President's Letter
A client asked me why I like coaching. I gave her a short answer and then thought more deeply about the question. Here are my reasons why I LOVE coaching and why I am grateful for this “job”.
1. I believe coaching is a calling and a passion. It is a job that calls on skills that I already had and I have honed them, AND ones that I have had to build and nurture; Genuine curiosity, positivity, patience, powerful questioning, attentive and purposeful listening, confidentiality, being involved AND detaching from the outcome, flexibility or “dancing in the moment”, understanding that there is power in the silence, etc. I could go on, but you get the idea.
2. Coaching fulfills my desire to help people reach their maximum potential. It is so fulfilling when my clients reach beyond their initial goals and achieve things they didn’t think were possible. AND that they had the power all along, it just had to be uncovered and nurtured. Sounds like the Wizard of Oz…
3. I LOVE my tribe of coaches. Coaches come from a place of abundance vs. scarcity. They instinctively know that “We all do better when we all do better”- thank you Paul Wellstone! Coming from the corporate world where most information is a trade secret, it is so refreshing to see and hear sharing at deeper levels. Even in the world of organizational coaching, there is deeper sharing! ICF MN in partnership with St. Thomas to put together an Executive and Organizational Coaching Mastermind. I am always amazed and grateful at what is shared in these meetings.
I am also grateful for ICF MN that has allowed me to grow in my coaching practice in helped me hone my skills with our webinars and speaker presentations. Meeting with my tribe of coaches at ICF MN allows me to “get out of my head” and share with other coaches. I have learned a great deal from other coaches and am grateful for a supportive community. Both of these have allowed me grow my business and help my clients reach their maximum potential. Thank you ICF MN.
Why do you love coaching? I am starting a conversation on FB and would love to hear from you!
We have 2 events in August that will help you to hone your skills AND build your business. First, Dr. David Drake, the father of Narrative Coaching will be hosting a FREE webinar called “From Velcro to Velocity”. See the link below to reserve your spot. ICF MN and St. Thomas have partnered to together to bring you this webinar. Second, our own Jason Jones will present “What if Everything you Need to Know About Sales you Learned in Coaching School.” Register For This Event
I’d love to start a conversation on FaceBook- “What do you love coaching?”
Trish Perry
ICF Minnesota President
ICF MN continues with our commitment to diversity. The board has voted to add “multi-cultural” into our mission statement.
To cultivate a multi-cultural community of coaches that advances the coaching profession through professional development, networking and adherence to ICF professional and ethical standards.
Partnership and Sponsorship Announcement
Check out our Become a Partner page to see our new structure and how you can partner with us to promote your brand and business.
FREE Webinar: Dr David Drake, father of Narrative Coaching
What: Dr. David Drake-From Velcro to Velocity: The Art of Getting Unstuck.
Becoming more masterful as a coach is about deepening our radical presence to what is unfolding as we work. This requires a shift to see coaching as a process of structured emergence rather than a set of steps we guide clients through. It is an invitation to stand with them at the doorstep, the threshold, of the unknown as they embark on their journey of discovery and development. The session will offer you some strategies for freeing yourself so that you can do the same for others at home, at work and beyond. You will how learn to release what is holding you back and how to use that energy to move toward what wants to be expressed. What is holding you back? Where are you stuck? What would become possible for you and for your clients if you could transform these stories?
When: Aug 8, 11:30-1:00
Where: Webinar- Register Here http://bit.ly/ICFMN-AUG8. You will be emailed the Zoom link 48 hours in advance. CCEUs: 1.5
The Gaston Corner
Crucial Conversations for Aging by Bonnie Henriksen
When I started coaching 15 years ago several of my colleagues wanted to coach people transitioning between end-of-career and retirement. Those were not clients I sought out although, I did coach a few people moving in that direction. About 5 years ago, I took a class in coaching groups. One of the groups I was being asked to lead at that time included people who wanted help downsizing from family homes to retirement-sized homes. One woman, frustrated with her husband, said, “We need you to help us with these conversations! I thought we were downsizing to get away from yard work and home maintenance, and HE wants a big garden! We are not on the same page!” Fast forward to January 2018. I was invited to talk to a group of older women at a small rural library about coaching. To make coaching relevant to them, I engaged them in conversation about what they were passionate about at this time of their lives and how, if they focused on what and how they wanted to “be”, they would be better informed about what to “do” to reach their goals. A month or two later, I read that the Northland Foundation’s Rural Aging Initiative was requesting proposals for new partner organizations to help seniors better age in place. The grant application was due one month before I was scheduled to retire from a 10-year, part-time position at Grand Rapids Area Library. The stars were aligning!
