A little weekend reading

About a month back, we asked those who “like” our Facebook page to share what they were currently reading. And boy did we receive a plethora of responses!

So if you are in need of a new book this weekend, or would like a list of ideas to keep handy for some point in the future, you will find (below) a complete list of what other coaching professionals are currently (or just completed) reading:

• Intuition (by Osho)
• Freedom from Illusia (by Osho)
• Global Coaching (by Philippe Rosinski)
• The Art of Marriage (by Catherine Blyth)
• Celebration of Discipline (by Robert Foster)
• Do You (by Russell Simmons)
• A New Earth (by Eckhart Tolle)
• Rework (by Jason Fried)
• The Path to Purpose (by William Damon)
• Being the Solution (by Darel Rutherford)
• Connected. The Surprising Power of Our Social Networks and How They Shape our Lives (by Nicholas A. Christakis and James H. Fowler)
• The War of Art (by Steven Pressfield)

• Executive Coaching with Backbone and Heart (by Mary Beth O’Neill)
• Be happy: Release the Power of Happiness in You (by Robert Holden)
• How to Teach Lateral Thinking (by Edward de Bono)
• Tribal Leadership: Leveraging Natural Groups to Build a Thriving Organization (by Dave Logan, John King, and Halee Fischer-Wright)
• Nonviolent Communication (by Dr. Marshall Rosenberg)
• I is an Other (by James Geary)
• Coaching with Spirit (by Teri-E Belf)
• Looking Out, Looking In (by Ronald B. Adler)
• Practical Intuition (by Laura Day)
• The Shadow Process (by Debbie Ford)
• The Dice Man (by Luke Rhinehart)
• The Zen Way of Counseling (by Svagito R. Liebermeister)
• The Guide (by Dr. William Holden)
• The Soul of Leadership (by Deepak Chopra)
• The Greatest Salesman in the World (by OG Mandino)
• The Art of Changing Hearts, Minds and Actions (by Guy Kawasaki)
• What got you Here Won’t get you There (by Marshall Goldsmith)
• The Art of Possibility (by Rosamund Stone Zander and Benjamin Zander)
• The Tipping Point (by Malcolm Gladwell)
• Diversity in Coaching (by Jonathan Passmore)
• The Undervalued Self (by Elaine Aron)
• Riding the Tiger: Leading Through Learning in Turbulent Times (by Priscilla Nelson)
• Leadership Without Borders (by Ed Cohen)
• The Aquarian Gospel of Jesus the Christ (by Levi H. Dowling)
• Wake up Women: Be Happy, Healthy and Wealthy (by Ardice Farrow, Karen Mayfield and Heidi Regan)
• Time to Think (by Nancy Kline)
• More Time to Think (by Nancy Kline)
• The Path of Least Resistance (by Robert Fritz)
• Dreaming Down Heaven (by Gini Gentry)
• Abnormal Psychology (by Ronald J. Comer)
• Light a Penny Candle (by Maeve Binchy)
• Epidemiology (by Leon Gordis)
• Blue Ocean Strategy (by W. Chan Kim and Renee Mauborgne)
• TILT Magazine

Other authors our Facebook friends mentioned:
Wayne Dyer
Daniel Goleman
Dan Pink

Whatever you are reading this weekend, make it a good one!

Not following us on Facebook? You can “like” us here.

Coaching’s knowledge base: who needs it?

Leni Wildflower, PhD, PCC

As an academic and the designer of an evidence-based coaching program, I’ve given a lot of the thought to the coaching component we call “the knowledge base”—the rich body of theoretical material on which coaching is built, the fields of study out of which it has grown—theories of psychology, adult learning, change, leadership, culture and gender, to name a few. Over the years, I’ve invested a great deal of time in studying this body of knowledge, and I have an attachment to it. There’s a lot of intellectual pleasure to be had from exploring its various dimensions and interconnections, and as a practitioner I like to know where I stand in relation to an extensive field of theory and research.

But is it important? What if we don’t need this theoretical background? What if we just invent creative coaching protocols on the basis of personal insight and experience? Some of us have done this already – and with interesting and positive results. What if we simply rely on a capacity for self-reflection, an openness to others, an individual gift for listening, intuiting, creating space for the client’s self-discovery? Some individuals simply have a gift for coaching. So why bother with learning the knowledge base? I would love to know your thoughts!

Leni Wildflower Consulting
leniwildflower@gmail.com
The handbook of knowledge-based coaching: From theory to practice.
Edited by Leni Wildflower and Diane Brennan
Jossey Bass, 2011.

