Is ICF Membership For You?

Are you a coach thinking of joining a group where you can meet other coaches like yourself?

The International Coach Federation or ICF is a non-profit organisation which was formed in 1995. Sixteen years later, ICF is now a leading global organisation with over 19,000 members, dedicated to advancing the coaching profession by setting high professional standards, providing independent certification, and building a network of credentialed coaches.

Why Join ICF?

Some of the Benefits of Joining ICF WA Chapter are:

·       Leadership Development Opportunities

·       Professional Development & Professional Recognition

·      Increased awareness, knowledge and practice of ICF Coaching Ethics & Standards

·       Access to support and information if applying for a Credential

·       Access to ICF Global website as well as ICF Australasia Newsletters and Updates

·       Networking opportunities

·       Participation in a Dynamic and Progressive Professional Environment

·       Participation at local events like CoachWeek and other Social events

·      Member discounts to attending Annual  and Regional ICF Conferences

Why did I join ICF?

Aside from all the benefits of being a member of ICF as mentioned earlier, what really stands out for me is the fact that, first, I get to meet other coaches on a regular basis where we can share ideas and experiences;   secondly, that I have access to a monthly professional development education provided by the WA Chapter at a discounted rate;  thirdly, that my membership allows me to have a ‘voice’ in shaping the future of Coaching as a profession on a global scale.

What is Coaching?

The ICF defines coaching as partnering with clients in a thought-provoking and creative process that inspires them to maximise their personal and professional potential.  ICF envisions a future in which coaching will be an integral part of society and ICF members will represent the highest quality in professional coaching.

How to Become a Member of ICF

You can join by going to www.coachfederation.org .  Click Join ICF and complete the online application form plus payment.

The Annual Membership fee is $195 (USD). This equals only $16.25 per monthly.

The ICF membership is on an annual billing schedule; all memberships expire on March 21 of the following year.

Membership fees for new ICF memberships will be prorated based in the month you join the ICF.

Membership fees for January, February, and March include the prorated amount for the current membership plus next year’s membership fee.

Monthly or quarterly payments are not accepted at this time.

If you have any questions about joining ICF Perth Chapter please contact Herminia Paubsanon on 0424 571 278, Membership Coordinator of ICF WA Chapter.

Herminia Paubsanon

Majestic Success

www.majesticsuccess.com.au

0424 571 278

"How Do You Feel About That?"

As coaches, we strive for excellence in partnering with our clients to create a better future for them.  Here's an idea about how we can create a better future for the coaching profession.  I believe the coaching world would be a better place if we abolish one question from our toolkit.  Our clients would be better off if we never asked this question again, if we left this particular question for other professions to ask, and committed to ourselves and each other to replace it with a useful coaching question.

You may have guessed the question.  I'm talking about the "How do you feel about that?" question.

Each time I hear a coach use this I want to lovingly and gently scream at the top of my lungs "NO!  For the sake of your client, don't use it there, or here, or anywhere in the coaching conversation.  Please."

Let me explain why.  This question has a similar effect to accidentally but painfully stepping on someone's foot.  It keeps that person focused on the pain of the here and now which is mostly a less attractive place to be than in the future.  Until the pain dies down, the person cannot fully move ahead.  And allow me to challenge you a little further with another thought about that question.  When we ask "how do you feel about that" are we not really saying "I don't know what to ask you next so I am going to keep you on that thought a little longer so I, the coach, can think"?  I'm challenging you on that because I believe with moderate listening you would already have a really good idea about what your client thinks about what they have just told you.

Let's not tread on our client's foot and keep them focused on the present.  Let's be bold and move them forward with more powerful questions.   What I want for you is to play more powerfully in the space of moving forward with your clients and to feel confident to leave behind those commonly used questions that have no role in powerful coaching conversations.

I invite you to join me by vowing to yourself that every time you are tempted to throw in the question "how do you feel about that" you will instead replace it with a useful coaching question or statement to move your client forward.  It's amazing the effect this one small change will have on your coaching.

In closing, I welcome your answers to the title question but would really like to ask an alternative, more useful question, "How will you use your reaction to this blog to engage more powerfully with your clients?"

   Jenny Edis, PCC

   ICF Professional Certified Coach

Coach Week 2011

Celebrating Coach Week 2011 in W.A. May 23rd to 29th

Connecting Cancer Survivors with Coaches

The WA Branch of ICFA will be partnering with the Cancer Council of Western Australia in an exciting ‘virtual version’ of the long standing Australia’s Biggest Morning Tea fundraiser.
Rather than gathering for a morning tea/donating dollars on Thursday 26th May, we are encouraging our coaches to have a cuppa wherever you are and to pledge pro bono coaching sessions to cancer survivors and their carers which may include partners and family members. Potential clients will be able to select their coach from a dedicated web page posted on the ICFA and the Cancer Council WA websites and take up the offer between 1 June and 30 September 2011.
Please send your pledge to Mary Jo Harris coachweek.wa@icfaustralasia.com.

Our offer will be about ‘coach connections’ and will offer recipients up to 3 pro-bono sessions with their selected coach. It is our way of offering something back whilst raising community awareness about coaching. We are very excited about this connection with the Cancer Council Western Australia.
The Cancer Council WA (through their Helpline) will be the central referral point for potential clients. A dedicated webpage is being set up and will include information about the ICF/coaching, our intention of giving and the profiles of all coaches offering pro-bono hours. Potential recipients/clients will be able to search through the profiles to select a coach and use their unique voucher number to generate an email to that coach.

