Time to say thanks!

In the United States, April is considered National Volunteer Month. Though our reach is far beyond the US, the ICF would like to pause and thank all ICF volunteers this month. If it weren’t for your tireless efforts, countless hours, and imagination, the ICF would not be where it is today. So whether you currently serve on a committee, a Board of Directors (global or chapter level), or in some other capacity, or you have served the ICF in some way, shape, or form in the past, know that you are appreciated. We are forever grateful for you.

Three things ICF members should be doing

Membership renewal season is the perfect opportunity to review available member benefits so you may utilize all that is offered. This occasional topic series will highlight those things you can do to ensure you are making the most of your connection to the ICF.

• Access global coaching research. ICF members have access (or monetary discounts) to ICF industry research. Coaching research can easily be worked into your marketing and business plans and works in advertising your practice. Spend some time perusing the ICF Research Portal, and download the Executive Summary of the 2012 ICF Global Coaching Study.
• Leadership development. ICF members are exposed to numerous opportunities for leadership development at both the local (chapter) level and global level.
• Discounts on applying for an ICF Credential. If you are planning to apply for or renew an ICF Credential in the future, ICF members receive valuable discounts! The ICF Credential is recognized as the gold standard for the coaching profession.

Not yet an ICF member? Join our borderless community of 20,000+ coaches  for only $195 USD today. Current ICF members who need to renew their membership may do so here.

Making the most of the (new) Provisional Member category

Beginning April 1, 2013, all ICF members will be required to have completed at least 60 hours of coach specific training* to be a member (or maintain membership) with the ICF. Unless you hold an ICF Credential or have already completed the obligatory 60 hours of coach specific training*, you should now consider how to fulfill your training hours.

This is a great opportunity for you! ICF has developed a Provisional Member category that will allow current members one year (beginning April 1, 2012) to obtain the 60 hours of coach specific training prior to the policy taking full effect on April 1, 2013.

So now for the tough question, how will you fulfill your hours? If you aren’t already enrolled in a program, now is the time to find the program that best suits your needs. If you are starting at the very beginning, this may seem like a daunting task. For tips on how to choose a coach training program, check out this August 25 post.

You are by no means required to use an ICF approved coach training program, but if that is the route you choose to take, you can search all ICF approved programs by various criteria at Coachfederation.org in the Training Program Search Service. 

Still trying to wrap your mind around the new membership eligibility requirement (MER)? Download the frequently asked questions document and bookmark the MER page at Coachfederation.org for the most up-to-date information. 

*Definition of Training that is accepted as coach specific training:
(These are aligned with the requirements for the ACC Portfolio Application credential path.)  

• Training from an Accredited Coach Training Program (ACTP) or a program that has received the ICF Approved Coach Specific Training Hours (ACSTH) designation.
• Training from a Continuing Coach Education (CCE) Provider, subject to these limitations:
       - All hours approved in Core Competencies will be accepted.
       - A maximum of 12 hours outside of the Core Competencies will be accepted.
• Training that is specifically marketed as teaching coaching skills, that teaches coaching skills or teaches how to apply technical skills in a coach-like manner and teaches coaching skills in accordance with the ICF Core Competencies.

Requirement for 60 hours:
At least 48 of the hours must be:

• Direct interaction with a trainer (voice-to-voice or in-person training; not cyber courses, mail-in courses, or self-study).
• From a program other than ICF conference, SIG, Virtual Education, or chapter events.
• Teaching the ICF Core Competencies (all Core Competencies must be covered).

The remaining hours may be self-study, from an ICF event, teaching coaching-related topics, or a combination. However, all hours must be part of a program with the purpose of training coaches.

Three simple ways for ICF members to connect and save more

So you belong to the ICF…but are you really maximizing your membership? This occasional topic series will highlight those things you can do to ensure you are making the most of your connection to the ICF.

1. Connection with ICF and other members via social media. The ICF has a presence on Facebook, LinkedIn, Twitter, and YouTube. If you haven’t already connected with the ICF through these channels, they are a great resource for small snippets of information as well as meeting other ICF coaches.
   
2. Community with local coaches through ICF Chapters. There are more than 120 ICF Chapters in over 50 countries across the globe. Chapters provide ICF members educational and social opportunities. Search ICF Chapters.
   
