Coaching research for coaching week

You might be hosting an event this week where having recent coaching research will prove beneficial. Or maybe you aren’t. Either way, we have compiled some of the top findings from the Global Consumer Awareness Study* into a single listing. Read over it. Print it out. Use it. Share it.

How aware are people of professional coaching?

• More than half of all respondents (51 percent) were generally aware of coaching. This includes those who indicated they were either “very aware” (12 percent) or “somewhat aware” (39 percent). General awareness varied by country from a high of 92 percent in South Africa to a low of 20 percent in Germany.

• When probed, nearly half (49 percent) of all respondents who indicated they were unaware of coaching, did in fact have an understanding of professional coaching.

Why are people involved in a coaching relationship?
• More than two-fifths (42.6 percent) of respondents who had experienced coaching chose “optimize individual and/or team performance” as their motivation for being coached. This reason ranked highest followed by “expand professional career opportunities” (38.8 percent) and “improve business management strategies” (36.1 percent). “Increase self-esteem/self-confidence” and “manage work/life balance” rated fourth and fifth to round out the top five motivation areas.

How satisfied are those who have been coached?
• Satisfaction levels are very high (83 percent) among those who have been involved in a coaching relationship, 36 percent of which were “very satisfied.” The level of satisfaction rises even higher to 92 percent among those with an ICF Credentialed coach, 55 percent of which were “very satisfied.”

How likely are people to recommend coaching to others?
• As a whole, those who have been coached gave a mean advocacy score of 7.5 (out of 10) in terms of their likeliness to recommend coaching. Overall, 31 percent of those who had been coached indicated that they were “extremely likely” to recommend. Advocacy was even higher for those who had an ICF Credentialed coach—45 percent were “extremely likely to advocate coaching to others.

How important are certifications/credentials for coaches?
• 84 percent of respondents who had been in a coaching relationship considered certification/credentials important. Even among those who indicated they were not aware of the coaching profession or the ICF, 83 percent considered credentials or certifications important for professional coaches to have.

• More than two in five respondents (44 percent) knew if their coach had a certification/credential.

What demographic is most attuned to coaching?
• Of the four age groups analyzed in this study, the youngest segment (ages 25–34) had the highest rate of awareness of coaching (57 percent), highest awareness of the ICF (26 percent) and highest levels of satisfaction with their coaching experience (85 percent). The level of satisfaction of this age group with an ICF Credentialed coach was higher again with 92 percent satisfied; more than half (55 percent) stating they were “very satisfied.”

*The Global Consumer Awareness Study surveyed 15,000 individuals (aged 25 and older) from 20 countries throughout Africa, Asia, Europe, North America and South America.

This Coaching Week – Can coaching help bring peace on earth and goodwill to all people?

It’s coaching week! In some ways it seems to me it’s a bit like Christmas in the coaching profession–a time when we go out into the world, bearing (our) gifts and bringing a message (and method) of goodwill for all people.

Perhaps you are doing something for Coaching Week? If you are, I hope you have much joy and success with it. I’m mindful of the words of two people I admire; Martin Bell, a former BBC correspondent who saw more war zones and troubled situations than perhaps it’s fair for anyone to see, who said “Good things happen because we make them happen, bad things happen because we allow them to.” I hope that whatever you are doing, it’s helping more people to make good things happen. And that dear friend of collectors of wisdoms and quotes, Winston Churchill, with his “We make a living from what we get. We make a life from what we give.” I hope that through your sharing your gift of coaching you are receiving not just a living, but a fuller life.

And I’m also mindful of sometimes how hard it is to take coaching out into the world. Including the difficulty explaining something as intangible as coaching. I recently came across this wonderful video of a coach openly, honestly, and humorously struggling to say what he does–http://www.nicaskew.com/commission/coach/ FILM EXAMPLE THREE

‘INTANGIBLY INARTICULATABLE’. I’ve been trying to help ICF Bulgaria raise awareness of coaching in their country–so we’ve put together a series of masterclasses, where coaches and people in the profession are beamed from around the world into a videosuite in Sofia. Coaching someone live by webcam as they sit in front of a large audience is definitely an experience! But it’s working well–membership up 300% since the series launched two months ago and monies coming in to enable them to do great works. It seems that giving people the experience of coaching is more effective than talking about it.

