What You’re Doing Now
Every day, ICF Members and Credential-holders around the world are advocating for coaching
in their professional networks and local communities. We took to ICF Global’s social media
channels to ask, “How do you help promote professional coaching?”
I speak at events and forums, where I present not only coaching, but also … research on why it works.
I also lead workshops at universities, letting students experience coaching practically, so they learn by
doing what coaching is, what it can do for them and where else it can be applied.
I believe that the best way to understand and acknowledge the power of coaching is by having
the experience of it, so I offer pro bono sessions. (International Coaching Week is always a great
opportunity for that.) I also participate in pro bono activities to benefit groups in need and in “out-ofthe-box” projects, such as Reaching Re-Birth, where we had the opportunity to bring coaching to a
different group of people from a different context.
—Katerina Kanelidou, PCC (Greece)
Show me someone who is in
indecision and I’ll show you
a coach who can help them
move forward, take action and
get what they never knew they
always wanted.
I also volunteer with the ICF
Midwest Regional Conference
committee. The hotel staff and
city connections we make every
year learn a lot about coaching
from us being in town.
—Kristen Beireis (USA)
I get clients to tell their stories. We give presentations with our clients,
co-author articles and submit applications for awards programs where
clients need to assess the value achieved with coaching and tell their
story as part of the submission process. It is amazing how much clients
learn about the value they received from coaching that they were not
aware of prior to applying for an award.
As one might expect with any new or poorly understood product, the
first demand from a prospective client is often, “Prove to me that this
coaching thing works.” Fortunately there is a large body of evidence these
days to make that case. However, once the evidence has been presented,
the prospective client next asks about what will happen when he receives
coaching or uses coaching within his organization. In the end, the stories
are more important in the decision-making process than the research
and evidence showing that coaching works.
—Dave Busse, PCC (Canada)
I use every forum possible to illustrate the value of coaching as a
powerful development tool. Coaching doesn’t just create change. It
creates change that is sustainable over the long term. In partnership
with a skilled, trained coach, an individual develops his or her own
workable change strategies and therefore is heavily vested in a successful
outcome. Coaches don’t dispense advice or give answers. We help
coachees create solutions that will work best for them. This is the true
power of coaching and is what sets the profession apart from consulting
and mentoring. Educating others on these key differences is how I
advocate for professional coaching.
I educate clients and other
coaches about evidence-based
coaching, the importance of
credentials and evaluation
methods that link coaching Ѽ)