3. Valuable monetary discounts. By holding membership with the ICF, you are eligible for valuable discounts when it comes to applying for an ICF Credential, registering for the ICF Annual International Conference, as well as other special offers. Learn more so you can save big!

If you do not currently hold ICF membership, treat yourself to the gift that keeps on giving beyond this holiday season. For only $195 USD, you can join our borderless community of 19,000+ coaches.

Three easy things ICF members can do this week

So you belong to the ICF…but are you really maximizing your membership? This occasional topic series will highlight those things you can do to ensure you are making the most of your connection to the ICF.

1) Are you aware of the ICF Resource Partners? ICF Resource Partners offer discounts or special pricing to ICF members on their various goods and services. Currently, there are 15 partners offering such resources as audio services, insurance, and everything in-between. Learn more about each and how they can help grow your business.

2) Do you know about the member-only tools and resources at Coachfederation.org? Various marketing materials exist at Coachfederation.org that can assist in growing your business. Examples include: Top ten indicators to refer a client to a mental health professional, How to write an effective press release, and Tips for an online media room. These items are saved on a page called Assets and Tools. Take a look at available Assets and Tools.

3) Are you using the ICF logo in your marketing initiatives? If you aren’t, you should! The logo is downloadable at Coachfederation.org and is a great way to show the world your affiliation with the ICF through your website, business cards, e-mail signature, etc. The logo is available in different file formats and in color or black and white. Download the ICF logo.

How are you maximizing your membership?

My recent ICF travels to Japan and South Korea

On October 7, ICF President Ed Modell, PCC, presented “what is coaching and the benefits of being an ICF member” at the American Chamber of Commerce Japan in Tokyo. His presentation included live coaching demonstrations and targeted human resource directors from large multi-national corporations and coaches in attendance.

On Saturday, the ICF Tokyo Chapter hosted a Global Coaching Forum in which Ed presented the value of ICF membership and the credential, ICF standards, the Global Coaching Study and Minimum Eligibility Requirements. Dr. Linda Semlitz addressed the psychological first aid in disaster recovery. The presentation included how coaches could provide appropriate support to people facing difficulties after the recent earthquake, tsunami and radiation.

A total of 70 coaches and personnel from coaching schools and human resource managers were in attendance. The forum ended with a party that went on through the evening celebrating coaching in Japan.

Finally, there was a meeting held that included myself and Ed, as well as key stakeholders from the coaching profession in Japan, including the ICF Tokyo Chapter, six coaching schools, a special interest group (SIG), and other groups. The conversation was around changes to the ICF Credential, membership eligibility requirements and other concerns affecting coaching.

Leaving Japan, we travelled to South Korea. The ICF Seoul Korea Chapter partnered with ICF Korea to host a one day coaching conference. Over 100 coaches, coaching school personnel, human resource managers and others attended a day coach learning. Ed Modell presented on “the value of ICF and the credential.”

Ed also did two coaching demonstrations to show the power of coaching. In addition, a panel of six PCC coaches told the audience why coaching was important in their lives and profession. Ed was also able to tell his life story about how he became a coach and his own personal transformation into coaching.

The coaching conference was a huge success. Members in both Japan and Korea were grateful that we came to visit them and honor them as members of the ICF global community of coaches.

Don Whittle is the ICF Director of Membership at ICF Global. He can be reached at don.whittle@coachfederation.org.  

What does it matter to me?

As discussed in the August 12 blog post, ICF Strategic Plan: 101, the ICF operates according to a strategic plan. Having this plan in place ensures that the ICF remains focused and prepared to work toward specific goals that will provide the best value for members.

But how is the strategic plan pieced together? Do the contents of the strategic plan actually mean anything for ICF members? How does it ensure that members will receive the most value for their membership? Why should I care? How do the decisions made by the ICF affect me?

Will you attend a call next week so you may have a better understanding of the ICF Strategic Plan? Three calls, hosted by the ICF Board of Directors, are scheduled next week to allow members the opportunity to ask these sorts of questions. If you have ever asked yourself the above questions, will you make time in your schedule to be present during one of these calls?

Call schedule:

• Monday, September 19 at 9 a.m. (New York);
• Monday, September 19 at 4 p.m. (New York); or
• Call in Spanish: Tuesday, September 20 at 1 p.m. (New York).

