Special Interest Groups
ICFLA’s Special Interest Groups (SIGs) are designed to provide coaches with an opportunity to learn and grow in targeted topics of interest. Regardless of your coaching experience or familiarity with the topic or ICFLA, we welcome you to our interactive community. Register or mark your calendar for the SIG dates by topic listed below.
Book Writing SIG
Host: Kim O'Hara
2023 Dates:
Storytelling and the understanding of a client’s old and new narrative is important in coaching; as important for the coach as it is for the client. When the idea of writing a book comes up, especially if a professional is not a natural writer, there is the presentation of confusion. Why would I do this, and how come the idea won’t go away? When called to write a book, the best way to eliminate the overwhelm and confusion is to drill down into the objectives of the book.
This teaching would cover:
- How to identify the objectives of book.
- What is the deeper narrative?
- Is there a hook or trademarked idea?
- Who is the Reader Avatar of the book?
DEI SIG
2023 Dates:
Being an inclusive leader can open many opportunities for coaches. This SIG is designed to help you develop a greater understanding on topics of Diversity Equity and Inclusion and increase your level of comfort to work with and help your clients of different backgrounds. You will hear from coaches of different cultural backgrounds and gain perspective and awareness from them. This year you will hear from coaches of the African American, LGBTQAI+, Latinx and People with different abilities.
Business Building SIG
Host: Gretchen Hydo, MCC
Schedule: 2nd Tuesday from 10:30 am to 12:00 pm PST
2023 Dates:
Have you ever heard the saying, “The results that you have are perfect for the system that you’ve created?” This saying rings true in all areas of your life, and especially in your business. Many coaches love coaching but have no idea how to launch or maintain a successful practice. Marketing scares them and they feel overwhelmed by becoming an entrepreneur who suddenly has to create sales, an online presence, and keep on top of the day-to-day tasks of running a business. They say that want a successful coaching practice, but they aren’t sure how to get there. This Special Interest Group focuses on business development, how to find clients, what to charge, what to say, how to raise your confidence, and ways to grow your business. Bring your questions to this interactive 90 minutes as this group is fueled by your questions and participation.
Coaching Supervision Group
Leaders: Paul Sanbar, PCC, Certified Coaching Supervisor, ESIA & Courtney Birch Webster CPCC, PCC
Schedule: 2nd Wednesday of the month from 3:00 pm to 4:30 pm PST
2023 Dates:
Description
Supervision is a non-judgmental partnership in which the coach brings his/her work to a supervisor to explore challenges, ethical dilemmas, emotional responses, and how the personal may intrude into the professional. The supervisor does not evaluate or judge but holds a reflective space for learning and connection for the group.
ICF research has identified key benefits for coaches who receive Coaching Supervision, which include:
- Increased self-awareness
- Greater confidence
- Increased objectivity
- Heightened sense of belonging
- Reduced feelings of isolation
- Increased resourcefulness
Two Groups, One Date and Time
Whether you are a newer coach or an experienced one, you will find a resonant space for you and your peers to gather and reflect. Both facilitators and all attendees will all meet together on Zoom to center ourselves, and then we will separate into two groups based upon experience.
- Paul Sanbar will lead the veteran coaches group
- Courtney Birch Webster will facilitate the group for coaches with fewer than 750 hours of coaching.
For both groups, we request that you take a moment of reflection prior to joining to ensure you bring into the session an active client case (or recently active) to discuss. That said if you’ve never experienced coaching supervision or you aren’t sure if your case is a good one, come anyway to learn and grow.
"I loved this session and will be back. Having a diverse and dynamic supervision group is powerful and I learned more about both myself and other coaching situations that I had not contemplated." - Fred Walkover
Credentialing SIG
Host: Carly Anderson, MCC
Schedule: 1st Thursday from 2:00 pm to 3:30 pm PST
2023 Dates:
Description
ICF provides a path of development for professional coaches who want to differentiate themselves from anyone who calls themselves a coach. The credentialing path supports coaches to develop from beginning level (ACC), to intermediate level (PCC), to advanced coaching skill level (MCC).
If you are interested in what it takes to become credentialed at ACC, PCC or MCC level this group is for you! If you are a mentor coach who wants to engage in dialogue about competency distinctions to support your development as a mentor coach, you are also welcome!
Led by Carly Anderson, MCC, this group will address:
- Why pursue ACC, PCC, or MCC credentials?
- What is the difference between ACC, PCC and MCC skill level?
- What questions do you have about becoming an ICF credentialed coach?
Each meeting will also highlight one or more of the ICF Core Competencies and what distinctions ICF Assessors want to hear in your coaching at each skill level.
Carly is an active ICF Assessor since 2005 for ACC, PCC and MCC applicant coaching session recordings (which ICF calls Performance Evaluations). She has led and supported ICF PCC and MCC Assessor community trainings, and participated in the pilots of upcoming changes to ICF credentialing exam (previously called the Coach Knowledge Assessment), as well as ACC and MCC assessing criteria. Carly also participated as the core team of coaches who updated the PCC Markers in 2020 to align with the updated ICF Core Competencies.
You are welcome with your questions, your curiosity and your learning mindset!
ICF Credential Candidate Guides
Executive COACHING SIG
Host: Tom Henschel
Schedule: 2nd Friday from 9:00 am to 10:30 pm PST
2023 Dates:
A self-directed learning group exploring coaching situations involving a coach, a client, and an employer. Come join our diverse, welcoming community as we support each other to elevate our executive coaching skills and impact.
"Every Executive Coaching SIG brings great value!” - Georganne Ford
MCC SIG
Hosts: Damian Goldvarg, Ph.D., MCC, CSP, ESIA / Carrie Williams, MCC
Schedule: 2nd Wednesday from 12:00 pm to 1:30 pm PST
This SIG is only for members who have achieved their MCC credential.
2023 Dates:
The Master Certified Coach (MCC) is the highest level of coach certification offered by the ICF. As of 2020, there were only 1,258 MCC-accredited coaches in the world. This group is for MCCs to meet and learn from each other. We will discuss challenges, coaching trends and how to advocate for the development of the coaching professional practice worldwide. Each session will be worth 1.5 Resource Development CCEs.
Group & Team Coaching
Hosts: Maribel Aleman, PCC and Dominique Mas, PCC
Schedule: 3rd Tuesday from 10:30 am to 12:00 pm PST
2023 Dates:
Per your request, ICFLA has launched a Group & Team Coaching SIG! Come join us to learn more about how to develop, launch and maintain a successful group or team coaching program!
EMOTIONAL INTELLIGENCE SIG
Host: Desiree Briel Rodi, ACC
Schedule: 4th Tuesday from 11:00 am to 12:30 pm PST
2023 Dates:
We will explore and spend some time together looking at the importance of emotions and feelings, models for labeling them, and various definitions and explanations of the purpose of emotions. We will also discuss our own comfort with emotions and how to leverage emotions in coaching.