A substantial percentage of professional coaches, when
asked, self-identify as Leadership Coaches or Leadership
Development Coaches (23 percent, according to the 2012
ICF Global Coaching Study). That means that the clients they
work with are preparing for or transitioning into a leadership
position or they have already reached that level and want
to further their growth and development. Many research
studies have shown that coaching is an effective modality for
leadership development. We know that coaching makes for
stronger leaders. But what about coaches themselves? Are
they leaders?
From the CEO
Coaches as Leaders
Sir Antony Jay famously said, “The only real training for leadership is
leadership.” In March 2015, I had the opportunity to see this in action
when almost 200 ICF Chapter Leaders representing 57 countries gathered
in Atlanta, Georgia, USA, for the first-of-its-kind 2015 ICF Global Leaders
Forum (GLF).
Some of the leaders at GLF represented large, established ICF Chapters,
while others led groups that had earned the ICF Chapter designation only
weeks earlier. Some of the attendees were longtime coaches and ICF
Members, while others have been professional coaches for less than five
years. The diversity was amazing and so was the energy it created.
It was gratifying to be around so many individuals who had made a decision
to step into the leadership space. Their reasons for doing so were diverse:
Some stepped into the space because they were asked, while others were
stepping up when it became clear that their leadership was crucial for the
continuous success of their ICF Chapter. Others stepped forward because
they knew they had something special to offer their community.
Together we celebrated the 20th anniversary of ICF, along with many other
successes and accomplishments. The sharing of approaches, stories, practices
and pitfalls was rich and very fulfilling. And of course there was dancing!
But what this meeting truly was, was a celebration of the great, involved,
committed and spirited leadership of these men and women who wanted
to be a part of something bigger—partnering with the ICF Members in their
community to advance the art, science and practice of professional coaching.
So indeed, ICF coaches are leaders, and amazing ones at that. Here’s to the
next 20 years of ICF supporting coaches’ own development as leaders!
CEO/Executive Director
ICF Global
Coaching World
Magdalena Mook
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