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.

Is an ICF Credential in your future?

Throughout 2012, ICF Global is offering quarterly webinars on the process of earning an ICF Credential. The subject of these webinars will be two-fold: 1) the process of applying for an ICF Credential using the online application (learn which application type you should apply for and how you can upload the required documents); and 2) a review of skills expectations (this part of the webinar will be led by a current ICF Assessor and will include information on what Assessors are listening for during the ICF portfolio live or recorded exams and will include a review of ICF Core Competencies).

The first of these webinars took place on Friday, March 16 (access audio here and the presentation here). 

If applying for an ICF Credential is in your future, be sure to mark one of the below dates in your calendar:

• Friday, June 15
• Friday, September 14
• Friday, December 14
  

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.

ICF request for proposals

If you are interested in serving as a catalyst (a breakout leader), you are invited to submit your request for proposal by March 21, 2012.

Click here for submission details. Hear more about the submission process.

The ICF is going to take London by storm in October! Coaching professionals from across the globe are anticipated to make their way to London, UK, October 3-6, 2012 for ICF Global 2012 – Connect. Learn. Inspire.

Learn more at Coachfederation.org/London2012.

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.

Time is ticking…we still want to hear from you!

Your last chance to be a part of coaching research history is coming! The 2011 Global Coaching Study will officially close on November 15, after being open nearly six months collecting the viewpoints of coaching professionals from across the world.

As the greatly anticipated follow-up to the 2006 ICF Global Coaching Study, the 2011 study will bring the current global landscape of coaching into clearer focus. Independent research firm PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC) is conducting the survey.

The study is open to all coaching professionals. To reach an even wider audience, the study has been offered in nine languages (English, French, German, Italian, Japanese, Korean, Mandarin, Portuguese, and Spanish) and was compatible across several modes of mobile technology, including smart phones and tablet computers.

Once the study closes in mid-November, the data collected will lead to the creation of a robust “state of the industry” report that will provide coaches, organizations, and the media with an opportunity to learn more about today’s coaching industry. Final reports are expected to be available in early 2012.

PwC has advised that any country which delivers more than 100 survey respondents will be entitled to receive nation-specific data tables drawn from the study. To date, several countries have already surpassed this threshold! Do your part and participate so you too can benefit from more detailed findings about coaching in your country.

These findings will be beneficial when it comes to marketing your coaching practice in 2012 and beyond! You too can take advantage of these statistical findings by participating in this research.

If you haven’t already lent your voice to this research initiative—take a few minutes this weekend to do so! Participate in the study. Learn more about the study.

2011 ICF Award Overview

The ICF annually awards individual members, chapters and organizations that have demonstrated remarkable commitment to advancing the art, science and practice of professional coaching in their community and beyond. These awards, embodied by the ICF President’s Award, ICF Chapter Awards, and International Prism Awards, are presented each year during the Annual International Conference.
This year, these awards were presented in Las Vegas, Nevada, USA during two special ceremonies.

During the Appreciation and Recognition Luncheon for ICF leadership on September 24, six chapters were recognized in two awards categories for their local marketing and community outreach efforts. The recipients of the 2011 ICF Chapter Awards were:

Chapter Award winners. Not pictured: ICF Spain.

Local Spirit, Global Presence—Community Activism Award

• Heartland Coaches Association—Greater Kansas City: for its partnership with the Heartland Habitat for Humanity (HHFH), a local nonprofit group, to provide professional coaching services to the HHFH team.
• ICF Gauteng Chapter: for implementing its Coaching Caravan, which enabled the South African coaching community to offer free coaching, training and facilitation skills/services to individuals and community groups who would not normally have the opportunity to experience and benefit from these services.
• ICF Metro DC: for its aggressive community outreach agenda which included partnerships with: Leadership Arlington (LA), Capital Youth Empowerment Program (CYEP), and Homeward Deployed.