Connecting cancer survivors and their carers with coaches is seen as a wonderful opportunity to support clients wishing to review where they are at, plan a new future for themselves and to refocus on living and life after cancer. Whilst client readiness for coaching will be determined by the Cancer WA Helpline, ongoing assistance will be available to the client should coach and client identify additional professional support and/or working in partnership to help them move forward is required.
Please email Mary Jo Harris at coachweek.wa@icfaustralasia.com with your intention to pledge ‘coaching connection’ offers and thank you so much to the generous coaches who have already done this. We will provide further details to you (including an official registration form and info pack) as soon as possible.
The following conditions apply for pro bono coaching:

• Coaches must be an ICF member
• Coaches must have a minimum of 60 hours coach specific training or equivalent. (Please contact Mary Jo via email if you have any queries regarding this standard.)
• ICF Code of Ethics is the guiding document in terms of coach/client interaction.

Abundance vs Scarcity by Janine Warden, President.

This is my very first blog post for our new ICF WA Branch Blog and I am feeling a mix of excitement and apprehension.

Being offered this opportunity is a privilege. I invite yoiu to share your comments, questions, suggestions, ideas, and to contribute to growing this blog and our virtual coaching community.
So where do I begin? I decided to share my vision, my overarching goal, which is "Abundance". You'll notice that I said 'goal', as it is something to which I continue to strive

Where does one start? With a question.

 How do I choose to live my life? Abundantly. How much does my mindset influence what I do, the decisions I make (big and small) and how I show up as a coach, colleague, leader, facilitator, partner, daughter, friend, aunt, steward, volunteer? Hugely.

Of course the opposite to Abundance is Scarcity. In the speech Eric Kimani delivered in 2006 to a group of Bankers, he said:

What is an abundance mentality - this is a deep belief that there is enough for all - enough work, enough jobs, enough resources. It is living with a favour-minded attitide. One can define it also as optimism. Seeing the glass half full rather than half empty. Thinking big and expecting big! The barriers are in our minds and we will not go beyond the barriers in our minds.

By contrast the scarcity mentality is a belief that your success will imply someone else's failure; that there are scarce resources and if you get them you must deny someone else; that there is scarcity of jobs; that the cake is not enough and I must grab my share. ("The Abundance vs the Scarcity Mentality in Professional Development and Growth http://rotarynairobi.org/clubnewsdetail.asp?newsid=83)

As a coach I am reminded constantly through conversations with my clients of the power of our mindset. When a client is stuck in a 'mindset of scarcity' this limits their choices and often prevents them from moving forward. My role as coach is to generously and respectfully challenge them, through questioning and feedback. On the other hand, being fully present as a coach and holding the space for a client in an 'abundance mindset' supports them to discover new possibilities, generate options and celebrate their 'Ah Ha' moments!

When working with leaders and emerging leaders we often discuss Steven J Covey's "The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People". His fourth habit "THINK WIN WIN " always generates rich and passionate dialogue between participants and also serves to remind me of my own goal, Abundance:

Think Win-Win isn't about being nice, nor is it a quick-fix technique. It is a character-based code for human interaction and collaboration. Most of us learn to base our self-worth on comparisons and competition.We think about succeeding in terms of someone else's failing - that is, if I win, you lose; or if you win, I lose. Life becomes a zero-sum game. There is only so much pie to go around, and if you get a big piece, there is less for me; it's not fair, and I'm going to make sure you don't get any more. We all play the game, but how much fun is it really?

Win-win sees life as a cooperative arena, not a competitive one. Win-win is a frame of mind and heart that constantly seeks mutual benefit in all human interactions. Win-win means agreement or solutions are mutually beneficial and satisfying. We both get to eat the pie and it tastes pretty darn good!

A person or organisation that approaches conflicts with a win-win attitude possesses three vital character traits:
Integrity: sticking with your true feelings, values and commitments
Maturity: expressing your ideas and feelings with courage and consideration for the ideas and feelings of others
Abundance Mentality: believing there is plenty for everyone

Many people think in terms of either / or: either you're nice or you're tough. Win-win requires that you be both. It is a balancing act between courage and consideration. To go for win-win, you not only have to be empathic, but you also have to be confident. You not only have to be considerate and sensitive, you also have to be brave. To do that - to achieve that balance between courage and consideration - is the essence of real maturity and is fundamental to win-win. (www.stephencovey.com/7habits-habit4.php)

How fortunate I am as a facilitator and coach to partner and learn with others everyday and be rewarded for it!

But there are times I find myself moving towards a scarcity mindset, feeling less than resourceful, in a mood of anxiety about something. When I notice my view of the world narrowing and my energy waning it's time for me to take a step back and apart from some self-coaching the following quotations usually help to ground me:

"All that we are is a result of what we have thought" Buddha

"The universe operates through dynamic exchange ... giving and receiving are different aspects of the flow of energy in the universe and in our willingness to give that which we seek, we keep the abundance of the universe circulating in our lives." Deeprak Chopra

Before I sign off I want to share an article with you by Hester L Wyhlidal of SALT in Austria: http://www.salt-pro.com/assets/pdf/abundance.pdf

Hester has captured the essence of 'Abundance versus Scarcity' with her storytelling approach, theory and personal reflections. She certainly walks her talk, giving me permission to use article with her delightful "the pumpkin seed has spread" analogy and her 'sign off statement', reminding me of the 2001 movie Pay it Forward.

"I need to pass on the gift given to me once upon a long time ago as I am convinced there is a place for it, especially now. THINK ABUNDANTLY!" Hester L Wyhlidal.

Warm Regards
Janine.

Welcome to our Blog

This blog has been created for members of the ICF Australasia, WA Branch to share their wisdom and experiences. We will be inviting a coach to blog each month.