I appreciate ICF embedding "thought-provoking" into the definition. So much of coaching is about helping people think differently as they rethink their assumptions, actions, approaches, and even their attitude toward change. I also love that I serve as a dialogue partner for change and that people aren't relying on me for their answers and approaches. I also love the focus on accelerating changes. Constant improvement and progress toward a desired outcome usually generates the energy and momentum to keep moving forward.

I appreciate ICF's definition of coaching to include maximizing a client's personal and professional potential. In our world today everything moves so fast, people do not take the time to stop, dream, reflect and transform. Transformation happens when you can get your dreams and ideas heard by a trusted and safe person, so those dreams can become reality. I know that I have the gift of reflective listening and I want to increase my knowledge of asking thought provoking questions. I would describe coaching as coming along side a person to offer a safe place to be heard and to offer hope.

I really appreciate the phrase, to "maximize" their personal and professional potential. Because that is what gives me the greatest joy when people are able to improve their lives by concentrating on action steps and get results they have hoped for.

In describing coaching to a client, I like the words used yesterday that we are not an archeologist digging up the past like a counselor, but rather, an architect helping facilitate the building of a new future. I shared that in Bible study this morning and the group really resonated with that. I also said that my role is to ask powerful questions that led to deeper insights and provokes action towards a preferred future.

What parts of ICF's coaching definition most energize you?

The words "maximize" and "potential" jump out at me in the definition. Whether for sports, professional or personal coaching, I think these terms hit on the essence of the role of a good coach.



Why do you think that coaching accelerated one's transformation?

I think we can only take ourselves so far. The "naysayer" voices in our head invite us to give up, feel bad about ourselves and lose focus. A good coach challenges these internal recordings and invites us to try for incremental change.



What's scares you about being able to demonstrate ICF's definition of coaching?

I am a little worried about taking on or feeling the emotional burden of the clients issues.



How would you describe coaching to a friend or a potential client?

Permitting a trusted and trustworthy individual to help achieve your goals and dreams.

What parts of ICF's coaching definition most energize you?



I appreciate the balance within the definition: coaching as not simply a professional tool, but as a partnership for a flourishing life, personally and professionally.



Why do you think that coaching accelerated one's transformation?



I suspect many people are simply longing to be seen, affirmed and encouraged. Having someone who is "for you" walk alongside you for a period of time is profoundly motivating. One of my mantra's is "human beings are not individuals, but persons". We are irreducibly social. Individuals are complete in themselves (undivided ones, as the term literally means), but that is true of no human being. Transformation comes through all things social as person-in-relation: our sense of being beloved, our vocational value, and so on.



What's scares you about being able to demonstrate ICF's definition of coaching?



I am nervous about my ability to provoke creativity. Less so about thought-provoking, although I'm nervous about that in a different way (how to limit my contributions).



How would you describe coaching to a friend or a potential client?



I would describe it was a friendly provocation towards transformation and growth.

The very first part of ICF's definition of coaches, "the coach must create a safe, trusting environment that provides opportunities for fresh perspectives and new ways of being can be explored. Coaches walk alongside their clients, seeking to unlock their potential and increase their impact." this energizes me because creating a safe space is a gift I see myself offering the client/coachee. Once they enter the space they are free to reimagine what could be and steps they are able to come to their anticipated outcomes.

Having conversational partners that stay engaged and are focused on the expert, the coachee can help a person move and transition because the coachee is heard, and free to explore options that their colleagues, family ad friends may not support. The coach becomes the safe place create their next.

What parts of ICF's coaching definition most energize you? "Coaches have a mindset of curiosity and wonder as they help clients tap into their passions and preferred futures. " I use the language of God's preferred future a lot with churches I've served and love the idea of connecting people's passions to where they and God wants them to go to next.



Why do you think that coaching accelerated one's transformation? I think just being more intentional about ones goals and dreams helps accelerate progress.



What's scares you about being able to demonstrate ICF's definition of coaching? That if people aren't growing/changing, we aren't coaching. It makes sense, but if the client is the expert and ultimately responsible for changing, it's scary to rest my success as a coach on the motivation/dedication of a client.



How would you describe coaching to a friend or a potential client? Coaching is a process to help you as a client to reach your God-given potential and dreams through thought-provoking questions and careful listening.

What parts of ICF's coaching definition most energize you? Having a "thought-provoking and creative process" is exciting to me - I like that each coaching relationship is unique to the client. It keeps me grounded in who I am accompanying and their specific goals rather than relying on a past experience or assumptions that I'm bringing.