This was the time to create the conversation series that woman had requested years earlier. I read voraciously, books like Dan Buettner’s “Blue Zones of Happiness,” Richard Leiter’s “Life Reimagined” and “Your Retirement Quest” by Alan Spector and Keith Lawrence. The series I created was designed for couples wanting to thrive in retirement. I wanted to facilitate conversations drawing out their own hopes, dreams and definitions for this chapter of their lives. Do you know that between 1990 and 2010 the divorce rate for couples age 50 and older in the U.S. more than doubled? Do you know that Baby Boomers are retiring at a rate of about 7 per minute? Do you know that people spend more time planning a two-week vacation than they do planning for retirement?
As grants go, not all things went exactly as planned. We were funded for 4 series of 6 sessions in each of three libraries. Enrollment numbers were smaller than projected. We waived the requirement to enroll with a spouse and invited participants to bring a friend as a conversation buddy. Women were more drawn to the conversations than their husbands. I designed a study guide packed with powerful questions to guide conversations in our sessions and at home. About half of enrollees were looking toward retirement. The other half were already retired and looking for ways to enhance retirement. Very rewarding for me, was how drawn to conversations about values, life purpose and identifying personal legacies all the participants were. Between 50 and 83 years of age, every participant was eager to define his or her life purpose! They were amazed to learn how values drive decisions; and to realize, after many years of being married to someone, values and perspectives are different and, by honoring them, they can resolve conflict and make collaborative decisions. The outcomes and impact were amazing! The conversations changed lives! Space here doesn’t allow the dozens of examples.
Participants’ requests for copies of the study-guide to pass on to friends and family has compelled me to begin work on a book. I want to share the wealth of information and examples I’ve gathered to help not only their acquaintances, but to prepare coaches with tools to serve Baby Boomers around the country. Serendipitously, my own retirement has been ignited with new purpose to engage mature adults in exploring ways to thrive in this post career chapter of life when they can bring years of wisdom and experience to making huge impact in their communities and the world. Please watch for big things to come!! I’m currently searching for a business coach to help me pull many exciting pieces together before I share more. You will hear more! I can’t wait for those of you interested in this niche to become part of a very compelling body of work!
ICF Minnesota Speaker Series
WHAT IF EVERYTHING YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT SALES YOU LEARNED IN COACHING SCHOOL?
SPEAKER: Jason Jones, The Coaching Hour
DATE: Tuesday, August 27, 2019
TIME: 6:00 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. Networking
6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. Program
CEU’s: 2 resource competency
LOCATION: Calhoun Beach Club
2925 Dean Parkway
Minneapolis, MN 55416
Register For This Event
PROGRAM:
What if someone told you that everything you need to sell your services you learned in coaching school? A perception exists that sales is about getting in others’ space and convincing them of what they need. When in fact, selling isn’t about that at all. Coaches are uniquely trained to listen, tune into desires, and ask powerful questions—all highly desirable skills in making a sale. So why is it so hard for coaches to sell themselves? For many, the story they have been telling themselves has already defined what the sales conversation is and does. When that happens, we don’t book ourselves with as many clients and we limit the number of people who have access to the transformational process that takes place through coaching. In this workshop, we will reframe a sales conversation and discover how we can become empowering and supportive in a way that results in more prospects saying yes. The result is that every prospect comes away at choice and seeing how coaching can help them get there.
