Message from the President – the half way point
And just like that, half the year has flown by! From ethics to conversational intelligence, from polarity to inner critics, from strategic planning to hosting great conversations about the future of coaching… it’s been REAL. By that, I mean it has been a time of building great RELATIONSHIPS, exploring and supporting a wide range of EVENTS and ACTIVITIES and of LEARNING about both coaching and leadership.
RELATIONSHIPS are the Foundation
I have had the opportunity to welcome new board members at the start of the year, to connect personally with many of our members at events in both Nanaimo and Victoria, to meet global leaders (ICF presidents) from around the world, and to build potential partnerships with other chapters.
One of the many things I love about the coaching community is the generosity of spirit. When we reach out to one another, someone always steps in or up; for example to lead a coaching demo or offer laser coaching during International Coaching Week. Our members have offered workshops, training, and even door prizes for our events (gift certificates for coaching services, or handmade coaching cards). And a big thanks to the board members who have been supporting one another to ensure we deliver the quality services and experiences that we so mindfully committed to at the start of this year-long journey.
EVENTS and ACTIVITIES
As we strive toward the goal of advancing the coaching profession on Vancouver Island, we know that events and activities are a cornerstone of our development. Having opportunities to network with one another, to share ideas, best practices, case studies, and resources – this is critical in a profession that depends on a code of ethics that maintains confidentiality. We work alone, yet we belong to this incredible gracious community.
As members (and don’t forget, your board members are also ICF members) it is easy to get lost in our daily tasks or to keep our eye firmly fixed on the next set of deliverables. We can quickly beat ourselves up for missing a workshop, not networking often enough, not taking advantage of everything that ICF offers, not, not, not. Today, I propose that we take a moment to breathe and reflect on what has occurred, what has worked well for us, what we wish to celebrate or acknowledge:
| Service | Topic | Mechanism | Location | Timing |
| Chapter Activity | Strategic Planning | Face to Face | Victoria | Jan 2017 |
| Chapter Event | Ethics Part 1* | Webinar | Virtual | Jan 2017 |
| Chapter Event | Ethics Part 2* | Webinar | Virtual | Feb 2017 |
| Chapter Event | Networking Social | Face to Face | Victoria | Feb 2017 |
| Chapter Event | Ethics Part 3* | Webinar | Virtual | Mar 2017 |
| Chapter Activity | Call for Proposals | Email/newsletter | Online | Mar 2017 |
| Communication | Chapter Newsletter | E-blast | Online | Mar 2017 |
| Chapter Event | Prep for your PCC* | Webinar | Virtual | Apr 2017 |
| Communication | President’s Special Message | E-blast | Online | Apr 2017 |
| Chapter Activity | Membership Renewals | Mixed | Mixed | Apr 2017 |
| Chapter Event | Postcards from Poland | Face to Face | Nanaimo | May 2017 |
| Chapter Event | Postcards from Poland | Face to Face | Victoria | May 2017 |
| Chapter Event | Postcards from Poland | Webinar | Virtual | May 2017 |
| Chapter Event | Member Benefits* | Webinar | Virtual | May 2017 |
| Chapter Event | Lunch and Learn | Face to Face | Duncan | May 2017 |
| Chapter Event | Coaching demo & laser coaching | Face to Face | Nanaimo | May 2017 |
| Chapter Event | Conversational Intelligence* | Webinar | Virtual | May 2017 |
| Communication | Chapter Newsletter | E-blast | Online | May 2017 |
| Chapter Event | Polarity Thinking* | Face to Face | Victoria | Jun 2017 |
| Regional Event | Quieting the Inner Critic* | Webinar | Virtual | Jul 2017 |
| Communication | Member Survey (re: Regional Conference) | Online | Jul 2017 | |
| Communication | Chapter Newsletter | E-blast | Online | Jul 2017 |
*CCEU’s offered
|
LEARNING … I just can’t get enough
I took on this role as a way to get more involved in this amazing professional community. I wanted to connect more often, be challenged in my thinking, and expand my understanding. I honestly do not believe I had any idea of the depth and breadth of professional development opportunities that ICF makes available to us!
Now having the privilege of sitting in the President’s role, I want to support as many of the events and activities as possible, having a personal presence that models the learning organization that I believe us to be. While it has not always been easy to carve out the time, as I reflect on the various sessions that I have attended, I am blown away by the growing I have been invited to do.
What is really weird is that I keep showing up at the sessions, and it seems as if each time, there is something going on in my professional or personal life that really needs that specific learning at that moment. A shout out to Diane Lloyd for the conversational intelligence workshop (the 3 levels of conversations continues to resonate), and to Laurie Hillis for the polarity thinking workshop (my infinity loop could benefit from this new “and” perspective).
And if this wasn’t enough learning, my role as President offers a whole new treasure box as I delve into leading a volunteer board, strategic planning, connecting to the global organization, linking to regional activities and navigating all kinds of new technical tools.
What About YOU?
And there is more to come! Roll up your sleeves, or slip into your metaphorical swimsuit and jump right in. The coaching water is truly fine.
Join us for a workshop on Salt Spring Island in August (check out the article in this month’s newsletter), a new community outreach initiative in the fall (stay tuned), more webinars, at least one more networking event and of course our December AGM.
Warmly,
Tracy