And even so I’m still wondering what it is that’s at the heart of what we bring. I love the line in Nic Askew’s video– “A truly honest conversation.” For me that comes close, and it certainly is a gift to bring to most peoples lives.

And these words from an article in The Times of 1st February 2011 are ringing in my ears: “One Royal Marine officer active in Iraq asked “What could we do differently?” was told time and time again: “ You could start by just listening.” He said that the most effective tactic was to do just that.

As coaches this is at the heart of what we do in the world. If there is a profession that can help bring more listening into lives, it’s us.

So there you have it. Coaching can indeed help to bring peace on earth.

Have a Happy Coaching Week.

And just to say–for all those currently in the news in their struggles for democracy, fairness and a future for their children, and for all those affected by the natural disasters, I hope I can speak on behalf of many in our global community to say you are very much in our thoughts, and we are there for you if you need us.

Neil Scotton, PCC, February 2011

Top 5 things you can do with little to no planning this week

So here we are…International Coaching Week (ICW) 2011 is finally here! To celebrate, there are coaches across the world doing different things throughout the week to show coaching to their communities.

Maybe ICW snuck up on you this year. Don’t fret! You can still do something this week to commemorate the weeklong celebration. And it doesn’t have to be anything elaborate. In fact, we have a few relatively painless options for you to consider:

1) Offer specials. People love deals—perhaps you can offer your existing clients a discount on your services. It doesn’t have to be during this week per se, but maybe something you offer through the month of February. This special can be anything; the possibilities are absolutely endless! Examples: two coaching hours for the price of one, etc.

And you don’t have to limit this to your existing clients. You could create a special for those clients who sign with you in February.

2) Make time for networking. Many ICF Chapters are hosting events during ICW—from standard chapter meetings with guest speakers to single day workshops and multi-day conferences. If you aren’t already, plan to take part in whatever your local chapter has planned for ICW2011. If your local chapter doesn’t have anything planned, connect with other members to start brainstorming ideas for ICW2012!

Nearest chapter too far away to attend regularly? If it is within reasonable driving distance, take time out to go to their next meeting to network with peers. If that is not an option, take a look at upcoming Virtual Education sessions and add one to your calendar.

3) Give your business a once-over. Take time during this special week to better your practice. You know there are things on your to-do list that you want to check off—set aside designated time this week to do these things! For some it could be designing new business cards or taking a good hard look at your marketing plan. For others, it could be revising your pricing scale or starting a blog. Whatever it is, take time out to do it!

4) Gather testimonials. ICW isn’t only about your current or future clients. Make it about your past clients! Nothing can make a business more credible than through the use of client testimonials. Reach out to those you have coached in the past and ask them to provide a testimonial you can use in your upcoming marketing initiatives or on your website.

5) Volunteer locally. There is nothing more satisfying than the feeling that you have helped someone else. As a coach, you get to experience that sort of fulfillment on a regular basis. Reach beyond your comfort zone and volunteer some time at a local organization. The best part? There is truly something for everyone when it comes to volunteering. Want to work with animals? Check a local Humane Society. Want to work with kids? Talk to a local school or adoption agency. Want to use your hands? Check out Habitat for Humanity. And these are just three ideas! Opportunities are only limited by your imagination*!

*Note: ICF Headquarters is holding a Day of Service later this week in honor of ICW. Staff members are volunteering at locally based International Book Project. Check the blog on Friday for an update on the Day of Service.

Happy International Coaching Week!