ICF Core Competencies Addressed:
Communicating Effectively -- Active Listening, Powerful Questioning
Objectives To Understand
• the three traps that change the conversation, often preventing a sale
• how the coaching conversation is a powerful context for the sales conversation
• the distinction between what to give away and what to sell
• a conversation framework as a guide for selling coaching
Meet Jason Jones, The Coaching Hour
Jason Jones is a certified business coach and speaker who is committed to developing sales teams and professional solo entrepreneurs to sell more services at higher rates with less effort. He started his first business at age 16 which paid for 4 years of college and set him on a path of innovating ever since. His previous start-up ventures involved communications media and entertainment including a number one rated radio morning show and talk show on WCCO. His previous coaching and training company went global in two years and now serves the US, Canada, Australia and the UK. Jason is certified by The Royal Roads University and the International Coaching Federation. His coaching and training programs focus on the implementation of proven business tactics and support necessary to develop solo entrepreneurs and sales for a lifetime of success.
September In Person Event
Event Title: Looking Back to Move Ahead: The Evolution of Coaching and the Gastons
Date: Tuesday, September 24th 6:00 - 8:00 pm
Location: Metropolitan Ballroom
5418 Wayzata Blvd
Minneapolis, MN 55416
(612) 238-4444
Register For This Event
Get to Know Your Board
5 Key Ingredients for Every Coaches' Website
by Danielle Allen (Web Support Chair)
One of the most frequent questions I get asked is what should I put on my website. As small business owners who are passionate about what we do, many of us are tempted to include everything including the kitchen sink. So, what should you include to optimize your website for conversion and success? I’ve got you covered with these 5 key ingredients.
1. A Clear headline addressing your ideal clients’ pain point (problem). I don’t know if you’ve heard of him, but I follow Don Miller and Story Brand when it comes to digital marketing philosophy. He has this motto, “When you confuse, you lose” The digital marketing facts are that we have 5-10 seconds to grab a website visitor’s attention. For this ingredient, think about what you do and how you help your clients in one sentence or less.
2. Your Unique Value Proposition. Or in other words, what makes you different from the sea of other coaches your website visitors get to choose from. Whether it’s how you show up as a coach, your coaching philosophy, or a result that’s unique, you’ll want to highlight your unique differences plus your personality right there on your home page. A quick idea is creating a simple video where website visitors are able to hear you talk, learn more about your coaching, and get to know you a little better.
3. Easy navigation for your website user experience. Think about what the average website visitor is looking for when they come to your site. And then make it easy to find on your home page. Are they looking for the types of coaching services you offer? Hiring a speaker? Workshops they can attend? Highlight these somewhere on your home page with an image or icon and a link to a longer page explaining more about this service.
4. Testimonials. Your website serves as a lead generation space for potential clients to lean in and take the next step. An important piece of that is building trust. Are you as good as your website copy says you are? A great way to do this is through testimonials. Post 1-2 on your home page and you can sprinkle others throughout your website or create a testimonial page.
5. Call to Action. Every page on your website should have a call to action. What do you want the website visitor to do once they’ve visited? Think through the next step your potential client can take to get one step closer to becoming a paying client. Whether it’s scheduling a free consultation, completing your contact form, or giving you a call, being clear and firm on your call to action can help you optimize your website for conversion.
A Perspective on Coaching
Blog post by Christina Brandt
Ever since I engaged in education to be certified for “Life coaching” – I will be honest; I have struggled with the term “coach”. There is a stage and or positions in our life when coaching makes total sense. But once we have reached certain milestones personally and professionally, “coaching” seems unnecessary for ourselves, right? We’re the Adult, Expert, Executive, Well-Educated, Experienced. We cannot show a weakness that could be related to developing powers, securing knowledge, receiving instruction on “life”. The stigma of the word seems to be in contradiction to what the actual purpose and objective is meant to be. Whether it is labelled life or executive (and they are not truly one in the same) the word “coach”, I am somewhat guessing, either turns many people off or signifies indulgence. Anything in between, “It is not for me, others that’s fine, not me.”
