I am currently in Warsaw, Poland attending the ICF (International Coaching Federation) Global Leaders Forum where over 200 delegates from more than 70 countries have come to learn more about how to promote coaching in our communities. I am honoured to be representing the Okanagan Chapter of ICF, a group of dedicated individuals who believe that, “coaching brings many wonderful benefits: fresh perspectives on personal challenges, enhanced decision-making skills, greater interpersonal effectiveness, and increased confidence. And, the list does not end there. Those who undertake coaching also can expect appreciable improvement in productivity, satisfaction with life and work, and the attainment of relevant goals” (ICF – Benefits of using a coach).
Each delegate here represents a different Chapter and I have had the privilege to have discussions with individuals from Bahrain, South Korea, Japan, Chile, Turkey, Egypt, USA, UK and several Nordic countries. The opportunity to learn how coaching is significantly impacting people’s lives in places like Jordan and Saudi Arabia is inspiring. The reality is that the same sorts of challenges in leadership are found across the globe. Whether you are operating an enterprise in Ireland or Australia or are an emerging leader in Korea or Sweden, leaders are leaders. Coaching around communications skills, core values, time management or any of the soft skills are having an impact.
I’ve felt the biggest impact in the sense of community and purpose. Yes, we are running businesses, and yes, we need to acquire clients to make a living, but there is more here. It is a genuine belief that we can make a difference in people’s lives through coaching. This is demonstrated in a tangible way with the focus on providing pro-bono programs for non-profits and reaching out to vulnerable communities that lack the resources to invest their leaders in development.
If you have been reading my blog posts for a while and have been wondering what all the excitement around coaching is about, I encourage you to visit the ICF website or better still, reach out to me to find out how coaching may benefit you personally.
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John Whitehead, coaches individuals and organizations in becoming more effective by helping them improve their interpersonal communications, emotional intelligence and resiliency.
*******Are you wondering if having a Leadership/Personal Development Coach is right for you? Contact John for a complimentary, exploratory coaching session at john@johnkwhitehead.ca********
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