We are ICF

Thomas has been a part of the ICF since 2004.

Over the last several weeks, we have been sharing why coaching professionals from all over the globe choose to be a part of the International Coach Federation.

For many, it boils down to community, ethics and standards. Thomas Freitag (who coaches unfocused executives in Switzerland), agrees, citing his reason for maintaining membership within the ICF to “belonging to an international community of professional coaches.”

When asked which member benefit provides him the most value, Thomas responded: “Credibility through a solid set of Core Competencies for professional coaching.”

Other reasons people choose to be a part of the ICF will be shared in future blog posts.

Learn how you can become a member of the ICF here.

Exercising your ethics muscle

How often are you taking the time to exercise your ethics muscle by reflecting on your coaching against a code of ethics? During International Coaching Week (ICW), 7-13 February 2011, coaches from around the world took part in the ICF Pan-European Ethics call to do just that.

ICW takes place in February every year and exists to promote the coaching profession and educate the general public about the value of working with a professional coach. These activities also focus on the coach and their development, like the ICF Pan-European Ethics call.

As you read this, what may occur to you is what does a ‘professional coach’ mean? For a start, it can mean that we have clear contracts with our clients, ensure confidentiality and no conflicts of interest and exemplify professional conduct of the highest standards. Reading the ICF Code of Ethics, you find these concepts are elaborated on so that, as a coach, you know what the expectations of a ‘professional coach’ look like in practice. This is particularly important as many of the dilemmas we experience with our clients and the organisations we work with can often be traced back to ethics.

When we experience an ethical dilemma, a toned ethics muscle enables a repertoire of responses and facilitates agility in choosing among them. A ‘repertoire of responses’ is apt as there is often no right or wrong answer. Also, as individuals we have to be congruent with how we are in these moments. It’s a very individual experience – all the more reason to take advantage of opportunities to debate these dilemmas amongst peers.

A toned ethics muscle instils professionalism in what we do. It enables us to build trust with our clients. It differentiates us in the marketplace. It allows us to understand what is important to us, our own boundaries and what we are willing and not willing to do.

To give your ethics muscle a workout in a confidential and non-judgemental space, join the ICF Pan-European Ethics calls. They will take place on 4th May, September and December. More information can be found at http://www.coachfederation.org.uk/pd_programme.phtml.

These calls are ICF members only, to become a member of the ICF, go to http://www.coachfederation.org/join-icf/.

Written by Barbara Babcock (member of UK ICF)Owner at b2c2 - Barbara Babcock Coaching & Consulting - Executive coaching for corporates, charities and individuals specialising in career and inter-cultural/ expatriate coaching.

Play to the edge this September

Have you ever attended an ICF Annual International Conference? Chock full of education, networking and best practice sharing, the annual conference is something many look forward to. This year is no different—1,000 coaching professionals are anticipated to convene this September at the desert oasis of Las Vegas, Nevada, USA at the Mandalay Bay Resort for Playing to the Edge.

The theme, Playing to the Edge, is about risk, fun and ultimately about taking coaching to the ‘edge,’ according to the Conference Education Steering Committee. The committee has been working diligently since late 2010 to create a conference experience that brings attendees fresh ideas and concepts to apply to coaching.

According to Coachfederation.org/conference, attendees can expect to see these ten features in Las Vegas:

• Opportunity to earn approximately 18 CCEUs.
• Dynamic, upbeat opening general session.
• Three keynote speakers.
• Opening reception with Michael Gelb (CCEUs offered).
• A "gathering place" for meeting with peers.
• Balancing space—a personal care space/place to take a break from a busy day.
• A balance of interactive and traditional (didactic) breakout sessions.
• Global Conversations with a new "reporting out" process.
• Variation in length of breakout sessions.
• Early ending on final day (to allow for easier travel).

Registration for the 2011 conference opens early next week (Monday, April 4). Register early to maximize your savings! Those who register before July 31 are eligible for special savings, known to conference goers as the Early bird rate. ICF members are subject to even more generous discounts as they are offered the special member pricing.

And, anyone who registers for a full conference registration before May 31 will be entered to win two tickets to a Las Vegas show, courtesy of the Las Vegas Convention & Visitors Authority. ICF will randomly select a winner on June 1. Contest rules are listed here.

As in years past, the conference will feature world class keynote speakers, educational content for coaches of all experience levels, and opportunities for fun. Check out Coachfederation.org/conference for more information on the September 24-27 international conference.