I’ve always enjoyed watching high performing athletes, because there’s the ability to observe in real time how they perform in their field of expertise. We can vicariously experience how the athlete responds to the pressure of the moment. We can...
Category: U #5 – Maintains Presence
Is fully conscious and present with the client, employing a style that is open, flexible, grounded and confident.
The pursuit of excellence
The Summer Olympic Games in Paris have now concluded. Last week I was on staycation and delightfully binge watched as many events as possible from my sofa in California! My television network (CBS/Peacock) did an excellent job of making every...
The interconnectedness of trust, safety and presence – exploring for MCC skill level
We all have experiences in our life where we feel more or less trust with another person. The more trust we feel with someone, the more safety there is for us to further express our deeper thoughts and feelings. Our...
What is Process Partnering?
This article was originally published September 2017, and last updated February 2024. The ICF definition of coaching is, "Partnering with clients in a thought provoking and creative process that inspires them to maximize their personal and professional potential." Core Competency...
Exploring Space as a Coach
When looking up to the night sky, perhaps with a full moon over the ocean, what feeling do you experience? Even if you’ve never experienced exactly that scenario, simply gazing up to the night sky with stars, clouds and the...
How to demonstrate more ICF core competencies by having a Coaching Plan
Note: This article has been updated in 2023. There’s an easy way for a coach to demonstrate more competencies in their coaching, which is by having a Coaching Plan for your coaching engagement. Definition of a Coaching Plan A Coaching...
Coaching client language of laughs and giggles
During a coaching session, a Professional Coach uses a range of coaching skills, including asking the client clarifying and discovery oriented questions, giving back their summaries or comments to the client, and offering observations, sensing or intuitive thoughts or feelings...
Let the client do the work
A common saying in coach training programs is that coaches ask questions, and offer observations, yet it’s the client who does “the work.” Along with another common saying; that coaches believe their clients to be “whole, resourceful and capable, and...
Coach behaviors which influence their client
Coaching as a professional conversation differs from other conversations because the mindset of the coach and client is one of Partnership; keeping the client "in the spotlight" as it's the client-desired outcome that the coach is there to serve. A...
The flow of a coaching conversation
A coaching conversation is a conversation with a purpose, being a client-determined topic and outcome for each coaching session. Professional Coaches are trained in how to structure a coaching session, so there is maximum opportunity for the client to gain...