The Best In Coaching: 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.