President's Letter for February

"If you were to sum up your work in the world with one word, what would it be?"

When I heard this question last week, the first word that came to mind was "trust." I immediately dismissed it and searched my mind for another word. Why? How could that word sum up my worldwork (work I feel called to do)? My own journey of self-trust couldn't possibly reflect my main contribution to the world, could it? Yes.

As I continue to let this truth sink in, I’m struck with how obvious it seems. Trust is one of my core values…one of my top three. How then could I think to escape its influence in anything that I do? How then should it influence everything that I do?

How about you? During ICF Chicago’s January chapter meeting we were challenged to ask as many people as possible to give us 5 words that describe us when we are at our best. What were the themes that showed up? What words represent you at your core? Which ones sum up your worldwork?

As we head into month two of 2013 keep paying attention to these words. Let them guide you throughout the year and see what happens!

Speaking of which, you won’t want to miss our upcoming chapter meetings and workshop. You spoke and we listened…these meetings will be highly interactive, experiential, and will provide distinct take-aways that can be used with clients immediately.  Check out our calendar for more details. CCEUs are available for each meeting and workshop.

Upcoming Chapter Meetings: http://icf-chicago.org/calendar.cfm

February 11: "Strategies for Coaching Multicultural Clients" – Taking our awareness of diversity and culture to a new level!

March 11: "Introduction to SHIFT to Above-the-Line, Positive Thinking” – Part one of a seven part SHIFT process to coach people to positive energy.

Upcoming Workshop: http://www.icf-chicago.org/meetings-events.cfm?id=49

March 12: “SHIFT to Above-the-Line, Positive Thinking” – An extended workshop to learn all seven parts of the SHIFT coaching process! Sign up now!

And finally, do you want to grow your strengths and honor your values in a supportive and collaborative community setting? Check out our volunteer opportunities  http://icf-chicago.org/membership.cfm?id=75for ways you can bring your influence and contribution to the Chicagoland coaching community and beyond!

With Appreciation,

Wendy Balman, MA, CPCC, ACC | ICF Chicago President

Web Watch Week #4

Life & Business Coaching Blog | Life coach shares comments and thoughts on the impact of coaching on life and business. He provides personal success strategies for your life and your career from his base in St. Louis.

Because a lot of us are still in resolution mode, this week we feature Dieter Pauwels’, “Believe in Yourself” blog that he wrote almost one year ago.  It is a creative, concise how-to for achieving any goal. “Beliefs + values=motivation” makes for a great formula to take anyone to action. Aligning one’s head, heart and gut create the power needed to drive that action. Dieter’s 3-pronged belief formula is the key to success. For whatever it is that you want to achieve 1. Believe that it is truly possible, 2. Believe you have everything it takes to get there and 3. Believe you truly deserve it.

I had an AHA after reading this, because I think a lot of people really get tripped up on #3 on their road to goal achievement.

Check out the blog link above to find out more.

My web watches are affirming that the coaching community is a thoughtful, creative group that brings positive change to the world, one client at a time. Imagine if everyone believed in themselves!!

Respectfully,

Marggie Paris LSW, BCC

 

Web Watch Week 3

This week we take a look at what our Australian cohorts are blogging about in regards to Executive Coaching. I found a really interesting blog on the IECL (Institute of Executive Coaching & Leadership) site. http://www.iecl.com/_blog/Executive_Coaching_Blog 

It is based on Dr. Hilary Armstrong’s November 2013 white paper, Follow the Leader: Leader Development for the Future which is well worth reading, if this subject interests you. [free download available at the link above]

Today’s business world is vastly different than even 2 years ago and continues to change. The old norms are no longer relevant. Globalization and social media are changing traditional business models as well as the leadership necessary to run them. Businesses that question the current and future relevance of its policies and procedures and expand their focus to include extended networks inside and outside of their organization will have the edge.

These hot points that Dr. Armstrong makes illustrate the key elements of evolved leadership and their organizations:

-        “Meaning and shared purpose are more important than vision and mission.

-        Reciprocal relationships are more important than individual competency.

-        Practice is more important than policy and procedure. 

-        Power is addressed transparently as a constructive resource rather than as a means of underhanded manipulation or bullying to achieve personal gain.

-        Creativity and innovation give the market edge.”

I imagine that working at an organization that has this type of dynamic leadership would be invigorating, challenging and satisfying. Sign me up!

 

(Check out the IECL Facebook and IECL Twitter pages!)

Respectfully,

Marggie Paris LSW, BCC

Web Watch - Week 2

Michelle Armstrong, BCC Life & Wellness, recently authored a blog, “Don’t Eliminate, Crowd Out in 2013” that I discovered on my alma mater’s website, ILCT (The Institute for Life Coach Training).     

I absolutely respect her re-examination of the New Year Resolution phenomenon, what will I give up this year? 

She believes that “Human nature is to hunger for that which we can’t have and denying ourselves sets us up for failure.” I tend to agree. She purposes that instead of eliminating the negative behavior (i.e., I will give up eating fast food) we will have better success by embracing the positive (i.e., I will eat 10 meals this week that I have prepared at home). The ultimate goal being to eat healthier, and by focusing on increasing more positive behaviors, they “will crowd out things we want to eliminate”.

She gives some great examples of applying this new resolution technique to 3 different areas; relationships, nutrition and finances.  This is a fresh approach to a January staple.

Respectfully,

Marggie Paris, LSW, BCC 

Web Watch

Moving forward into 2013, as blog manager for ICF- Chicago, I will be reading various blogs that are focused on Coaching and sharing what I find that I believe is worth sharing! Feel free to join in! If you find anything on the World Wide Web that peaks your interest that you think might also peak ours, please share!

Here’s what I discovered this week:

4 Tips to “Auto-Coaching” by Eric Marin (Ecological Leadership) was featured on the ICF blog on December 19th and features four very compelling questions that any individual [originally developed for managers] who is “struggling” could use to essentially “coach” oneself. 

1. Why am I triggered?
2. What do I really want?
3. Why is it important for me to invest time & energy in what I do in this situation? 
4. What do I do now which is in my power to positively change or influence the situation?

There is a beautiful simplicity to this approach. 
The author has provided really specific descriptions for each of the four questions that anyone could understand and incorporate into their daily assessment practice. 
I was trained as a Coach to use WHY questions very sparingly, if at all, so I  would reconfigure questions 1 and 3 to keep it really moving forward and action focused. 
[….maybe, What specifically is occurring right now that is making this situation “a struggle”?] 
I would further simplify question #3…What really matters here…aligns with your value system? What would I to say “yes” to and what would I need to say “no” to make something different happen?....I will definitely be pondering this further as I really think this is a great tool that clients can use to not only gain clarity regarding their “gremlins”, but overcome them.  

Respectfully,
Marggie Paris LSW, BCC