Why do you think that coaching accelerated one's transformation? Coaching provides a framework for clients to think through challenging situations or imagine a transformation that might get muddled in their head. I think having the framework of questions and accountability for next steps helps provide a clarity that is harder when you try to go at it alone. The potential and wisdom is already there for the client, a coach helps keep the focus moving forward.



What's scares you about being able to demonstrate ICF's definition of coaching? I can be a perfectionist and want to do things the "right way" which is challenging when you are working with people - there isn't one right way. I am leaning into trusting the process...



How would you describe coaching to a friend or a potential client? It is a relationship that can be utilized to help work through a challenge or achieve a goal. A coach asks provoking questions that help clients find clarity, next steps, identify resources and support they need, and stay focused on the process of transformation.

I love the "partnering with clients in a .... creative process" part of the ICF definition of coaching. My mission statement says that my mission is to nurture delight, facilitate healing, and inspire prayer in people of all ages and from all walks of life through creative spiritual practices. I see coaching as a wonderfully creative practice that nurtures delight, facilitates healing, and inspires prayer. My tagline for my ministry is "Wonder-filled. Transformative. Healing." Coaching is indeed wonder-filled, transformative, and healing. To discover this way of thinking and operating as a means to partnering with people in their transformation and the transformation of the world is joyfully meaningful.



Coaching accelerates transformation because it invites an objective observer to ask thought-provoking questions in ways that cause the client to pause and ponder what new thing God is calling them to in their lives and in their ministries. It focuses on next steps so that clear action-plans are formlated to move a person forward, making progress toward the reality of dreams, and it encourages the client to create a network of support and accountability. Once we say what we want to accomplish out loud, it is more likely to happen because our intention exists in the world.



I don't think I'm really scared, but probably because in many ways, I've been doing this for years with teenagers and colleagues and friends. I'm more concerned about not letting myself and others (the Office of Christian Formation and my presbytery) down as I try to manage the certification course with my ministry (coming out of COVID chaos) in the midst of grief (my mother's recent, unexpected passing which still has me feeling a bit out of sync with my normal organized self.



But I believe incorporating this "delightfully creative, communal process of dialogue around dreams and goals that moves people forward in transformational ways" into my ministry will make a difference for those with whom I work, and I can't wait to see how!

Right off the bat, the idea of partnering as the basis of coaching stuck out to me. Sometimes it can feel like committees or congregations would be happy for their staff members to do the work on their behalf, and so the idea of partnership (with well defined roles) is exciting.

I think that the constant forward movement of coaching (short term goals that lead to long-term changes) bring about that transformation. How often have we been at a retreat where dozens of ideas are generated to see most of them never make it off of the flip charts where they were born? The coaching mindset of goal setting and accountability partnerships is what can take a conversation or idea to its full transformative potential.

As a coach, I think the word 'maximize' can be scary. I get all sorts of impostor syndrome thinking about that word! ;-)

I would describe coaching as, "a way to process ideas in a space that gives room to dream and be creative, and then to make commitments to work steadily to implement those ideas and bring them alive in fruitful and tangible ways."

Which word/phrase from ICF's coaching definition do you fine most compelling? I love the 'partnership in a creative process'.

How would you describe what coaching is to the people you coach? Unlocking the answers already inside us!

What are the unique traits that separates coaching from other helping activities? It's a guided experience toward discovery rather than a quick answer to implement.

What are two strategies for communicating what coaching is and isn't to a client? a quick 'list' of what it is and isn't comes to mind first!

How do you weave into a coaching demonstration what coaching is and isn't? Maybe an example, using the same scenario, to show the differences between coaching, consulting, counseling, etc.

I love the creativity part of the coaching definition. It is energizing to watch someone access the creative part of their brain and personality. I believe that everyone is capable of creativity and I'm excited to gain skills to help folx, especially those who may not think they have it in them, access that part of themselves.

I am struck by the similarities in the philosophy of Godly Play and Coaching. In both, the client/child has the answers and we are here to journey with them, helping them to explore and find their best selves (coaching)/connection to God (Godly Play).



We've been using Godly Play at our church for the last 7-8 years. The change I've seen in youth who grew up in a traditional SS model vs the Godly Play wondering model is huge. Today's youth ask better questions, are curious about their faith and the stories of the Bible. They own that this is their relationship with God and it will grow with them.



