

Level

Behaviour

CCC

Uses clear language, asks basic clarifying questions.

CSC

Demonstrates reflective listening, frames questions that deepen understanding.

CMC

Communicates with precision that fosters autonomy, uses language that expands awareness and psychological safety.

 3) Building Trust & Rapport

Level

Behaviour

CCC

Polite, respectful, builds initial rapport.

CSC

Recognises and responds to emotions, builds mutual understanding.

CMC

Anticipates unspoken needs, maintains emotional safety and trust throughout the relationship.

 4) Creating Awareness & Learning

Level

Behaviour

CCC

Encourages surface‑level reflection and exploration.

CSC

Expands awareness of patterns and beliefs, encourages deeper insight.

CMC

Facilitates transformative insight connecting identity, meaning and action.

 5) Designing Actions & Accountability

Level

Behaviour

CCC

Suggests simple next steps aligned with goals.

CSC

Designs actions that align with values and deeper intentions.

CMC

Integrates complex plans with client purpose while preserving autonomy and accountability.

 6) Building Self‑Awareness

Level

Behaviour

CCC

Notices personal reactions and manages interference in basic ways.

CSC

Uses self‑awareness to improve session presence.

CMC

Integrates deep self‑insight with coaching, recognizing personal triggers and impact.

 7) Personal & Professional Growth

Level

Behaviour

CCC

Participates in development activities.

CSC

Engages in structured reflection and growth practices.

CMC

Leads others in development and continuous learning, models reflective practice.

 8) Coaching Presence

Level

Behaviour

CCC

Shows focus and respect, basic presence.

CSC

Demonstrates resilience and adaptability in sessions.

CMC

Embodies a calm, secure, and professional space that dynamically supports client exploration.

 9) Managing Diversity

Level

Behaviour

CCC

Acknowledges diversity and respects client differences.

CSC

Integrates diversity into language and approach sensitively.

CMC

Creates fully inclusive spaces leveraging diversity as a learning asset.

 How to Use This Rubric

 For Self‑Assessment

Reflect on your own coaching sessions and rate your competency performance honestly.
Ask yourself:

• “Am I consistently operating at a Competent level, or am I stretching toward Advanced?”
  
  

• “Where do I fall short and what micro‑skills can I develop?”
  
  

 For Peer Review or Mentor Feedback

Review recordings or live sessions and use this rubric to:

• give specific behavioural feedback, and
  
  

• identify targeted, actionable steps for development.
  
  

 For Credential Assessment Preparation

Use the rubric to validate your practise against COMENSA expectations before formal evaluation.
An assessor will look for patterns of behaviour that align with the expected level descriptors.

 Summary Table

Competency

CCC

CSC

CMC

Contracting

Basic admin

Shared expectation

Co‑design outcomes

Communicating

Clarifying questions

Reflective listening

Language expands autonomy

Rapport

Respectful

Emotion‑aware

Trustful, anticipatory

Awareness

Surface reflection

Deeper insight

Identity transformation

Actions

Simple steps

Values‑aligned

Purpose‑driven

Self‑Awareness

Notice reactions

Presence enhancement

Deep integration

Growth

Development participation

Structured reflection

Leads growth practice

Presence

Focused

Resilient

Containing, secure

Diversity

Respect

Inclusive talk

Inclusive learning space

If you want, I can also turn this rubric into a fillable scorecard (e.g., Excel or PDF) that you can use for live assessments or coach mentoring sessions.

a fillable score card for live assessments

Perfect! I can design a fillable COMENSA Behavioural Competency Scorecard for live coaching assessments. It will let you rate coaches in real time, capture notes, and calculate level trends. I’ll outline it as a structured table you can put into Excel, Google Sheets, or PDF form.

COMENSA Behavioural Competency Live Assessment Scorecard

Coach Name: ______________________

Assessor Name: ____________________

Date: _____________________________

Session Type / Client Context: ______________________

Instructions

• Rate the coach on each competency from 0–4 using the rubric scale:
  
  

  • 0 = Not Evident
    
    

  • 1 = Emerging
    
    

  • 2 = Competent
    
    

  • 3 = Advanced
    
    

  • 4 = Mastery
    
    

• Add observations/notes for examples or context.
  
  

• Optionally, calculate average per competency area for an overall competency profile.
  
  

#

Competency

Behavioural Focus

CCC (0–4)

CSC (0–4)

CMC (0–4)

Notes / Observations

1

Contracting

Sets agreements, aligns outcomes, co-designs success indicators

☐

☐

☐

2

Communicating

Uses clear, reflective, autonomy-expanding language

☐

☐

☐

3

Building Trust & Rapport

Respects, responds to emotions, anticipates needs

☐

☐

☐

4

Creating Awareness & Learning

Encourages reflection, insight, identity transformation

☐

☐

☐

5

Designing Actions & Accountability

Creates aligned actions, tracks progress, preserves autonomy

☐

☐

☐

6

Building Self-Awareness

Notices triggers, manages interference, integrates self-insight

☐

☐

☐

7

Personal & Professional Growth

Participates in development, reflective practice, mentors others

☐

☐

☐

8

Coaching Presence

Focus, resilience, secure container, professional space

☐

☐

☐

9

Managing Diversity

Acknowledges and integrates diversity, creates inclusive space

☐

☐

☐

Scoring Section

Competency Area

Average Score

Comments

Contracting

____

Communicating

____

Trust & Rapport

____

Awareness & Learning

____

Actions & Accountability

____

Self-Awareness

____

Growth

____

Presence

____

Diversity

____

Overall Average Score: _______ / 36

Assessor Signature: ___________________

 Optional Features for Digital Use

• Use Google Sheets / Excel checkboxes for CCC/CSC/CMC levels.
  
  

• Include dropdowns for 0–4 scoring to auto-calculate averages.
  
  

• Add conditional formatting: red (<2), yellow (2–3), green (>3) for quick visual feedback.
  
  

• Include a comments column for live observation notes during the session.