Finding our Voice—Marketing/PR Award

• ICF Uruguay: for organizing the first International Coaching Workshop (which drew over 100 participants), and for creating the first local association (AUCOP)—all during their first year as an ICF Chapter.
• ICF Brazil: for the successful implementation of a cross channel advertising campaign, as well as the creation of a local website to facilitate the call for services and advertising of the ICF brand.
• ICF Spain: for organizing the eighth ICF European Coaching Conference held in Madrid, Spain in 2011—an event attended by more than 450 participants from 29 countries.

During the Annual Business Meeting on September 26, two individuals were honored with the ICF President’s Award: Peter Goryalov and Irina Goryalova of Bulgaria.

2011 ICF President Ed Modell, PCC, selected Peter and Irina, a married couple, for the great contributions they have made in the name of coaching over the last several years. They formed the first coaching company in Bulgaria in 2006 and subsequently founded the ICF Bulgaria Chapter.


Peter Goryalov and Irina Goryalova

In the year since the chapter opened for business, membership has increased to 22 (including seven coaches trained through ICF approved coach training programs and two who hold an ICF Associate Certified Coach credential) and they have begun providing a series of masterclasses using the most modern video conferencing technology to bring top notch speakers “into” Bulgaria.

Also during the Annual Business Meeting, the ICF awarded two organizations with the International Prism Award. ICF has been issuing the international award since 2005 as a way to recognize those organizations that have enhanced excellence and business achievement through their commitment to coaching as a leadership strategy. The 2011 award winners are BC Housing and JOEY RESTAURANT GROUOP, both of Canada.

BC Housing
In 2007, BC Housing partnered with MICA (now Knightsbridge) to create its Leadership Development Program in an effort to develop its leadership talent and create a coaching for performance culture as part of its overall people strategy.

The initiative was first introduced at the executive level and was launched with senior level leader participation. Following a successful pilot, the program was expanded to include all leaders throughout the organization.

BC Housing’s commitment to coaching has helped transform the culture internally by closing the leadership gap, increasing the pool of competent leaders and creating a coaching culture. And overall, they have experienced better performance results.

It has been calculated that BC Housing has experienced a 70 percent return on investment!

BC Housing continues to invest in coaching and most recently launched ‘Coach2Coach’ for its senior leaders to deepen their coaching skills, broaden their leadership perspectives and build a community of practice.


On site to accept the award on behalf of BC Housing was Agnes Ross and Dian Patterson. And from Knightsbridge: Julie Jones, Senior Consultant of Leadership Solutions.

JOEY RESTAURANT GROUP Armed with the knowledge that coaching can benefit leadership in virtually any area of an organization, the JOEY RESTAURANT GROUP began its coaching initiative as the rest of the restaurant industry was faced with recession-related dilemmas.

The coaching initiative began with the strategic selection of the most senior leaders in the organization, essentially so they could be coached and be trained as internal coaches, all while running their restaurant regions! Since then, numerous coaching strategies and processes have been used with employees across the organization for leadership development, conflict management and personal growth.

In the last 30 months, they have experienced more than 30 percent revenue growth, reduced turnover and made the Top 100 employers list for the first time ever. Not only that, but JOEY calculates a 682 percent return on investment from their coaching initiative!

JOEY believes in coaching as a key development tool and an integral part of supporting growth at all levels in the organization—particularly so they will have an abundance of talent ready to step up to the next level of leadership when needed.

On site to accept the award on behalf of JOEY RESTAURANT GROUP was Andrew Martin and Al Jessa. And from Essential Impact: Marjorie Busse, MCC; Dave Busse, PCC; and Carollyne Conlinn, MCC.

Stay tuned: the videos from the 2011 award winners will be posted to the ICF channel on YouTube shortly. Learn more about ICF Awards at Coachfederation.org/awards.

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.

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 award recognizes organizations that benefit from coaching

The 2010 Global Consumer Awareness Study found that professional coaching is being used to help people around the world improve work performance, expand career opportunities and increase self-esteem.

More than 42.6 percent of respondents who had experienced coaching chose “optimize individual and/or team performance” as their motivation for being coached. Other motivations to choose coaching included to “expand professional career opportunities” at 38.8 percent and to “improve business management strategies” at 36.1 percent.

And since 2005, the ICF has recognized 12 organizations that have used coaching as a leadership strategy and experienced a return on investment (ROI) and/or return on expectation (ROE) through the International Prism Award program.