Bridge line: +1.866.215.3343 (PIN: 4889)

See additional dialing instructions if calling from outside North America (PDF).

If your schedule will not allow you to join a call, send your questions to us via email at icfpr@coachfederation.org , via Facebook (post on our wall) or Twitter (tweet us), or post a comment to this post.

Got five minutes? You can refresh your member profile.

You are only a few minutes away from an up-to-date member profile at Coachfederation.org. To begin, you will need to be logged into Coachfederation.org. Forgot your password? No worries; have us send it to you.

Update my profile today.

This task can be done in five easy steps:

1. Add a photo. If you do not have a photo included in your profile, this is one of the biggest (and easiest) changes you can make! Or perhaps you have a photo but it hasn’t been updated in a while. Whatever the case, a new photo can refresh the look of your profile.
2. Add or change your privacy settings. You can select how much (or how little) of your personal information is displayed in member searches. Choose from full profile listing, contact listing, geographical listing or unlisted.
3. Update your coaching information. There are drop boxes where you can select your years of experience, your coach training and your leading coaching specialty. Keep these up-to-date so potential clients perusing the website may have your most current coaching experience and specialty in mind.
4. Update your personal and contact information. Here you can add a prefix to your name, list non-ICF Credentials, add your business name, address, email address, telephone number, fax number and website url. Keeping this information current is vital!

Other profile items you may choose to update include:

• Chapter affiliation: Belong to a local ICF Chapter? Add your affiliation.
• Coaching types: You can select from career, corporate, personal life, small business or wellness.
• Language preference: The ICF is currently translating select member communications into French, German, Portuguese and Spanish. To receive these translated versions, your language preference must be selected. Even if your language is not one currently translated, selecting your language preference is a great way to make your preference heard!

These items may be updated from the main membership profile page.

ICF Strategic Plan: 101

The ICF is constantly working to advance the coaching profession by setting high standards, providing independent certification and building a worldwide network of credentialed coaches. But do you really understand the reasoning behind everything the ICF does?

Most associations work according to a strong strategic plan. Without one, it would be very easy to get wrapped up in work that may or may not have anything to do with the goals the association hopes to achieve. In fact, they may not even know what their goals are or how to get to where they want to be.

By having a strong strategic plan in place, the ICF remains focused and prepared to work toward the goals members have identified as important. Rather than pursuing a lot of good work, the ICF Board is making sure the association is clear on what activities will produce the best value for members.

The ICF Strategic Plan is set up as a living document [meaning that it will constantly be reviewed and measured against] that assists in the guiding efforts of association staff and volunteers. In other words, it is the ICF’s road map. It keeps us on the path we want to be on as an association, ensuring that we reach the goals we have identified as important.

Our long-term strategic plan was first prepared in 2006 and faced its first five-year evaluation last month at the ICF global Board of Director’s meeting. During this meeting, an updated strategic plan was approved.

The approved strategic plan includes:

Vision statement: In service of humanity flourishing, we choose to…

Core purpose: Lead global advancement of the coaching profession

Key strategies:

• Create attractive credible presence and voice for professional coaching; and
• Create global strategic alliances.

Three initiatives (or areas of focus for the next 18 months):

• Construct global standards system;
• Build high performance organization; and
• Become preferred resource for business community.

These strategies and focus areas will be supported and accomplished through various efforts and projects. To see a complete outline of the updated ICF Strategic Plan, please visit Coachfederation.org.

ICF to make first appearance at SHRM annual conference

ICF will make its first appearance at the Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM) Annual Conference and Exposition this weekend in Las Vegas, Nevada, USA. This event annually draws some 13,000 human resource professionals—setting up a unique opportunity for coaching to make its way onto the minds of people from companies across the globe.

Beginning June 26 (through June 29), Ross and myself will join local ICF members (a huge thanks to the willingness of the members of the Nevada Professional Coaches Association!) to run the ICF booth at the Las Vegas Convention Center.

SHRM is the world’s largest association devoted to human resource management. They represent more than 250,000 members in over 140 countries and serve the needs of HR professionals and advances the interests of the HR profession.

As we did through our appearance at the ASTD conference last month, we will represent the ICF and coaching while promoting the benefits of coaching within organizations and the value of coaching in general. We will have numerous collateral pieces available to share such topics as how to find a coach training program, how to earn an ICF Credential, and how to hire a coach. In addition, we will promote the documented ROI of coaching through a case study highlighting our 2010 ICF International Prism Award winners, Genentech and the TINE Group.