The Single Most Important Thing for Global Executive Coaches: Readiness to Recognize and Work with Life’s Surprising Opportunities

Recently I coined the term “Proactive Resilience©” from a lifetime of challenges turned into opportunities. Decades of preparation in international leadership, social science research, power relationships, intercultural mindfulness, systems theory, neuroscience and other disciplines helped, yes. So did a difficult early family, time spent in Eastern Europe during the Cold War, teaching university, being a Licensed Clinical Mental Health Counselor and going through various certifications and creating Advantara® Global Institute’s Global Executive Coach Certification Program - see http://www.advantara.com/] have also gone into the mix.

But I’d have to say it’s the “who I am,” especially my hope and curiosity, that have translated into a core attitude of “what’s next to learn?” that have been critical in my life and work with global executives. That simple question is the single most important alchemical element in my coaching and also in my personal life. Not only have I been totally (and, fortunately, positively) surprised at the far reaching impact of my coaching engagements and educational programs for global executive coaches, but in my personal life, totally unexpected miracles have happened!

In 2005 I was invited to move to England and live in a friend’s “extra” mansion in England’s West Country; my ancestors had emigrated from here in 1659 and I’ve always felt a strong connection to the landscape. For years I’ve had some excellent colleagues and friends here from previous presentations at ICF Conferences and Chapter meetings from the late 90s onwards. This area became a base for working with clients and educating coaches worldwide (including Europe, Asia, Africa, North and South America, Oceania). But there were some unexpected opportunities as well.

The biggest surprise of all was that, having been quite happily single for many years, I married a retired British man of Scottish and Cornish ancestry. This even came with membership in an ancient Scottish clan of Viking origin (Gunn)!

Has it all been positive or easy? Let’s just say I survived a 4.5 year debilitating illness in the 90s, found my own cure online and got my life back with little help from traditional medicine, which was frustrating. More recently a colleague published a book the outline of which bears an uncanny resemblance to one I presented to his publisher 2.5 years ago. So, no. But – remember Proactive Resilience©? Stay tuned!

While continuing my Global Executive Coaching career, I ‘ve renewed my interest in singing and performing traditional British and American music and writing poetry (recently published in Rick Hansen’s (Co-author of Buddha’s Brain ) Wise Brain Bulletin (http://www.wisebrain.org/WBB4.11.12.pdf p 17). I was invited to join a group of English poets and asked to host a poetry café at The Brewhouse in Taunton Somerset this Spring. I sing and play at folk clubs and singarounds all over Southwest England with my husband (singer and fiddler) in our trusty Motor Caravan! A screenplay is next and a Hollywood producer likes my idea. What’s next?

Hannah S Wilder, MA (Harvard University), PhD (MIT), MCC, Master Team Coach, and Master Certified Global Executive Coach©, Host of The Global Executive Coaching SIG

Pull up a podium

The ICF is looking for speakers for its 16th Annual International ICF Conference that will take place this September in Las Vegas, Nevada, USA. If you are an interactive speaker with something to say, you really should consider this opportunity!

The ICF International Conference draws more than 1,000 coaching professionals annually. They want to learn. They are eager to share ideas and opinions. They like to network. And they are the perfect audience for your presentation.

If you want to take advantage of this opportunity, you will want to start getting your materials together now. Proposals will only be accepted until Monday, February 7.

A few words of advice: you must include a link to a video stream (perhaps YouTube, your personal website or other website) that illustrates your skill as a presenter and your engagement with an audience. Proposals submitted without this will NOT be considered.

Ensure that your proposal is interactive. This is a biggie—Conference Education Steering Committee members (those who will review your proposal and ultimately select or deny your proposal) want to see sessions that are energetic, lively and involves everyone. They want to see a session that will allow attendees to “live in the moment.”

Your proposal should encompass a session in which you have experience. You need to be a subject matter expert in the content you propose to offer. For instance, you don’t want to propose a session where you will teach people how to use social media when you yourself don’t regularly use it. Your session should be around something you know about and you believe others will want to learn about it too.

The ICF is accepting proposals until 12 a.m. midnight (New York) on Monday, February 7. You can learn about the application process, as well as other criteria, here.

Have you ever spoken at an ICF International Conference? What was your experience like?