International Coaching Week and Its History

Coach Jerri Udelson, an MCC from Massachusetts who specializes in helping entrepreneurs create successful business solutions and live fulfilling lives, created International Coaching Week in 1999 and listed it in Chase’s Calendar of Events as a way to promote the coaching profession.

The purpose of International Coaching Week is to provide a week each year to educate the public about the value of working with a personal or business coach and to provide an opportunity for coaches and their clients to acknowledge the results and progress made through the coaching process. Coaches offer a variety of pro bono services in their communities during the week, including free coaching sessions, lectures and workshops.

Udelson says, I am really pleased that so many coaches are participating in International Coaching Week. It is very gratifying to know that so many people are offering pro-bono coaching and other community events in such a heartfelt way. When I started National Coaching Week (which later became International Coaching Week) in 1999, I had no idea that it would soon take on a life of its own. I really am delighted that this Week is becoming a focal point for both publicizing coaching worldwide and providing the public with a sense of the possibilities that coaching offers.

History of International Coaching Week

International Coaching Week is February 4 - 10, 2007. Its purpose is to provide a week each year to education the public about the value of working with a personal, business or executive coach and to provide an opportunity for coaches and their clients to acknowledge the results and progress made through the coaching process.

In 1999 I created International Coaching Week as a way to promote the profession of coaching. Originally named National Personal and Business Coaching Week, I had it listed in Chases Calendar of Events (a major PR tool), and it was held the first week of February, 1999.

In year 2000 Canadian coaches wanted to participate, so I changed the name to International Personal and Business Coaching Week; in 2000 the International Coach Federation (ICF) helped publicize it by mentioning it in their newsletter and also by sending special Coaching Week broadcasts to members and chapters.

In 2001 the ICF actually prepared a sample press release for coaches to customize and use to publicize the week and their participation in it, and also gave ICF members a list of suggested events (e.g. pro bono coaching, free teleclasses, etc.) to inspire them to participate in their own way. Also in 2001 Thomas Leonard picked up the idea and ran with it. He created a Coaching Week page on the Coachville website, created a logo, and offered to put coaches press releases on the page as well as a summary of Coaching Week events.

In 2002 Thomas created a CoachingWeek.com website, and invited coaches to post their events and press releases on it. I continued to network with the ICF, Coachville and various coaches to promote the week.

For the last few years, the ICF has been mentioning the week on the website and announcing it to chapters. This year I have created a website, CoachingWeek.org, on which coaches and ICF Chapters can post their Coaching Week-related activities.

Copyright Jerri Udelson, 2007

Training: Marketing Qi Intensive - Coaches, Consultants and Trainers

Here is an announcement from a coach I respect – Ellen Britt:

Extraordinary roster of marketing masters gather together to bring you a powerful learning resource like no other! The next session is Thursday, Feb. 1st at 8PM Eastern with

Janet Attwood, co-founder of online magazine Healthy Wealthy nWise, Enlightened Alliances and author of The Passion Test, teaches you how to identify your top passion in five minutes, the difference between passions and purpose and the one key secret which guarantees a passionate life.

"Act Right Now--To Gain Instant FREE Live Weekly Access to 12 of the Top Coaching, Consulting and Training Marketing Minds on the Planet Who Are Dedicated to Getting You Clients, Growing Your Business and Inspiring You to Live your Dreams...

“Give us just 1 hour a week and you'll get the incredible opportunity to sit in on inspiring conversations with 12 of the planet's most successful coaches, consultants and trainers, as they reveal their most powerful and proven methods for creating success - not only in their businesses, but in their personal lives as well.”

--Ellen Britt, PA, Ed.D. Founder, CCT Marketing Qi Intensive

Teleclass - Coaching Predictions

This is one teleclass that I recommend you taking the time over the next week or so to review. It is broken up by each "expert" and lasts close to three hours in total. Very interesting stuff and kudos to Milana!

If you missed the 2007 Coaching Predictions call earlier this week, you can listen here.

Do you have a coaching prediction for 2007?

