Credentialing HelpDesk

Hello ICFC Coaches and Members:

Welcome back to credential HelpDesk. We at ICF-Chicago are committed to continuing providing support for our members and coaches in acquiring or maintaining their ICF credentials.

The ‘So What?’ factor:

According to the 2012 ICF Global Coaching Study, 33% of its members hold an ICF credential. They also reported higher-than-average incomes worldwide compared to non-credentialed coaches. 

According to 2010 ICF Global Consumer Awareness Study, clients were more likely to be satisfied with their coaching experience and recommend coaching to others when they worked with an ICF-credentialed coach.  In the same study, 84% of adult coaching consumers thought that it was important for coaches to hold a credential.

I have already received some questions following our last month’s announcement about the HelpDesk. As we respond to those, we will create a unique FAQ bank, in addition to the one that already exists at the ICF web site.

We are still working to create our easy-to-access web presence on the ICFC website. As soon as we can, we will provide helpful hints for you to make credentialing a ‘cinch’ and a well-earned honor. At least that is the intent.

In the meantime, start collecting the hours you have coached – paid and non-paid, and your training certification and coursework, and any CCEUs you have accrued.

Visit “coachfederation.org/icfcredentials” frequently to learn and move forward in your credentialing journeys.

If you have any ideas, thoughts, questions, or answers to unasked questions – please email me at pastpresident@icf-chicago.org  or text me directly at 847-612-4244.

Celebrations!

Kam Gupta

ICFC Credential HelpDesk and immediate past president

Anticipation

As I write this (June 20) I’m sitting at my Marriott Minneapolis Airport hotel room desk finishing up some work before I head out and connect with my coach peeps at the ICF Midwest Regional Conference (http://icf-midwest.com)! Can’t wait! I’m anticipating lots of great conversation, connection, learning and seeing people I rarely get to see face-to-face. Aaahhh…

Beyond this conference, I’m also in a state of anticipation regarding my personal and professional life. I’ve hit one of those times where it seems extra important to really SLOW DOWN and be truly present about where I am (for real) and where I want to go… not only as a coach, but as an artist, producer and teacher. This slowed-down place is actually a great relief to the fast pace I’ve been in recently. I recommend it.

What are you anticipating these days?

And what about ICF Chicago? Huge anticipation here! The board continues to hone in on what it means to Learn, Earn and Engage as well as how we can support Chicagoland coaches on your professional journey. We have landed in a fun place…by focusing on the credential pathway we will support coaches in multiple ways to advance their credibility, impact and viability, both personally and professionally.

As you’ve heard me write before, one way this is showing up is in the form of a new membership program. And as you may have noticed, we keep delaying the launch due to some back-office technical issues we are ironing out with our website provider. There is nothing like having a dream and then having to wait for it (you know the feeling)! So please keep anticipating the launch. We’ll let you know when it’s ready “for real.”

And hey, just in case you are anticipating some not-so-good stuff…don’t dread! I read that message a few years ago from a very wise person and have let that guide me (when I remember) when I start to worry about what I think is ahead. I repeat…don’t dread! Instead join me in slowing down and letting the present be your friend.

I wish you well and hope to see you at our July 8th Chapter Meeting at 6pm which will focus on how to better track and communicate the impact of coaching with current and potential clients!

With Anticipation,

Wendy Balman

HelpDesk to the Rescue!

May I Help You? …

…When it comes to your ICF credentialing, whether it is ACC, PCC or MCC, new or sustaining, it is the intent of ICFC to help you move forward.

Meet ‘HelpDesk’; A concept pioneered by this year’s board in response to your voice for growing the value of ICFC membership, The purpose is to encourage ICFC members to take advantage of the opportunity to become ICF credentialed, and leverage that to your advantage.

We will soon be launching a special page dedicated to ‘HelpDesk’ on the ICFC web site. Until that time,

if you are stipulating to becoming credentialed, struggling to sustain your credentials, or have specific questions about it…I am your link. Please send your inquiry, questions or suggestions to Kam Gupta, at citkam@gmail.com or text me at 847-612-4244.

With great appreciation,

Kam Gupta, ICFC Past President

President's Letter-June 2013

Time to Check-in!

These last few months at ICF Chicago have been full of activity and I have consistently needed to pause and check-in with self. One of my favorite check-in tools is the “Clarity Check-in” by Cathy & Gary Hawk (speakers for our VIRTUAL chapter meeting webinar on June 10!!). Let’s do it together (5 minutes):

Step 1: What’s different—State one thing that you have noticed that is now different for you in the last 24 hours.

Step 2: What Worked & What Didn’t Work—State one thing that worked in your performance in the last 24 hours. Then state one thing that didn’t. Remove all judgment. Clap to acknowledge what worked and what didn’t.

Step 3: Check your Personal Energy—What is your State of Mind? State of Body? State of Spirit?

Step 4: What are you grateful for?—State one thing you are grateful for.

Step 5: What is your intention for the day?—State your intention.