So how do you feel about the following…
Identify processes to transport you from where you are to where you want to be, Self-empowerment, Improve personal effectiveness, relationships, Advance towards, achieve goal, Focus on specific tasks and objectives, Receive positive support , Authentic leadership, Emotional Intelligence, Change and stress management, Align values with decision making
Would you, your life, your job benefit from rallying behind these outcomes? Consider engagement with a trusted partner whose only agenda is your potential to accomplish these and more day in and day out. A “life coach” respects and recognizes you as the expert of your life and job. They listen without judgement. They offer accountability to creating the life you desire. They promote independent thought. They encourage multiple perspectives to make informed choices. And in the business world, if the “coach” also has insight, understanding, of your job and the challenges you are facing – a positive alternative to venting, with your associate, friend, loved one who wants you to stay within healthy boundaries?
It could be argued that now more than ever, we would like to be our truest, best version. We do not need to follow, but lead. We would like to tap our creativity, not do what has always been. We don’t need to accumulate likes but have acceptance of self. We would like to stop fearing and start believing. We are seeking inspiration, differentiation and fulfillment.
Just for fun – respectfully, if it wasn’t called “coach” what would you call this role? A partner that is cheerleader, supporter, identifier… Who listens, empowers, advances… Please comment – I am looking for the ultimate “title” http://www.reimaginepossibilities.com/blog/worthy-of-the-indulgence .
Chapter News
2018-2021 STRATEGIC DIRECTIONS
#1 CULTIVATE A COACHING COMMUNITY
#2 PROMOTION OF ICF ETHICAL AND PROFESSIONAL STANDARDS
#3 OUTREACH AND ADVOCACY
#4 OPERATIONAL HEALTH
Please consider membership with ICF Minnesota!
We are stronger together than we are apart!
~Walter Payton
We have a Board Position open and would welcome new members. This volunteer opportunity could be perfect for you! Join us and help us to grow ICF MN in being the premier organization for advancing the coaching profession! For a full job description, please contact Trish Perry at trish.perry@harmonizeu.com
Event Coordinator: 2 year position 2019-2020
Do you have a special gift for event planning and coordination and want to get more involved with ICF Minnesota? This position includes communicating and coordinating with board members in all areas of planning and execution of chapter events.
If you are interested, please reach out to membership@icfminnesota.org for more information.
Your 2019 board:
Trish Perry: President, Deb Johnson: President Elect, Cheryl Hegland: Treasurer, Ann Houser: Secretary, Lance Hazzard: Outreach Chair, Judy Zimmer: Outreach Co-Chair, Mary Kay Delvo: Professional Development Chair, Polly Edwards: Membership Chair, Jodi Dehli: Membership Co-Chair, Danielle Allen: Web Support Chair, Ellen Carlson: Web Support Co-Chair, Michon Willman: Communications Chair, Theresa Nutt: Communications Co-Chair, Jennifer Byrnes: Sponsorship Co-Chair : Shawn Moore, Professional Development Co- Chair
MIDWEST REGIONAL NEWS
Global News
Did you know?
Here are a few of the exciting articles now trending in Coaching World:
Coaching World is a dynamic online resource for the coaching community.
Browse More Articles
ICF Global
This contains your invitation to the Global Coaching Survey 2019. Your response is vital as this study is one of the most ambitious pieces of global industry research that has ever been conducted on the field of professional coaching. The International Coach Federation (ICF) has proudly commissioned PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP (PwC) to conduct this research on their behalf. Please click on your personal link that came via email or the link below to begin the survey. (www.coachingsurvey2019.com). If you have any questions about this research please email: pwcresearch@uk.pwc.com. Thank you in advance for your interest in this survey.
Paid Advertisements Below
Are you a best-kept secret?
Join Hay House author and CTI senior trainer Rick Tamlyn at Produce U: The Event.
In just 3 days, you will create a production plan to make your Bigger Game real in the world.
It all starts with YOU and your commitment to yourself. Isn’t it time to make your dream – your Bigger Game – real? Join Rick and other like-minded entrepreneurs who are ready to play bigger and say goodbye to business as usual.
Enroll now – and get a complimentary ticket to bring a friend for free.
ICF Minnesota members receive a $200 discount to attend.
Enter “produce200” at checkout!
Learn more at www.produceyouevent.com