I'd love to hear comments and predictions of your own, just post them here:

http://www.milana.com/blog/

Milana Leshinsky, ACCPOW

Training: 2007 Is Your Last Chance For IAC Certification

2007 is your last chance for IAC Certification with the 15 Certified Coach Proficiencies. After this year, you will need to learn and demonstrate the new IAC technology. Why should you care?**

• The Proficiencies are thoroughly vetted. It took three years for
instructors and certifiers to fully understand and score them consistently, so now coaches know what to expect when they sit for certification.
Confusion can be costly and painful.
• Learning materials, like the detailed 15 Proficiencies Learning Guides
and recordings are already available here:
http://certifiedcoach.org/learningguide/proficiencies.html These reference materials are priceless, when it comes to achieving coaching mastery.
• There are programs like the Seven Secrets of Certification, where you can
get help mastering the Proficiencies from mentor coaches who have already done it. They can help you understand what great coaching is really about and what it isn’t.
• Mastering the Proficiencies and becoming a Certified Coach means you’ve
passed Thomas Leonard’s definition of a great coach. As the coaching industry explodes, the quality of coaching that’s expected is soaring.
Thomas was way ahead of his time in establishing this extraordinary benchmark. Enjoy the cache. Only 52 of 10,205 coaches have passed, so far.
• Most of you are already familiar with the language of the Certified Coach
Proficiencies. Why confuse yourself with a new format that could slow your progress down by months or years? Take advantage of the head start you already have with this extraordinary coaching material.

**Please don’t read any criticism of the new IAC coaching material here.
It’s just too new to enjoy the above benefits.

Members of the Seven Secrets of Certification Practicums are enjoying rapid learning. Some have already passed and several more are currently submitting their recordings. Listen to some masterful coaching from two of them in this sample practicum: http://www.audioacrobat.com/play/WpLJmPV4

The fee for the Practicums is going up this week. Beat the price increase, now. As a special New Years bonus, I will give a free coaching critique (Normal price: $200) to the next five coaches who sign up for the Seven Secrets of Certification. Go there now:
http://www.yourlifepart2.com/sevensecrets.htm

This program is for you if:

• You’re already a good coach
• You’re familiar with the 15 Certified Coach Proficiencies
• You’re ready, willing and able to spend the time, money and effort to
become a masterful coach

The Practicums will continue this month on Wednesdays at 5 PM ET and Fridays at 10 AM ET and I'm adding a third section on Mondays at 4 PM ET.

Here's what you get:

• Three 60-90 min sessions per month with an average of 5 participants
coaching and getting feedback. You're welcome to sit in on other sections, as well, at no extra charge.

• Just in Time Personal Coaching three times per month.

• A private web platform with 100's of Certified Coach resources and over
40 hours of critiques - it's one of the largest libraries of coaching critiques in the world - and growing quickly.

• Verbal feedback & written feedback on the most detailed scorecard that
you're likely to see.

• Opportunities to give your feedback - an important part of the learning
process. Opportunities to form triads with members and attend and/or host study groups with over 200 members.

• Opportunities to ask questions and clear up confusion. Most coaches put
off getting certified because they are just plain confused

• The energy to get it done. If you’re like most coaches, you plan to get
certified, but you’re really just drifting. You need to get into a strong supportive environment if you really want to get it done this year.

Once again, the price is about to go up. If you act fast, you can beat the increase and get a $200 coaching critique for free.

Once again, Happy New Year and Keep Being Great!

Julia Stewart, IAC-CC, CMC
www.yourlifepart2.com
www.experiencedcoach.com
www.associationforcoachingexcellence.com

Training: UTD Coaching Programs

Continuing Education: The Executive and Professional Coaching Program at the University of Texas at Dallas provides a series of short courses designed to meet the educational and professional development needs of those interested in improving their coaching skills and/or meeting the continuing education requirements of their profession.
These short courses, offered through distance learning, are meaningful educational opportunities for coaches seeking to earn the required Continuing Coach Education Units (CCEU's) for PCC or MCC re-certification through the International Coach Federation and are open to all coaches. Information and schedules at http://som.utdallas.edu/executive/coaching/coaching_education.htm

The Executive and Professional Coaching Program offers a Graduate Certificate designed for working adults. It utilizes the very best in distance learning methodologies, making it convenient, efficient, and geographically independent for busy professionals. We offer a flexible format that includes graduate credit hours that can be applied toward a Masters Degree, access to student loans, and compliance with corporate tuition reimbursement programs. The next Cohort Class begins on March 5, 2007. For further information or to apply for admission visit our website at http://som.utdallas.edu/coaching . This program meets all ICF requirements and ACTP status is pending and expected very soon.

On January 11, 2007 there will be a group Information Session with an overview and Q& A on the Coaching Programs at 5:30 p.m. Central Time.
It will be conducted on a group teleconference line so you can call from anywhere in the world. If you are interested in attending, send an e-mail to coaching@utdallas.edu with "Information Session" in the subject line and we'll send you an invitation. Please include your full name and location in your e- mail.

Submitted by:
Judith F. Feld, MCC
Program Manager and Training Director, Executive and Professional Coaching University of Texas at Dallas, School of Management judith.feld@utdallas.edu