International Coach Federation

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The International Coach Federation is a professional organization for business and personal coaches formed in 1995 by Thomas J. Leonard. [ [http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9C00E7DE163CF930A25754C0A9659C8B63&sec=health&spon=&pagewanted=2 "Coach or couch: Choose your therapy"] , "New York Times, July 13, 2003] Today, the ICF provides independent certification and networking for more than 14,600 members in nearly 90 countries and 160 chapters in 50 countries who are committed to advancing the art, science, and practice of professional coaching. [ [http://www.coachfederation.org/ICF/For+Coaching+Clients/What+is+ICF/ ICF International Coach Federation (ICF): "What is ICF?"] ]

Credentialing

As coaching is an unregulated profession, the ICF established a credentialing program according to a list of "Coaching Core Competencies" [ [http://www.coachfederation.org/ICF/For+Current+Members/Credentialing/Why+a+Credential/Competencies/ ICF International Coach Federation (ICF): Coaching Core Competencies] ] and guidelines regarding professional ethics. [ [http://www.coachfederation.org/ICF/For+Current+Members/Ethical+Guidelines/ ICF International Coach Federation (ICF): ICF Ethical Guidelines] ] . The ICF offers the only globally recognized, independent credentialing program [ http://www.coachfederation.org/ICF/For+Current+Members/Credentialing/.] .

Now in its second decade of existence, the ICF Credentialing program provides three levels of credentialing for professional coaches: Associate Certified Coach (ACC), Professional Certified Coach (PCC) and Master Certified Coach (MCC). Each credential requires a specific set of required hours of coach-specific training and coaching experience of the applicant. [ http://www.coachfederation.org/ICF/For+Current+Members/Credentialing/Why+a+Credential/.]

According to the "ICF Global Coaching Study" conducted by PricewaterhouseCoopers, 52 percent of coaches report that their coaching clients expect the coach they hire to be credentialed. To meet the rising global demand of credentialed coaches, the ICF is making enhancements to its credentialing program. [ http://www.coachfederation.org/ICF/For+Current+Members/Credentialing/).] Today, more than 4,000 coaches worldwide hold an ICF Credential. [ http://www.coachfederation.org/ICF/For+Current+Members/Credentialing/.]

Leadership

Today, the association is governed by a 16-member Board of Directors, with representation from nine countries around the globe [ http://www.coachfederation.org/ICF/For+Current+Members/Leadership/.] . Since the creation of the ICF, 12 members have served as president:

*Kay Cannon, MBA, MCC (USA)
*Pam Richarde, MCC (USA)
*Steve Mitten, MCC (USA)
*Judy Feld, MCC (USA)
*Bobette Reeder, MCC (USA)
*Darelyn "DJ" Mitsch, MCC (USA)
*Marcia Reynolds, Ph.D., MCC (USA)
*John Seiffer, MCC (USA)
*Cheryl Richardson, MCC (USA)
*Sandy Vilas, MCC (USA)
*Barbara Walton, MCC (USA)
*Jeff Raim (USA) [ http://www.coachfederation.org/ICF/For+Current+Members/Leadership/Past+Presidents.htm.] .

Research

"ICF Global Coaching Study", 2006

With its groundbreaking "ICF Global Coaching Study" conducted by PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC) in 2006, the ICF has set the pace in coaching research. The 2006 study included 5,415 respondents from 73 countries and provided the ICF with a global perspective and valuable baseline data on the coaching profession [ http://www.coachfederation.org/NR/rdonlyres/257CE43D-C730-4556-9D4B-F8B53061AA56/7778/ExecutiveSummaryFinalversion20.pdf.] .

Primary study findings included: [ http://www.coachfederation.org/NR/rdonlyres/257CE43D-C730-4556-9D4B-F8B53061AA56/7309/September2007FinalReportRelease2.doc.]

*The approximate annual worldwide revenue produced by coaching is $1.5 billion (USD).

*On average, ICF Credentialed coaches earn 41 percent more per year ($65,318) than do coaches who do not have an ICF Credential ($46,399).
*More than half (52 percent) of all coaches indicate that their clients expect them to be credentialed.

*The largest proportion of coaches is 46-55 years old, has coached for 5-10 years, and has acquired an advanced level of education (i.e., Master's Degree or Ph.D.).

*It is conservatively estimated that there are 30,000 coaches worldwide.
*The following were the top three leading coaching specialties that were reported in this study: Executive (19 percent), Leadership (18 percent) and Life Vision & Enhancement (16 percent).

*The largest proportion of coaching clients tend to be 56 percent female/44 percent male, and between 38 and 45 years of age.

*The approximate annual expenditures devoted to a coach’s professional development is $125 million. The average amount spent per coach is $4,219 per year.

*The vast majority of coaches who participated in the study (over 85 percent) expect to stay in the profession for at least 10 years.

"ICF Global Coaching Client Study", 2008

Presently, the association is working on the companion piece to the "ICF Global Coaching Study" to gather data on the individuals throughout the world who have experienced professional coaching in their lives. This study is called the "ICF Global Coaching Client Study" and is being conducted by PwC and the Association Resource Centre, Inc. (ARC). The research is anticipated to wrap up in late 2008 with initial results available to the public in early 2009.

