The IT Girls Coach

Any parent who keeps their children away from computers these days is doing them a grave dis-service, this little girl is not that unusual, and it is people like her who will shape our future.

You can read more about her on BNET

What is ISO and why would it be important for the International Coach Federation to become ISO compliant?

About ISO

ISO (International Organization for Standardization) is the world’s largest developer and publisher of International Standards.

ISO is a network of the national standards institutes of 162 countries, one member per country, with a Central Secretariat in Geneva, Switzerland, that coordinates the system.

ISO is a non-governmental organization that forms a bridge between the public and private sectors. On the one hand, many of its member institutes are part of the governmental structure of their countries, or are mandated by their government. On the other hand, other members have their roots uniquely in the private sector, having been set up by national partnerships of industry associations.

Therefore, ISO enables a consensus to be reached on solutions that meet both the requirements of business and the broader needs of society. Read more >>>

The ISO standard sought by the International Coach Federation is ISO/IEC 17024:2003: Conformity assessment — General requirements for bodies operating certification of persons.

This International Standard aims to harmonize the various procedures used around the world for certifying the competence of personnel in different professions.

It will provide a global benchmark for certification schemes to ensure that they operate in a consistent, comparable and reliable manner worldwide, thus establishing an environment for the mutual recognition of schemes and facilitating the global mobility of personnel.

Today, thousands of certification programmes exist for personnel in practically every industry, in particular in the service sectors, from healthcare personnel and financial planners to safety professionals and non destructive testing operators, as a means of demonstrating their professional ability. One of the functions of the body carrying out certification of persons is to undertake an independent assessment of education/training, experience, demonstrated knowledge and skills applicable to the area for which the certification is awarded. This process is known as a “certification scheme”.

The new standard, ISO/IEC 17024, Conformity assessment - General requirements for bodies operating certification of persons, provides a uniform set of guidelines for organizations managing the qualifications and certification of persons, including procedures for the development and maintenance of a certification scheme. It is designed to help bodies operating certification of persons conduct well-planned and structured evaluations using objective criteria for competence and grading in order to ensure impartiality of operations and reduce any conflict of interest. Read more >>>

Update on ICF Credentialing and ISO

The following are frequently asked questions that the ICF has been receiving regarding potential changes to the ICF Credentialing Program.

There are many more details and specifics to be finalized and probably many more questions to be asked and answered. As such, four open calls have been scheduled in October (October 9, October 14, October 20 and October 22) to allow for a conversation around proposed changes. Please visit the ICF Event Calendar for more information.

Additionally, a special e-mail address has been created should you wish to forward a comment to ICF Headquarters regarding this topic. Please use isocomments@coachfederation.org.

Read more about the ICF initiative here >>>

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In previous recessions men bore the brunt of job losses but this time it will be different. With more women working in the hardest hit areas - retail and services - it is they who will suffer most, jeopardising their hard earned financial independence and equality at work. Could this downturn reverse the huge economic gains women have made over the past few decades?

Read full article here

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About this article

From:The Observer, Sunday 18 January 2009
Ruth Sunderland, business editor

The real victims of this credit crunch? Women
This article was first published on guardian.co.uk at 00.01 GMT on Sunday 18 January 2009. It appeared in the Observer on Sunday 18 January 2009 on p32 of the Focus section. It was last updated at 09.38 GMT on Monday 19 January 2009.

By Steve Tobak
From: The Corner Office
February 3rd, 2009 @ 4:39 pm

Mark Twain said, “I was seldom able to see an opportunity until it had ceased to be one”. Now that’s the rub, isn’t it? If your business strategy includes waiting until you see opportunities so you can then pounce on them, you’ll fail. Instead, you need to take risks and…

————————- Read further

The ICF Celebrates International Coaching Week, February 1–7, with findings from new client survey.

Switzerland, Feb 1 2009 – An overwhelming majority of individuals who have experienced professional coaching report being “very satisfied” with their coaching experience and would repeat it, according to the first global survey of coaching clients commissioned by the International Coach Federation (ICF).

The ICF is releasing findings of the landmark ICF Global Coaching Client Study in conjunction with International Coaching Week, which will be celebrated among professional coaches worldwide, February 1–7, 2009. The full report will be available by March 2009.

To conduct the ICF Global Coaching Client Study, the ICF commissioned independent research firms PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC) and the Association Resource Centre Inc. in 2008 to gather reliable, in-depth data on the ever-growing number of individuals throughout the world that have experienced professional coaching in their lives. This study serves as a companion piece to the groundbreaking ICF Global Coaching Study released in 2007.

From late September through November 2008, 2,165 coaching clients from 64 countries responded to the client survey, which was offered in English, French, German, and Spanish.

The highlights of the survey findings include:

Switzerland

• 46.9% male and 53.1% female coaching client respondents
• 62% reported having experienced coaching for between 3-9 months

The main reasons stated for obtaining the services of a coach were:
• Business management
• Interpersonal skills
• Self esteem
• Self confidence
• Work life balance
• Career opportunities

96.8% of the respondents reported that given the same circumstances, they would repeat the coaching experience, with 29% reporting that they were somewhat satisfied and 71% very satisfied with the experience of coaching.

ICF defines coaching as partnering with clients in a thought-provoking and creative process that inspires them to maximize their personal and professional potential. Coaching is a distinct service and differs greatly from therapy, consulting, mentoring or training. Individuals who engage in a coaching relationship can expect to experience fresh perspectives on personal challenges and opportunities, enhanced thinking and decision-making skills, enhanced interpersonal effectiveness, and increased confidence in carrying out their chosen work and life roles.

