Circle of Distinction Honoree: Patrick Williams, ED.d., MCC
The ICF Circle of Distinction program celebrates the best of the coaching profession and ICF. Circle of Distinction members are experienced coach practitioners who have made their mark on ICF and the coaching profession. This year, ICF inducted the first Circle of Distinction class, and we want to showcase our winners through profiles. Here is inductee Patrick Williams.
The Founder of The Institute for Life Coach Training, Patrick Williams, Ed.D., MCC (USA), has been executive coaching since 1990 and is a founding member of ICF.
Perhaps his most impressive accomplishment (at least, in his eyes) was being one of the keynote speakers in Brisbane, Australia at an ICF conference. Williams is very interested in different cultures and countries, and loves being an international coach.
With a background in psychology, Williams said that coaching has given him opportunities psychology could not.
“I could not have done this ethically as a therapist and the ICF and its coaching conferences allowed me to be a presenter and keynoter around the world. I also became a key presenter at popular psychotherapist conferences,” said Williams.
For Williams, the key to making a lasting career in coaching is to stay passionate.
“Keep your skills sharpened and adapt and change to keep your passion alive. I don’t want to stagnate as a coach, so it’s important to add new skills or approaches to my repertoire,” said Williams.
Though, this is not the first coaching award Williams has received (he won the Global Visionary Fellowship in 2006), this one is a big honor for him.
“It’s a great idea for the profession, and I am proud to be in the inaugural class,” said Williams.
On what’s next, Williams said that he doesn’t think he’d ever retire but only partly work and considers himself a coaching “tribal elder.”
“Maybe a coaching department for the State Department? It will continue to grow and replace much of what has been called therapy or counseling and be available and affordable through various offerings and agency availability,” Williams said on where he thinks coaching will go in the next 10-20 years.
Savannah Patton
Savannah Patton is the ICF Communications Assistant and a freelance writer for Kentucky Sports Radio. She graduated in May 2016 from the University of Kentucky with a bachelor's degree in Integrated Strategic Communications with a focus in Public Relations.
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