Songquan Deng / Shutterstock.com

If you (or your clients) will be at the SHRM Annual Conference and Exposition, be sure to visit our booth, #2941! We will tweet during the show from our Twitter feed at twitter.com/ICFHQ and once we are back in the office, there will be a follow-up post documenting our experience in Vegas.

We look forward to our appearance at SHRM and the people we will meet as a result!

Interested in using the collateral we have created for these events?
Why become credentialed?
How to choose a professional coach
Coach Training Programs

Look for more information on the ICF’s presence at this event and others like it through ICF social media channels, primarily Twitter, Facebook and the ICF Blog.

We are ICF

For each member of the International Coach Federation, there is a reason for choosing to be a part of the world’s largest professional coaching association. To illustrate this, nine individual members have been highlighted since the start of the 2011-2012 membership renewal season. 

Sackeena is an executive coach in the United States.

Sackeena Gordon-Jones, PCC, has been a member of the ICF since 2005. Why does she choose to belong to the ICF?

“ICF provides overarching support, structure, nurturing, networking and guidance to the Practice of Coaching. Because of the ICF, Coaching has become a credible and dignified specialty. It is innovative and has embraced a global world-view, which allows Coaching to impact the world, helping people be their best.”

A member of ICF-RAC (Raleigh Area Chapter), Sackeena finds connection with other members to be her most value-added member benefit.

Since the end of February, we have shared the many reasons professional coaches choose to belong to the ICF. To read about these other reasons, be sure to click on the label ICF Members (on the right side of the blog) to be taken to each of these posts.

If you are a coach and you aren’t yet a member of the ICF, what are you waiting for? Learn how you can become a member of the ICF here.

We are ICF

Since the end of February, we have been sharing the multiple reasons coaching professionals choose to be a part of the International Coach Federation. These reasons have spanned educational and networking opportunities, as well as ethics, standards and credibility. 

Pedro has been an ICF member since 2008.

Pedro Amador, ACC, of Spain, belongs to the ICF “because it’s a professional way to grow the coaching business and it helps me keep in contact with other professionals.”

Likewise, he finds his shared experiences with other ICF members a value-added member benefit.



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.

We are ICF

Over the last several weeks, we have been sharing the various reasons coaches choose the ICF as their premiere coaching organization. This week, we will take a look at Isabel Jaramillo, ACC, of Colombia. She has been an ICF member since 2008.

Isabel is a member of ICF Colombia.

“I like to be a part of a community that is global, sets the standards (quality is important), and is recognized,” she said.

Isabel, whose niche focuses on organizational and life coaching, finds three aspects of her ICF membership equally important: continuing coaching (CCEUs), virtual education and networking. As an ICF member, she is able to invest in all three components through ICF Virtual Education offerings and ICF branded events.

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.



We are ICF

In addition to educational opportunities, ICF members often cite community as a primary reason for being a part of the International Coach Federation.


Suzan belongs to ICF Turkey.

 Suzan Tana Alalu, ACC is one of these members. “I wanted to see how other coaches work and I also wanted to belong. Coming to the [2010 ICF Annual International] conference and seeing so many coaches together made a big impact on me. It made me a stronger believer for the coaching profession,” Suzan said. Suzan focuses on ADD/ADHD; organizational relationship systems; and team coaching in Turkey. She has been a part of the ICF since 2006.

Finding the conference as a value-added benefit of membership, Suzan said (of the 2010 event in Fort Worth), “I can talk with other coaches, and I can find out about coaching and how coaching is in the world [as well as] the work and experience of other coaches.” ICF members receive a significant discount when registering for the annual conference. Learn more about the 2011 ICF Annual International Conference, to be held in Las Vegas, Nevada, USA this September, here.

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.

We are ICF

As outlined over the last several weeks, we have found that ICF members seem to be specifically drawn to the educational and networking opportunities that the ICF provides.

This was no different for Kathleen Bathory, PCC, of Canada. She cites “education opportunities, accreditation and networking” as her top reasons for maintaining membership with the ICF. Kathleen is a part of the Calgary Association of Professional Coaches and has been a member of ICF International since 2004.