Recipients of the International Prism Award have committed to coaching as a leadership strategy and have experienced enhanced excellence and business achievement. Winning organizations have been held to stringent eligibility criteria, standing apart from other applicants in terms of their effective use of coaching and documented ROI and/or ROE.

The award is open to any organization—of any size, from any industry, located in any part of the world. All it takes is the time to submit the nomination application. The deadline for 2011 nominations is coming quickly: Monday, July 11. If you plan to nominate an organization for this year’s International Prism Award, please email the completed application to icfpr@coachfederation.org.

YOUR organization could be the next International Prism Award recipient! Past winners of the ICF International Prism Award have included:

• 2010: Genentech and The TINE Group
• 2009: ibm.com and Solaglas Windowcare
• 2008: British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) and SYSCO Food Services of Canada
• 2007: NASA (APPEL 4-D Systems) and Deloitte and Touche
• 2006: University of Texas at Dallas (UTD) and Verizon Business
• 2005: IBM and MCI

Download the application.

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 want YOU to be a part of the 2011 Global Coaching Study

Five years ago, nearly 6,000 coaches in over 70 countries took part in the ICF Global Coaching Study. Coaches were surveyed on their coaching practice and client demographic information, as well as revenue.

Commissioned by the ICF (and conducted by independent research firm PricewaterhouseCoopers), the study was a first—its groundbreaking findings provided the world’s first look at the coaching profession from a global perspective.

And now, the time is here to repeat the revolutionary study. And ALL coaches (ICF member or not) are invited to participate. The 2011 study will track key trends that have emerged since 2006 and will serve as a useful and insightful comparison to the original Global Coaching Study.

If you are a coach, please take some time to complete the online survey. Doing so will help bring the global landscape of coaching in 2011 into clear focus. The data collected will lead to the creation of a robust “state of the industry” report that will provide coaches, organizations and the media an opportunity to learn more about the profession.

Like the 2006 study, the 2011 Global Coaching Study will be conducted by PwC. As of June 17, the survey is available in English and Spanish. It will eventually be available in a total of nine languages (also including French, German, Italian, Japanese, Korean, Mandarin and Portuguese).

Once you complete the survey, invite your coaching peers around the world to participate by forwarding the study link. All survey respondents will receive an advance copy of the Executive Summary that PwC will develop based on study findings.

Participate in the 2011 Global Coaching Study.

Never too early to begin planning!

In less than four months, professional coaches from every corner of the globe will convene in Las Vegas, Nevada, USA at the Mandalay Bay Resort to be a part of the ICF Annual International Conference. Are you planning to attend?

Register by May 31 for a chance to win two tickets to a Vegas show! More details.

If you’ve already registered, great! Here are a few additional things you can do now to make the most of your time in Vegas this September 24-27:

• Follow the latest conference news at Coachfederation.org/conference. As updates are available, news items will be posted online. Most recently added news item? Registered conference attendees staying at the Mandalay Bay Resort will be offered a special 15 percent savings on Mandalay Bay Resort spa treatments, September 25-29.
• Explore education sessions and speaker biographies as they are posted. New information is posted to the website daily. This year’s sessions and speakers will stretch, provide a new way of thinking, offer alternative perspectives and get your “creative juices” flowing. You can access conference speaker bios here and education sessions here, as confirmed.
• If you (or someone you know) is interested in exhibiting at or sponsoring the 2011 International ICF Conference, learn more at Coachfederation.org/conference. There are many great opportunities still open for those interested in exhibiting or sponsoring the 2011 conference! See if the ICF Conference is a good fit for you.
• Begin making travel accommodations and flight schedules. Begin your travel booking search here. And if you want to begin looking at the fun things to do in and around Las Vegas, start perusing here.

ICF Definition of a Mentor Coach

Greetings Colleagues,

In the April edition of Coaching World, ICF announced the approval of an improved ICF definition of Mentor Coach. As we continue on our journey toward improving the ICF Credential Program it is important that I provide the full context for this board decision.

