Coaching World Issue 17: February 2016 | Page 4

Michael Voss Director of Brand Management Lisa Cunningham From the CEO Coaching World is a quarterly digital publication of the International Coach Federation. It is distributed via email and accessible online at icfcoachingworld.com. Coaching World is developed and produced by the ICF Marketing Department. Stronger Together The beginning of a new year lends itself well to setting goals and making plans. In our personal lives, we commit to making healthy choices, spending more quality time with loved ones and adjusting whatever needs to be adjusted. Professionally, we look back on our accomplishments over the last 12 months and consider how we can make the new year our best yet. No one knows this better than professional coaches: After all, investing in “self” may be on the top of the resolutions list, and many of you probably saw prospective clients’ interest in your services spike over the past two months. This tendency to kick off a new year by looking to the future is certainly at work at ICF. Once again this year, the ICF Global Board of Directors convened in January for two days of strategic planning before the first Board meeting of 2016. During these discussions, the Board reviewed the 2015–2017 ICF Strategic Plan and identified four strategic focus areas for 2016: Abby Tripp Heverin • ICF members represent excellence in professional coaching. ICF researches, develops and implements robust standards, governance and operational procedures/structures and applicant requirements for all aspects of the ICF Credentialing program. Stephanie Wright • ICF is the most relevant professional coaching organization. ICF assumes a thought–leadership role for the evolution of global coaching. Social Media Specialist Justin Hannah Marketing Specialist Communications and Awards Manager Brand Designer Opinions expressed by contributors are their own and not necessarily endorsed by Coaching World or the International Coach Federation (ICF). Content may not be reproduced in whole or in part without prior written permission. International Coach Federation Headquarters 2365 Harrodsburg Road, Suite A325 Lexington, KY 40504 USA 1.888.423.3131 or 1.859.219.3580 [email protected] Advertise with us! [email protected] • ICF has the strongest global brand. ICF is to provide leading-edge technology resources and applications for all coaching stakeholders (e.g., coaches, public, organizations). • ICF fosters the application of coaching for societal change. ICF will initiate conversations with the ICF Foundation to determine interest in and capability for investment in social change. These goals are achievable; however, we can’t arrive at our destination immediately. We need to identify the strategies and tactics we’ll implement and resources we’ll leverage on the way. The same is probably true for you in your coaching business. Whether you’re a new coach or longtime practitioner, you can’t reach your goals overnight. Instead, you continue your growth and progress, and you likely won’t do that alone. Being part of the ICF community provides an important support to achieving your goals. As an ICF Member, you have access to tools and resources to help you grow and fine-tune your coaching business. You also have access to the most powerful asset of all: a community of fellow trained professionals who understand your joys and challenges and want to share with you all they know and have experienced. We’re stronger together than we are separately and this vibrant and generous community is living proof of that. facebook.com/icfhq twitter.com/ic f