Greater Indianapolis Chapter of the International Coach Federation

Greetings!
As with all organizations it is important to pause and celebrate past successes and thank those who have served in leadership roles. Our leaders have been and continue to be professionals who practice the art of coaching in their lives, businesses and employment. They also willingly volunteer their time to further the professional growth, development and collegiality of coaches. We greatly appreciate all those who have volunteered their time and talent in the past and who continue to do so today.

We have a rich history of offering engaging programs. In the past we have offered programs presented by speakers from other cities. In addition, we continue to leverage the remarkable talent of people from within our own community and who are sometimes members of our local ICF chapter. Our programs provide attendees with tangible resources and ideas.

Recession Proof Your Coaching Practice
June 2008 - Program Review
By Deb Buehler
ICF Indianapolis Chapter members engaged in a sample of the chapter's new Coaches Forum offerings on Friday June 20, 2008. Participating members were part of a collective conversation and deliberate brainstorming focused on strategies for Recession Proofing Your Coaching Practice.

Led by Life Design Coach, Louise Dunn, coaches considered the consequences and impact of "shrinking thinking." In today's challenging economy, coaches have an opportunity to provide leadership for those who are facing the many fears of our economic climate.

"Change is going to continue at an accelerated pace," says Dunn. "We must help our clients integrate to rapid change. Coaches can think big all the time - interpreting problems and challenges as an invitation to see things differently. We can help people see life through new and expanded lenses."

With that in mind, participants worked individually to identify their own highest income generating activities. In particular, Dunn invited participants to look at things they've done in the past to earn income which they are presently not doing. After picking a particular item to focus on, individuals gathered in small groups for intentional brainstorming around each approach.

Ideas flew as individuals listened to ideas generated by their fellow coaches. Each person gained insight into new approaches for reconnecting to an income generating activity. Further conversation focused on adding greater value to coaching programs and services. Again, small groups engaged in dynamic brainstorming resulting in renewed ideas and energy around action steps individual coaches can take.

"You must be fearless about addressing a challenge or problem." explains Dunn. "Find an underserved area where you know you have expertise, passion and interest. Position yourself as a leader and expert. Then you are positioning yourself to be quoted and referred to by others."

Dunn left participants with the task of identifying their 90-day strategic plan for implementation of action items identified through brainstorming.

Dunn is also the energy behind the ICF Indianapolis Chapter's new program offering called "The Coaches Forum." This exciting member benefit will provide a means for coaches to connect between programs around topics that are of the highest interest and relevance to those who truly want to thrive in this industry. Through the Forum, coaches will be able to receive encouragement and support at the local level from those who are already in established in practice, have completed a certification process and are willing to help others become successful.

The Coaches Forum is intended to offer coaches opportunities to share and explore cutting edge ideas while encouraging collaboration between coaches in our area. In the months ahead, members will be invited to participate in Forum discussions through live meetings, tele-conferences, book discussion groups and local special interest groups.

For those attending this sampler Coaches Forum the fruits were many. New ideas and energy were generated, enthusiastic connections were made among participants and those new to coaching were engaged in the resources and opportunities our chapter offers.

Coach and Therapist
May 2008 - Program Review
By Deb Brandt Buehler
Have you ever wondered if a coaching client might benefit from the support of professional counseling or therapy? "Every coach can benefit from developing a collegial relationship with a therapist," states Dr. Ed Mitchell, an Associate Certified Coach and LMFT, LCSW and LMHC. "Coaches and therapists may realize opportunities for referrals to each other in order to provide the best service to meet the individual client's needs."

In his recent program Coach and Therapist; Allies in Change, Dr. Mitchell framed both the challenges and opportunities coaches face when working with clients. Coaching, mentoring and therapy share some of the same characteristics; caring, making connections, empowering and attending to the individual. Each model focuses in on listening to and understanding an individual's story.

Therapy has long been grounded in the medical illness model while coaching has a focus on the wholeness already present in the individual. Dr. Mitchell used four client stories as a framework for stimulating conversation among program participants. The four stories also became a resource for discussing the differences between the two models.

Dr. Mitchell concluded his program with the following strategies for making a referral:

Refer the client to their primary care physician. This may be a way to help them begin to address anxiety or depression.

"Don't be afraid to be involved in a collaborative way," concludes Mitchell. "After a client begins therapy, inquire about the process with questions like; how was the first session? What did you think? What did you decide to do?" Working collaboratively with other coaches and with professionals in related fields' benefits both clients and each coach individually. It is through relationships that coaches continue to cultivate their professional expertise.

Clarian Health graciously sponsored our most recent program - Health Coaching: Using a Coaching Model to Improve Health and Wellness. The presenters were Theresa Knox ACC, Tammy Smith RN BSN, Jim Kerr and Jim Kenney. Following is a brief synopsis written by Theresa Knox.

Health affects every area of a person's life. As coaches, we have the unique opportunity to help people speak up about their health needs and refer them to resources that will help them address the challenges they are facing. In actuality, health coaching utilizes many of the same tools and theories that other forms of coaching do from Prochaska's Transtheoretical Theory to Appreciative Inquiry. So coaches probably have most of the tools they need to help their clients.

Health coaching focuses on improving health symptoms, changing a person's perception of wellness, assisting in navigating the healthcare system, and helping people align their behaviors with their life goals. Besides the coaching process, a big part of health coaching is linking people with the resources they need to manage their wellness. If you want to address health issues, consider finding out about the community resources in your area from fitness clubs to nurse lines and everything in between. Also, take a look at some reliable medical websites like 1on1health and WebMD to educate yourself about healthcare challenges your clients are facing. Most importantly, don't be afraid to bring up the topic of health in your conversations. You don't have to be an expert!

We greatly appreciate Clarian Health for their sponsorship and the excellent presentations made by the speakers. If you have questions about health coaching, you may contact Jim Kenney at Haelan Group, jkenney@haelan.com or Theresa Knox at Clarian Health, tknox@clarian.org.

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