Based upon the Credentialing and Program Accreditation Committee (CPAC) research, the following points are important and were considered in developing this policy change:

• Engaging with a qualified mentor coach for the purpose of core coaching competency, skill and behavior development is recognized globally as an effective professional development activity;
• The absence of a definition for "qualified" mentor coach has created inconsistency in the experience of being mentored everywhere in the world;
• The brevity of the current definition does not provide guidance for a person to select a suitable mentor coach for professional development and/ or preparation for a credential exam;
• That an ICF Credential is evidence of being a "qualified" mentor is valuable, it is not sufficient;
• Outside of North America, no credential is required to be a "qualified" mentor coach;
• Membership growth is higher outside of North America, e.g. during the first two quarters of 2011 the ratio is 39 percent North American to 61 percent in all other countries; and
• The creation of specific competencies (skills and behaviors) of a qualified mentor coach is recommended along with a training requirement and an assessment process to demonstrate qualification.

CPAC recommended a three-phase approach. The global ICF Board of Directors endorsed and approved Phase I for immediate implementation in order to:

• Improve access to higher quality mentor coaching outside of North America;
• Create a clear, simple policy that is easy to understand everywhere in the world;
• Provide guidance for an individual to select a qualified mentor coach that supports their professional development based upon their known needs and learning preferences; and
• Establish a basis from which to develop Phases 2 and 3 without perpetuating known inconsistencies around the globe.

The announcement in the April edition of Coaching World introduced the rationale for Phase I and can be viewed at http://www.coachfederation.org/includes/docs/April-2011.pdf. The policy change provides guidance for selecting a suitable mentor coach based upon experience and skills. The criteria were developed through dialogue with our large community of ICF Assessors and Faculty in ICF recognized training programs that currently provide mentor coach services. A waiting period is being established to respect individuals who are in the process of working with a mentor coach to complete a credential application process.

The committee is now working on Phase 2, to develop mentor coach competencies and will then proceed to Phase 3, to develop training and assessment processes and provide a globally consistent policy.

ICF is in the process of having the improved ICF definition of Mentor Coach policy translated into Spanish, French, German and Portuguese, which will be posted on Coachfederation.org as soon as it is available. In June, ICF will begin distributing a quarterly Credentialing Newsletter to provide continual updates on the work and accomplishments of the various CPAC Workgroups.

Sincerely,
Janet M. Harvey, MCC
Global ICF President-Elect

Be the next ICF award winner!

In the coming months, applications for the ICF International Prism Award and the ICF Chapter Awards will be due. Not sure if you are eligible to apply? Read on to learn more:


2010 Prism Recipients from the TINE Group


ICF International Prism Award: Do you know of an organization that is committed to coaching as a leadership strategy? Do you coach for a company that is using coaching to achieve real business results? Has your company experienced a return on investment from its unique coaching initiative? If you answered yes to any of these questions, you should nominate that organization for an ICF International Prism Award.

The ICF is looking for coaching success stories to honor through this award program. Since 2005, ICF Headquarters has honored 12 diverse organizations for remarkable improvements in business directly related to coaching and coaching programs. No organization is too large or too small to win this prestigious award. You can download the Prism Award application here.

International Prism Award nominations are due at 5 p.m. on Monday, July 11.

ICF Chapter Award: Has your chapter established a coaching presence in your community? Has your chapter created a successful marketing/PR campaign in your community? If you answered yes to either of these questions, your chapter should be nominated!

The ICF Chapter Award is offered in two categories: the Local Spirit, Global Presence—Community Activism Award and the Finding our Voice—Marketing/PR Award. Three awards are presented in each category to small, medium and large chapters.

Tell us what your chapter is doing to promote the ICF and professional coaching in your community. Chapter leaders may nominate their own chapter or a fellow chapter for an ICF Chapter Award. You can download the ICF Chapter Award application here.

ICF Chapter Award nominations are due at 5 p.m. on Monday, August 1.

All 2011 award recipients will be honored at the ICF Annual International Conference this September in Las Vegas, Nevada, USA.

Applying for an ICF Credential? Enhanced application coming soon.

Early next month, the enhanced online credentialing application* will be unveiled at Coachfederation.org.