In coaching, I love the line "coaching accelerates what's already underway." What a refreshing way to approach life. We all have the answers, some are just hidden from us. Our job as the coach is to approach each session with curiosity and wonder about our client - drawing out the amazing gifts already given by God.

The greatest takeaway from ICF's coaching definition for me is the altruistic mindset behind coaching itself. This is also what scares me because so much of coaching is centered around asking clients deep thought-provoking questions designed to enable them to reach their own potential without our interference, in the sense of offering solutions to help them. I love that this approach offers clients the opportunity to reframe their mindsets to help draw out their own strengths and solutions to problems. This, in turn, is their transformation. I would describe coaching as a partnership between equals that serves to assist clients with their own individual growth by creating and meeting personally set goals.

I'm a huge, huge fan of this statement: "Coaching accelerates what's already underway."



Years ago, I latched onto that concept of not trying to make ministry happening but joining God in what He's already doing in someone's life. In this way I'm reminded that I'm not the Savior, but Jesus Christ is and I get to be a part of His Body as I serve. I've approached this in larger teaching, too - it's not about people remembering me when I'm done but about them having a face-to-face with Jesus that they get to continue as they head out from the meeting space. I'm excited for what's ahead!

This session helped me see that my role is solely on guiding, but not on the actual expertise. Walk hand in hand with the person/group to achieve their goals.

I like that coaching is a partnership designed to draw out a clients wisdom and expertise. That removes the pressure for me to have all the answers and allows the client to remain in the driver's seat. There's a lot of demands for people to be experts, but allowing people to walk together as they sort out options, ideas, and move toward a preferred future is almost countercultural in 2023. I'm glad that such a gentle option exists for people to move at their own pace with a trusted partner.

This is a test.

I appreciated the information on what Coaching is not. Understanding and being clear on the goals of Coaching will prepare me as a Coach. By approaching this training with these principles in mind, I will be well prepared to provide valuable guidance and be a supportive sounding board for the clients.

Partnership is an important element that is tied to many of the ICF beliefs. The focus on a partnership allows the coach to center themselves in what coaching is and avoid other similar fields of work. Partnership implies that there is a value and need of the client to achieve their own goals with a someone who is willing to walk with them on their journey. We achieve so much more when we have others to help us see in ourselves what we miss by being too close to our own problems.

Right now it might be hard for me to have an elevator pitch about what coaching is to share with a friend. I am still developing a definition in my own words. I can share what energizes me about coaching - Coaching begins with the assumption that the individual or group has the experience, wisdom, and gifts needed to address the challenges they face. The client is the expert of their own life and situation. The coach is a guide to help the client get to where they want to go.

I appreciate the ICF's inclusion of potential for clients. It is definitely a mindshift to have to think in a way of drawing out one's own strengths and wisdom. We often, in ministry, talk about people's gifts and everyone certainly have gifts and strengths. No doubt we all need guidance to continue to develop those but also need that outside voice, coach, to remind us of what we don't see in ourselves. The drawing out of that wisdom and strength, we each have, is probably what scares me the most of being able to demonstrate in ICF's definition of coaching. I have spent most of my life trying to fix things, thinking about what's next before I deeply listen to what someone is sharing with me.

nI would describe coaching to a friend as a confidential and encouraging means to help someone identify what they would like to accomplish in a current situation and asking open ended questions that allow a client to reflect on what tools they have within themselves or resources around them to help them achieve their goal or encourage change.

The part of ICF's coaching definition that energized me was the concept of accelerating what is already underway. As a coach, I come along side a client while they are on their journey. The goals are already goals or desires of the client. My job as a coach is to provide be curious about their process, help them engage in new insights, and set goals and find ways to be accountable to those goals. In many ways, coaching is providing structure to a process already underway. I am energized by how coaching can both expand and accelerate other's goals. I appreciate the creative and thought-provoking pieces of the ICF definition. The words suggest that the process of coach is both expansive and focused at the same time.

In my experience coaching accelerates transformation helping folks get clear about a faithful step forward, and then the accountablilitiy of presence. If I said I was going to get something done to a coach like an ICF coach, and I am really going to want to get that thing done.

n

nWhat concerns me as a Lutheran pastor comes from being a Lutheran pastor and a coach. Even if I take my "pastor hat" off, the people I want to use these tools for are my parishoners and they will still seeme as that. When we start talking about faithful steps we are more in a law space, and less of a gospel-promise space. I don't want to encourage works righteousness any more than I assume I already do.