Throughout the Day:

You can use this quick check-in before any relational interaction. Pause, breathe, and take a moment to set an intention for your time with the other person. What are you grateful for? How do you want to show up in this meeting? Use this as your “anchor” for the meeting. What’s the “vibe” you want to bring? What’s the “vibe” you want to create?

Personally, I am setting the intention to make more time to renew my creative energy on a daily/weekly basis. 

Now that we’ve checked-in with self, I want to shift the focus and check-in with coaching. As you’ve read in our most recent email blast on May 26, we are launching our new member benefits programs the week of June 9 and part of that launch includes the invitation to be intentional with the 7 Milestones of the Credential Journey. Where are you on the credential pathway? Stay tuned for our launch to find out more and take our Credential Check-in!

By the way, will you be going to the Midwest Regional Conference on June 20-22? I will! Hope to see you there!!!

Enjoy your June!

Wendy Balman, MA, CPCC, ACC

ICF Chicago President 2013-2014

May 2013 President's Letter

Making it real!

What do you do when you have too much information? I know what happens to me…I shuuuuutt dddoooowwwnnnnn.

Speaking of too much information, ICF Chicago gathered a plethora of ideas, requests and input from the two World Cafés we held over the last five months from coaches eager to be more effective, productive and lucrative (See our Coaching Resources webpage for more on our World Café gatherings). As a Board Team and your strategic partner, we did not shut down but utilized multiple creative sessions to interpret and apply the input as effectively as possible. 

What we discovered is that if we were to create a clear pathway for coaches to get ICF credentialed and stay ICF credentialed, we would be providing opportunities for them to advance their credibility, impact, community engagement, business development and earning power.

In light of this, we will be celebrating International Coaching Week  held on May 20-25, 2013 this year, as our launch for the following initiatives:

·         New membership alliance opportunity to support coaches in getting all the CCEUs (Continuing Coach Education Units) necessary to achieve and maintain an ICF credential more affordably.

·         A HelpDesk to answer questions on the ICF membership, ICF Chicago membership and ICF credentialing process.

·         Engage with coaches as a strategic partner to leverage the programming and resources in Chicagoland and abroad for our coaches starting with Radical Conversations! A 1-week virtual summit of coach leaders in the coaching industry provided for FREE!!! Check out www.radicalconversations.com to sign up!

·         A free Speakers Bureau tool for coaches to use for speaking opportunities including rich content and a clear introduction to the benefits of coaching. This will also be launched in-person during our May Community Coach Café meetings.  

Stay tuned for our official launch email blast during International Coaching Week so you can take advantage of our introductory membership alliance opportunities and to download the free Speakers Bureau tool.

With Anticipation,

Wendy Balman, MA, CPCC, ACC

ICF Chicago President 2013-2014

Web Watch 10

One of things most people do not know about me is that I love goats! I always have. They are not only darling, they are daring. I used to adore watching them at one of my favorite apple orchards in Indiana scaling these 2X4 runways into the air and around trees and back down to the ground again, amazing! My girlfriend has goats and I love going to the barn with her to feed them carrots [we NEVER have enough because apparently when it comes to eating they don’t have an OFF switch!] 

 

So imagine my delight when Coach Seth Santoro blogs on the ICF site today about goats and coaching [one of my other favorite topics!] Seth is exactly the kind of coach I emulate because he has a passion for life and coaching that is infectious. I had never thought to think about goats in relation to coaching. But after reading Seth’s article, Seven Things We Coaches Can Learn From Goats International Coach Federation I will never look at another goat without smiling and thinking that they are the perfect embodiment of what coaching my clients should entail; Fearlessness, Motivation [what motivates my clients], Curiosity, Playfulness, Transformation and Flexibility. Taking inspiration from what exists in our daily lives and using that to help our clients soar is a gift that we can all bring to our clients.

Respectfully,

Marggie Paris LSW, BCC

Life and Recovery Coach

Web Watch 9

Guilty as charged! I am one of those coaches the author, Donna Schilder, alludes to in her blog posting, Get Linked In! Leverage LinkedIn to Build Your Coaching Practice posted on ICF Blog Friday, March 15, 2013. http://icfheadquarters.blogspot.com/ I take business cards, leave them in a drawer and when I do get them out, I have lost all recollection of who, what and where.  I am also a member of LinkedIn, but do I really use it like the superior contact database it is? Answer is no.

That is all about to change; this posting has convinced me that I need to create the time to use this gem of the social media offerings to build a foundation of business relationships and then communicate with them. Schilder is quick to point out however, that in-person contact is still a critical component in building our potential client base, which I respect because I also believe that to be true.

 

The posting lists some very interesting stats for LinkedIn:

187 million members and growing

Average member income $109K

40% have management position or higher

Members visit the site 2.8 times per month

There is even a useful “How To” section that I will personally follow to not only build my base but enroll coaching clients.

This one is definitely worth checking out.

Respectfully,

Marggie Paris, LSW, BCC

Recovery and Life Coach