This enhancement project has been a long time coming—ICF Credential applicants have long noted that the application process was not user-friendly. Staff and volunteer leaders took this feedback and are ready to share the new online credentialing application.

Most notably, the new application process will make applying for (and renewing) an ICF Credential much more streamlined and simple for applicant use—everything will be broken into logical steps and applicants will be guided through the process like never before.

A recent letter that went out to all ICF members said that the new online application will:

• Streamline applying for an ICF Credential;

• Have easy-to-follow instructions;
• Allow coaches to create an application and complete forms incrementally before submitting their work for review (and payment) when complete;
• Show coaches their current application status when they access their credentialing record;
• Send an automated e-mail to coaches when their credentialing application status changes, as well as provide reminders for tasks needing to be performed;
• Track correspondence between applicants and ICF staff in one location for easy reference; and
• Make renewing an ICF Credential easier.

And that’s just a start. ICF staff members are investigating the possibility of adding additional features at a later date, including the ability to allow applicants to track continuing coach education units (CCEUs) as earned and credentialing exam scheduling functionality.

If you recently submitted an application that is being reviewed, waiting for an exam opportunity, have started an application but have not yet submitted it or are getting ready to apply for the ICF Credential, visit the full article at Coachfederation.org for further direction on what you need to know.

Look for updates on the launch of the new online application at Coachfederation.org in the ICF News section (on the home page of Coachfederation.org). Should you have any questions regarding these enhancements or the new application (once it is available), contact the ICF Credentialing staff via e-mail at icfcredentialing@coachfederation.org.

*Enhancements were only made to the online application process, NOT to the actual credential requirements.

Happenings from the January Board Meeting

Dear ICF Colleagues-

The global ICF Board held a very productive meeting on January 22, 2011 covering a broad range of topics. I wanted to give you a brief summary of what the Board did with more details to follow.

2011 Global Board of Directors

Recognizing the importance of communicating clearly and effectively to our members in a multi-lingual environment, the Board approved a formal policy for the translation of documents that will take effect on April 1, 2011 and provides for (1) refreshing the current Spanish, French, German and Portuguese micro web sites at least once each year and updating key documents as needed; (2) translating member survey questionnaires into our four primary languages other than English; (3) translating the monthly member updates along with the monthly President's column from the Coaching World newsletter, and relevant press releases.

In the credentialing and program accreditation area, the Board approved two policies dealing with the definition of "Mentor Coaching" and the reinstatement of credentials where they have lapsed or expired. The Board wishes to thank the many member volunteers who have worked on these policies through the Credentialing and Program Accreditation Committee, as well as the many other policies and procedures they are continuing to work on related to enhancements to this program area.

In terms of developing future leaders from within ICF's ranks, the Board approved in principle a proposal to create an ICF Leadership Institute, with a pilot program to begin sometime this summer subject to the approval of a business plan and adequate funding being available. The Leadership Institute proposal is based on the Harvard University Graduate School of Education model for Management and Leadership. It will have a Steering Committee and Advisory Board made up of ICF members and led by global Board members Damian Goldvarg and Cheryl Vermey, respectively. More details on applying to be a participant or subject matter expert presenter will be made available in the coming months.

The Board also approved Chapter Leadership Ethical Guidelines that were developed in a collaborative effort by the Membership & Community Committee and the Ethics and Standards Committee. These Guidelines give more clarity about the high standards of ethical and professional conduct that we expect of our chapter leaders (presidents, board members and committee mebers) and how chapter members can hold their leaders to those standards without the need for micromanagement from the global organization. The Guidelines also recognize that resources are available from global, such as mediator assistance, when needed.

I also reported to the Board on a program being developed called the Diversity and Multicultural Awareness Group. Starting in February, I will host a series of calls where all ICF members can come and discuss the challenges and ways to meet them so that ICF can be a model of inclusivity for all international member organizations. I expect that many global Board members will also want to attend these calls and to hear first-hand how we can work together to build on the strengths we have with nearly 18,000 members in 104 countries around the world.

Ed Modell, PCCPresident, International Coach Federation