Your ICF Needs You!
Dear ICF Members: What is to belong? What is it to engage? What is it to co-create?
Last month our Global Board gathered in Kenya for four days of intensive strategic planning; deliberations and local engagement with our amazing ICF Chapter Leaders and Members in Nairobi. It was both an exhilarating and intensive experience that left me with a deep sense of pride and gratitude to our ICF family. On the journey home, I began reflecting about what it truly means to be an ICF Member.
A fellow Irish coach fondly refers to us as the “hugging profession”—ICF Members are a warm and friendly bunch for sure, but it goes so much deeper. We are a tribe connected in purpose to help individuals, organizations and societies tap into their potential, to grow, to evolve. In fact, ICF coaches have immense, untapped power and influence as a global tribe to shape the course of history and re-define our world.
This is an ambitious statement. How can we begin to make this happen? Our strength is in our numbers. Our strength is the caliber of our members. Our strength is in our members’ goodwill to volunteer. Our strength is simply our volunteer leaders all around the world. Our new expanded organizational structure has been created to mobilize this energy and to channel positive action through partnership and collaboration.
We already have an amazing cadre of volunteers who we truly value. Let me share with you some really impressive examples of member volunteer effort from our last meeting—these could not happen without our members.
1. Our New Core Competency Model
Our forthcoming updated model, which is based on an in-depth job analysis, reflects the role of the modern coach and is in line with the growth of coaching in organizations. There is a greater emphasis on coaching agreements, client partnership and reflective practice. This is a major milestone and puts ICF Credentialed and trained coaches at the forefront. It’s a wonderful collaboration between our experienced members and research team.
Thanks to the many volunteers who took part in the job analysis survey and participated in semi-structured interviews, validating and testing workshops, critical incidents development, etc., as part of the process.
2. Our Revised Code of Ethics
Work is very advanced on our revised Code which will reflect greater cultural and global input. This important work is being led by a steering group of members and is supported by three teams representing members from around the world with support from our global staff. Our Code of Ethics is a strong unique selling proposition in the market and will continue to position ICF as the gold standard thanks to our volunteers.
3. Our New Directors
Each year an independent Nominating Committee of ICF Members is tasked with sourcing and screening talent for open Board Director positions. This year it was a mammoth task, given both the number and range of candidates required to fill our new Boards. They have screened hundreds of CVs and managed the search process to find the most suited candidates of the highest caliber.
Our thanks to those committee members for their commitment. New directors will be announced very soon. Thanks to our members who took the time to apply.
4. Our ICF Kenya Chapter
What a pleasure to meet the leadership, founders and members of this Chapter that simply represents ICF volunteers at their very best—vision, passion and professionalism. They had a great concept for ICW among other initiatives. The creativity of local chapters is always inspiring.
5. Our Newly Established ICF Uganda Chapter
This is another great milestone for our coaching presence in Africa; we warmly welcome this addition to the growing ICF ecosystem in East Africa. Sincere thanks to all the founders and pioneers on the ground!
So why do people volunteer? An American Society of Association Executives (ASAE) research study shows members see professional benefits of volunteerism and 66% of respondents look for opportunities to connect volunteering to their professional work. Many said volunteering is a benefit of membership. Above all other elements, meaning keeps volunteers engaged. They value being in the company of like-minded people and have the opportunity to contribute in a meaningful way to the cause/profession they believe in. Are you ready to be an ICF contributor?
At ICF, we have a mix of short- and medium-term opportunities at the local, regional and global levels for volunteering that require different skills sets and professional interests. Please reach out to your local Chapter or one of our Community of Practices to offer your services. At the global level, there are currently two volunteer opportunities available: You can volunteer to be a judge/selection committee member for one of our awards programs and/or you can fill out our volunteer interest form for any opportunities that may become available as ICF continues to expand and evolve. You could also consider submitting an article proposal for Coaching World, which can help enhance your online presence while helping other coaches learn from your experiences, tips and insights.
Kindly watch out for ICF calls for volunteers for various projects and roles—don’t be shy about putting yourself forward. Let’s all engage with the ICF tribe to advance the profession and create more ripples of impact across the globe.
Linda McLoughlin, MBS, MCC
Linda is a coach, author, facilitator, speaker and founder of LeadershipWorks International. She has over 25 years’ experience in learning and development and executive education. Linda is a Director on the 2020 ICF Professional Coaches Global Board. She is based between Dubai and Dublin and her work spans five continents. She has worked with a wide range of nonprofit and public service organizations, particularly in Ireland, the European Union and the Gulf. Linda earned her MBS from University College Dublin and completed Harvard University’s Art and Practice of Leadership Development Program. Linda was recognized as “Coach of the Year” and “Mentor Coach of the Year” by ICF Ireland.
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Dear Linda McLoughlin,
Thank you so much for all to you. I am pleased to have the great opportunity to contact you along with being very satisfied and happy with being a member and being part of the ICF, which is expected to have more opportunities in the near future. I intend that next Tuesday will be October 22, 2019, I would like to fill out about the content of currently two volunteer opportunities available.
Thank you so much to you again.
Faithfully,
Colonel Dr. Kristsanapong Wimonsin
Dear Colonel Dr. Kristsanapong Wimonsin
Thank you indeed for being part of the global ICF community and for offering to volunteer! You are also welcome to reach out to your local chapter. Best wishes Linda
Thank you.
Thank you for your words here Linda. I so value being part of this international community of professional coaches and it is helpful to be reminded of what ICF offers to us. Having spent two rewarding – and enjoyable – years on the board of ICF Ireland, I’d encourage everyone to connect with and get involved in your local chapter. We’re electing our new board members shortly and hope my Irish colleagues will put themselves forward! It’s well worth the time!
Thank you for sharing your experiences on the Global Board too, Linda – you’re enriching us all with it.
Kind regards
Kathleen Fanning, PCC