This month, I had no idea of what to write about for this blog article. This is a common experience for me almost every month. Rather than write something I didn’t feel like writing, I waited for something to emerge...
Category: Updated ICF Core Competency Model
The Updated Core Competency Model was widely released by the ICF in November 2019. Many of the current/old core competencies map directly over, and some are a bit different. I often will tag the current/old core competency as well in my posts, from November 2019 owward.
ICF releases Updated Code of Ethics
This article has been updated January 2024. Every 3 years, the International Coach Federation (ICF) undertakes a review of their Code of Ethics and releases the latest update. The last ethics update was June 2015, so this is 4 years...
ICF releases Updated Core Competency Model
On November 14, 2019, the International Coach Federation (ICF) widely released their Updated Core Competency Model (I’ll refer to as UCCM in this article). The timing of my monthly newsletter, being the 15th of each month, allows me to share...
Craft customized questions
This article has been updated in 2025. Two of the most powerful tools of trade of a professional coach is really listening to the client, and asking open-ended questions informed by that listening, which allow the client to discover something...
Helicopter coaching views
I’m always searching for new and interesting ways to describe coaching skills to the coaches I’m mentoring toward their ICF credential. This is one metaphor I’ve used for a while, so thought I’d share it here too. It involves a...
Part 1 – Distinctions on coaching session structure for ICF credential success
A coaching conversation is a conversation with a purpose. And the purpose of the conversation is ultimately determined by the client. We as the coach may support the client to define or refine the purpose or outcome of the coaching...
Types of trust in a coaching relationship
Note: This article has been updated in 2023. When we engage in coach training, we often hear the idea that our client has all the answers within them and our role is to help them get in touch with those...
Speech is Silver and Silence is Golden
Note: This article has been updated in 2023. You may have heard the saying, “Silence is Golden.” When researched this saying, I found it is a part of a saying that goes, “Speech is silver and silence is golden.” In...
The Power of using How questions
This article was updated in 2025. A mentor coaching client was coaching in one of our mentor coaching program sessions and we noticed something occur; the coach was asking a lot of “How” questions, which had a powerful effect on...
Creating a Coaching Development Plan
Note: This article has been updated in 2023. As an Executive Coach, I’m often involved in a robust upfront process that supports my client to create their Development Plan for our overall coaching engagement. This aligns with ICF Core Competency...