Kathleen finds “resources and the conference” to be her most value-added benefits through the ICF. Learn more about resources and ICF events at Coachfederation.org.

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.

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.

We are ICF

Like other professional organizations, members of the International Coach Federation choose to be a part of its ranks for numerous reasons. For Gürkan Sarioglu (an executive and leadership coach in Turkey), it came down to the Code of Ethics; Code of Conduct; globally recognized accreditation and credentialing process; and the experience sharing through regional and global conferences.

Gürkan joined the ICF global community in 2007.

When asked what member benefit provides him the most value, Gürkan responded “All the information I could reach through the ‘members only’ section of the website is the most valuable benefit for me, as I could come across at least one or two articles, surveys, or papers on almost every subject I am looking for, which would enlighten me, inspire me or make me knowledgeable.” 

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.

Strengthening our ICF Community: What Will You Do?

For the past 15 months, the ICF Global Membership & Community Committee has spent almost all our time discussing, listening, researching, and making recommendations about membership. It has been all membership, all the time. And it’s been good. Really good. We have learned a lot through extensive conversations with ICF members, and our recommendation for minimum eligibility requirements for membership has been approved by the ICF Global Board (look for more on that next month).

However, with our focus on membership (and quite appropriately so, given the direction provided to us by the Board), perhaps we have unconsciously drifted away from the “community” part of our Committee name. Membership AND Community Committee.

So how do we renew our focus on community? I believe the answer lies beyond the rules and procedures, the research and recommendations.  Community can’t be mandated. And community is not the responsibility of just a few hundred Chapter Leaders, and Global Board and Committee members. Community is up to each one of us, in our day-to-day actions as ICF members.


Community at the 2010 ICF Annual International Conference



So as the evolution and growth of our ICF community continues, and as we steadfastly pursue raising the standards for our organization, and for the coaching industry itself, I’m curious: What will YOU do to contribute?

• Are you a coach in a region where an ICF Chapter is just now emerging?  What could you do to lend a hand to those who are leading the charge?

• Are you a member of an established ICF Chapter, attending its meetings and events?  How could you help your Chapter Board with all the behind-the-scenes work they do?

• Do you read the monthly Coaching World newsletter?  What special knowledge or experience could you write up as an article?

• Are you a graduate of an accredited coach training school?  When will you go back and tell new coaches-in-training about what the ICF offers and how they can get involved in your local Chapter?

In this month’s Coaching World, our ICF President, Ed Modell, writes, “The future of ICF is in our hands! Remember we are ICF. Let us co-create our future together.” Indeed. So what will YOU do?

Kara Exner, M.C.Ed., CPCC, ACC
Chair, 2011 ICF Global Membership & Community Committee

We are ICF

Some coaches choose to be a part of the International Coach Federation for its global reach…others for the ethics and standards it provides…and still others for the educational and growth opportunities. Whatever the reason, coaching professionals across the globe continue to partner with the ICF.

Here’s what one member said recently:


Nancy is an executive coach in the US



“I choose to be part of the ICF organization as we govern ourselves. I am proud to be a PCC working on becoming an MCC as I continue to grow as a coach. The ICF makes sure that I continue to grow with our high level continued education programs online and at the conferences each year. This keeps me at the top of my game as I am challenged to grow my leadership skills, which in turn grows my business and my clients' businesses. Every year, conference brings us a smorgasbord of speakers and training from all parts of the world--which exposes all of us to see from new eyes. This gives me a chance to connect with old friends from around and world and to make new ones. Without the ICF, I would not be connected on such a deep level to the world and what others are thinking and feeling.” –Nancy James, PCC, an ICF member since 2007.

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.

We are ICF

To date, more than 18,000 coaching professionals from 100+ countries have chosen to be a part of the global community of the International Coach Federation.
 
Why? There are a possible 18,000 responses to that single question. Here’s one:

"Honesty and integrity are important to me. I can't imagine why I would want to be part of a profession and NOT be affiliated with the peer-review association for that profession. To me, it speaks to the value I put on coaching, the profession and holding myself to a higher standard. I also feel the community aspect is important, too. I really want to be engaged in my profession." —Tom Maher, ACC (United States)

A member of the ICF since 2010, Tom coaches musicians and performing artists and is a member of the Minnesota Coaches Association.

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

Want to learn more about becoming a member of the ICF? Click here.