Coaching World Issue 18: May 2016 | Page 5

One day last month, I logged on to Facebook and was greeted by a message wishing me a happy 11th anniversary on the social networking site. I came to Facebook relatively early, joining just days after the site launched on my university’s campus, and I still remember marveling at how much smaller my world seemed over the next few months as I reconnected with hometown friends, networked with peers I’d met at college journalism conferences and accepted friend requests from people to whom I was not related, but who happened to share my last name. I felt connected in a way that I hadn't with email and snail mail. Editor’s Note A Connected World Just over a decade later, social media still plays an important role in my personal and professional life; however, I’m far more intentional in when and how I use it. I still appreciate the power of platforms like LinkedIn, Twitter and Instagram to connect me with people and ideas, but I prefer to invest my time and energy in building real-life, real-time connections. Shutterstock.com/everything possible This issue of Coaching World celebrates the real-life, real-time connections that are the heart of the coaching profession. On page 9, networking maven Brian Hilliard provides simple guidelines for how you can forge connections that turn into referrals for your coaching business. Also in this issue, Barbara Smith, PCC, explores how you can leverage the ICF Core Competencies to turn a 360-degree assessment coaching session into an opportunity for meaningful connection with your client (page 28). For insights into coaching in an increasingly connected world turn to page 15, where Fenny Ang, Ph.D., ACC, explores the important role of cultural competency in coaching engagements. As our team continues working to make Coaching World a critical resource for ICF Members, I want to connect with you, too. Email me at [email protected] to pitch an article idea or let me know what you would like to see in a future issue. Abby Tripp Heverin Communications and Awards Manager Coaching World 5 Coaching World magazine was recognized by the American Society of Association Executives with a 2015 Gold Circle Award in the e-magazines category, by GD USA with an American InHouse Design Award in the publications category, and by the APEX Awards program with an Award of Excellence for one- to two-person produced magazines.