The International Coach Federation is the leading global organization for coaches, with more than 16,000 members in over 90 countries, dedicated to advancing the coaching profession by setting high ethical standards, providing independent certification, and building a worldwide network of credentialed coaches. The ICF is the only organization that awards a global credential which is currently held by over 4,400 coaches worldwide. For more information on how to become or find an ICF Credentialed coach, please visit the International Coach Federation website.

(My village New Years Day 2009)

Here in Switzerland, I woke this morning and was delighted to open my curtains and be greeted by a snowy landscape and a blue sky. What a fabulous way to start the New Year!!!

But before I go out to enjoy it, I want to take a moment to wish you a wonderful 2009, full of love, laughter and opportunity!

I look forward to catching up with you soon.

Warmly,

Krissy

International Career Coach Krissy Jackson has been newly appointed onto the International Coach Federation Global Board of Directors.

On September 15, ICF Headquarters announced the newly elected members of
the 2009 global ICF Board of Directors:
• President-Elect: Giovanna D’Alessio, MCC, Italy; and
• Directors At Large (terms expiring 2011): Ira Dressner, PCC (USA); Janet Harvey,
PCC (USA); Krissy Jackson, ACC (Switzerland); Ed Modell, PCC (USA);
and Pat Obuchowski, ACC (USA).
New Board members will be joining the following returning Board members:
John Annesley, PCC (Australia); Diane Brennan, MCC (USA); Philip Brew, MCC
(UK); Sylviane Cannio, PCC (Belgium); Tom Hatton, PCC (Ireland); Marilyn
O’Hearne, MCC (USA); Lene Rønning-Arnesen, PCC (Norway) and Karen
Tweedie, PCC (Australia).

From: Fortune Magazine Ask Annie 

The traditional male style doesn’t appeal to many women, says an eminent executive coach, and that’s okay. Women’s own style works just fine, if they let it.
By Anne Fisher, senior writer
October 10, 2008: 9:40 AM ET

Sign up for the Ask Annie e-mail newsletter

(Fortune) — Not long ago, in a workshop with a group of senior executives, coach Lois Frankel tried a little experiment.

“You look like a pretty powerful person,” she remarked, in a friendly tone, to one of the female honchos in the room. The woman reacted by demurring: “Who, me? No, no, I’m not really powerful…”

A few minutes later, Frankel made the same comment to a man in the group, whose executive rank was roughly the same as his female peer’s. His response was radically different. He preened a little, acknowledged the compliment, and accepted it as his due.

“Women are often uncomfortable using the word ‘power’ in relation to themselves, and no wonder,” says Frankel. “If we had to let men define power for us, we wouldn’t want it.”

Read full article here

GET SMART! Try the bottom of the class on for size.

There’s a time and a place for everything. The same can be true when it comes to being smart. This is not about being dumb, but rather about being aware that there are many times in life when it pays to not be the smartest one in the group.

Read full newsletter here

NETWORKING MADE EASY

Three different strategies for three very different kinds of people

Remember the old saying, “It’s not what you know, it’s who you know?”
Well, in this competitive age, the rule has never been truer. If the thought
of networking makes you cringe, you will love this informative course,
which will show not only why networking is essential for YOU but also that
networking is not a “one hat fits all” approach. There is a specific method
to suit every kind of person, even introverts!

 
What to Expect From This 4 Part Networking Course:

Course begins on Tuesday 29th July at 6pm
Tuesday 29th July - Tuesday 15th August

Our 4, one hour, weekly Group Coaching Sessions will be conducted via
webinar / and a teleconference line. You can also get added support during the
week from others just like you on my Online Networking Discussion Forum.

Objectives:

You will

· define exactly what you want to achieve from networking
· learn who YOU should network with
· learn how networking can help you to grow
· learn how networking can affect your business or career long term
· develop a clear networking strategy
· discover the intricacies of the three notable networking arenas
· define which arena is most suited to your personality
· practice your newly learned skills within the group
· expect to increase your useful network significantly over the next 6 months!
· enjoy the process immensely!

Also included:

· Strategies for networking within each networking arena.
· Ten top tips for networking within each networking arena.
· Membership in my Networking Forum for group support and to ensure
lessons learned become second nature.

What some of the participants in the last course said:

I want to thank you again and say that being part of your networking
programme was a wonderful experience. It’s interesting to mention that I
learned LOADS about networking but — surprisingly — I learned possibly
more about me as a person. You rock!
Angela Carson
Spain

One of the things that I really appreciated from the course is the fact that
you have given a label to something that I had not really appreciated
before. That is inner circle networking.
Darren Sharman
Germany

I would say this course has been a great in-depth introduction for me
because I have really never had to do networking. I did have a lot of
apprehension about what it would entail. But, from this course, I have
determined that there are a lot of things that I can do and that
I am already doing that will work perfectly, including some live networking.
I think you’ve given a lot of wonderful pointers on how to do that. So, I feel
really excited.
Valentina Zeff
USA

I just learned so much, it is fantastic. I have learned basically that networking
is work, but it is a little bit fun too. I am more excited about it I have to say,
than I was before. I think, I will reach out more in the future than I have been
I am amazed at all the opportunities that there are for networking. I am also
thrilled to find that I do some of them already just naturally.
Suzy Schwarz
Germany

Two for the price of one! …in the true nature of networking, if you sign up
with a friend you both get the course for half price.

But the course numbers are limited to 12 participants
- so don’t miss out. Sign up using this link now!