(First published May 2013. Significantly updated September 2025) As a long time Mentor Coach and ICF Assessor, coaches often ask me how to distinguish between coaching at the three credential levels. Here is one fundamental distinction, and it revolves around...
Category: U #5 – Maintains Presence
Is fully conscious and present with the client, employing a style that is open, flexible, grounded and confident.
How coach pace of speaking influences our client
In conversations, when someone speaks at a similar pace as we do, we generally feel a sense of ease, perhaps even unconsciously a sense of trust (depending on the information being shared). We all have our ānaturalā (or learned) way...
Succinctly speaking
Speaking succinctly is like speaking simply. Mastery of speaking as a coach lies in simplicity; yet to master simplicity requires a commitment to ongoing practice. According to Oxford Dictionary, succinct means, ābriefly and clearly expressed.ā Simply means, āin a straightforward...
What Expertise Does a Coach Need?
Clients seeking a Professional Coach may think that someone 'like them' is the best type of coach. Yet the opposite may be true. This means the client wants someone who has knowledge or experience in their industry. Or has been...
Practice, Review, Prepare and Rehearse to Uplevel your Coaching
Iāve always enjoyed watching high performing athletes, because thereās 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...
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 youāve 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. Thereās 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...