ICF Research Portal

In addition to ICF research, the association has developed a Research Portal at Coachfederation.org to serve as an access point to various coaching articles, case studies, industry links, journals and reports from both ICF members and non-members [ http://www.coachfederation.org/ICF/For+Current+Members/Member+Resources/Research/Research+Repository/.] .

Awards

ICF Headquarters gives out two awards annually: the "International Prism Award" and the "ICF Chapter Awards". Recipients of both awards are honored during special ceremonies during that year’s Annual International ICF Conference [ http://www.coachfederation.org/ICF/For+Current+Members/Member+Resources/Awards.htm.] .

"International Prism Award"

In 2005, ICF Headquarters adopted the idea of the Prism Award model from one of its chapters (the Greater Toronto ICF Chapter). The international version recognizes organizations that have enhanced excellence and business achievement through their commitment to coaching as a leadership strategy [ http://www.coachfederation.org/ICF/For+Current+Members/Member+Resources/Awards.htm.] . Selection criteria include the effectiveness, impact and significance of the organization’s coaching initiative.

Organizations who have won this prestigious award in the past include:

*2007 – NASA (APPEL 4-D Systems) and Deloitte and Touche
*2006 – University of Texas at Dallas (UTD) and Verizon Business
*2005 – IBM and MCI

"ICF Chapter Awards"

Each year, ICF Headquarters honors a total of six of its 160 chapters that have given back to their communities through coaching or have successfully raised awareness of coaching in their areas through marketing or public relations efforts during the year [ http://www.coachfederation.org/ICF/For+Current+Members/Member+Resources/Awards.htm.] .

Chapter awards are presented in two categories:

*Local Spirit, Global Presence—Community Activism AwardThis award recognizes chapters that have established a significant coaching presence in their communities [ http://www.coachfederation.org/ICF/For+Current+Members/Member+Resources/Awards.htm.] .

*Finding our Voice—Marketing/PR AwardThis award recognizes chapters that have created a successful marketing/public relations campaign within their community [ http://www.coachfederation.org/ICF/For+Current+Members/Member+Resources/Awards.htm.] .

Three awards are awarded in each category based on the size and developmental stage of the chapter.

Organizations who have won this esteemed award in the past include:

Local Spirit, Global Presence—Community Activism Award
*"Large chapter": The Vancouver ICF Chapter for their ‘Helping Women Work’ program;
*"Medium chapter": The Andean Region and Central America ICF Chapter for their support of women with breast cancer; and
*"Small chapter": The Richmond Area Coaches Association for their work with the United Way [ http://www.coachfederation.org/ICF/For+Current+Members/Member+Resources/Awards.htm.] .

Finding our Voice—Marketing/PR Award
*"Large chapter": The ICF United Kingdom Chapter for their work on two events for corporate consumers of coaching;
*"Medium chapter": The ICF New York City Chapter for their work with coaching at Club Getaway, Fitness Magazine’s “You Can Do It! Challenge,” and “Life Coach TV”; and
*"Small chapter": The ICF Orange County Chapter for their Coaching Week Event [ http://www.coachfederation.org/ICF/For+Current+Members/Member+Resources/Awards.htm.] .

Looking for a coach?

The ICF is the source for those seeking a coaching.

Is coaching right for you? To answer that question, the ICF asks that you first summarize what you would expect to accomplish through coaching. Once you have a clear idea of your desired outcome, a coaching partnership can be a useful tool for developing a strategy to reach these targeted goals [ http://www.coachfederation.org/ICF/For+Coaching+Clients/What+is+a+Coach/FAQs/.] .

Also, the ICF asks if you find it valuable to collaborate, have another viewpoint and be asked to consider new perspectives. If yes, are you ready (and willing) to dedicate the time and energy needed to reach your goals? If yes, coaching may be a beneficial way for you to grow and develop [ http://www.coachfederation.org/ICF/For+Coaching+Clients/What+is+a+Coach/FAQs/.] .

Those who choose to enter into a partnership with a coach can expect to experience fresh perspectives on personal challenges and opportunities. Appreciable results in productivity, personal satisfaction with life and work and the achievement of personally relevant goals can be expected as byproducts of a coaching relationship [ http://www.coachfederation.org/ICF/For+Coaching+Clients/What+is+a+Coach/FAQs/.] .

The ICF suggests the following coach selection recommendations [ http://www.coachfederation.org/ICF/For+Coaching+Clients/Find+a+Coach/.] :

*Educate yourself about coaching. Thousands of articles have been written about it in the last few years.
*Know your objectives for working with a coach.
*Interview three coaches before you decide on one. Ask about their experience, qualifications, skills, and for at least two references.
*Remember, coaching is an important relationship. There should be a connection between you and the coach that "feels" right to you.

In addition to these recommendations, the ICF offers a free searchable database of ICF Credentialed coaches called the Coach Referral Service (CRS). The CRS has the capability to match the appropriate coach with a potential client, depending on the client’s needs. [ http://www.coachfederation.org/ICF/For+Coaching+Clients/Find+a+Coach/.]

See also

* Life coaching

References

External links

* [http://www.coachfederation.org Official site]