A CELEBRATION OF EXCELLENCE & SERVICE
IN COACHING: IMAGINE IF…
Written by Mary Kay Delvo, INspiring SIGHT
If we were to view the coaching profession through a lens of human development, we would see that as a profession, coaching is in young adulthood. Just as in human development, we go through stages, so did the coaching profession
Coaching has moved from the early years of “What little league team do you coach?”, to today, where coaching is being utilized in all sectors, with individuals, teams and organizations and as a way to create healthy cultures on purpose instead of thought of as a way to fix what is not working.
Jason Jones, The Coaching Hour, emceed the first annual ICF MN Celebration of Excellence and Service in Coaching and had attendee’s group themselves by the decade they began coaching in. Attendees then shared the state of coaching during that time period. This brief glimpse backward brought attention to how much coaching has ‘grown-up’. Beginning with the 1990’s group, coaches shared highlights of the profession across each decade.
1990’s Most common question, “What sport do you coach?” We were trying to find other coaches. It was lonely.
Early 2000’s We succeeded as coaches because of the relationships we had with other trained coaches. We were
each other’s champions and were constantly having to prove that coaching works.
Late 2000’s Companies shifted from wanting coaching to help keep the lid on things and keeping people down to
how to help support employee performance.
2010 Corporations began training existing employees to become internal coaches instead of hiring outside
Coaches and ICF Global began to focus on education.
2015 Coaching moved from being mostly available to executives to individuals independently hiring coaches
to meet personal life goals, transitions, and for the purpose of creating their best lives.
2019 ICF Global created the Ignite Initiative with the goal of catching the world on fire by making coaching
available to all.
Because a key coaching component is acknowledgement and recognition, several recipients of the Gaston Award, shared why they give back to the coaching profession. Jennie Antolak, 2018 Gaston Recipient, says, “I give back because I want to protect what we worked to create. I want to make the impossible, possible.” And Sydney Paredes, 2015 Gaston Recipient, says, “I give back because I’m selfish. I always walk away with more than what I give.” The Gaston Award was created in 2006 in honor of Elaine C. Gaston, (who by the way, was present and still rallying the troops) a coach who initiated the first professional association for coaches in Minnesota, now known as ICF Minnesota.
We celebrated, we acknowledged, and as in customary coaching form, we reflected. Mary Kay Delvo, dimmed the lights, and shared the Babies in the River parable, asking attendees to reflect on the role they will play in growing the coaching profession in support of the ultimate goal of making coaching available to all. If the buzz in the room is any indication, you can expect to see and hear great things in the coming year from the Twin Cities Coaching Community. We’ll be back in September 2020 in our 2nd annual Celebration of Excellence. Can’t wait to hear what you’ll be taking a stand for this year.
We encourage all professionally certified coaches in the Twin Cities to become members of ICF Minnesota so you too can give back through our many initiatives, fulfill your professional development requirements and continue to strengthen the coaching profession’s recognition and credibility.
The next ICF Minnesota in-person event is December 10th, Four Keys to Aligning With Who you Really Are, with Nova Wightman, author, speaker, certified coach, and Reiki Master.