Coaching World Issue 8: November 2013 | Page 3

FROM THE EDITOR: tuning in Here at ICF HQ, when the members of the marketing and communications staff need to power through our todo lists, we turn to music to fuel our creativity and productivity. (Check out my teammates’ workday playlist picks, below.) the opportunity to step back and consider how your clients learn and communicate, with the help of articles by learning-styles expert Jeanine O’Neill-Blackwell (page 5) and veteran coach-trainer Micki McMillan, MCC (page 28). As we put together this issue of Coaching World, I gleaned musical inspiration from one of my favorite artists, Billy Joel. I’ve always been drawn to compelling storytelling, and this is an arena where the Piano Man never disappoints. His songs are rich narratives condensed into the space of just a few minutes. Whether he’s singing about Brenda and Eddie’s young, ultimately doomed, marriage (“Scenes From an Italian Restaurant”) or the plight of Long Island’s fishermen (“Downeaster Alexa”), he never fails to grab my attention and hold it in thrall until the last note fades. In this issue, we’re also highlighting another skill central to ICF’s mission: communicating the value of coaching within our communities. With the help of the members of ICF Raleigh, who earned an ICF Breaking Barriers Chapter Award for their 2013 International Coaching Week celebration, we’ve put together a comprehensive resource to help your ICF Chapter kick-start its plans for ICW 2014 (May 19–25, 2014). Don’t miss ICF Raleigh’s tips and tools for success on page 22, and be sure to download the ICW 2014 toolkit at icf.to/icw. The best songwriters are artists who have mastered the skill of concisely articulating a larger message. It’s hard to miss the parallel with coaching here, especially when you consider that, much like good songwriting, effective coaching takes hard work and knowhow. That’s where the November issue of Coaching World comes in. As you explore the articles in this issue, you may notice that Coaching World has a new look. This fresh face is the first of some exciting changes ahead for CW in the coming year as we strive to continue providing content that empowers you to be the best coach you can be. Do you have an idea for how we can better support you? Let me know by dropping me an email at [email protected]. As 2013 winds down, we’re going back to basics and inviting you to sharpen your coaching skills with several communication-oriented articles rooted in the ICF Core Competencies, including a new take on creating awareness by Carly Anderson, MCC (page 33) and a playful exploration of metaphor by Cynthia Loy Darst, MCC (page 16). You’ll also have Abby Tripp Heverin Communications Coordinator 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. Lindsay Bodkin Director of Brand Management Abby Tripp Heverin Communications Coordinator Ann Jarvis Marketing Manager Kristin Kelly Marketing Specialist Stephanie Wright 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 icfheadquarters@ coachfederation.org Advertise with us! toby.bishop@ coachfederation.org What music do you listen to at work? “Anything with a blues influence and lots of soul. It ends up being a mix of old and new, with lots of Ray Charles and John Mayer.” Lindsay Bodkin, Director of Brand Management “Muse, The Civil Wars, David Guetta and NIN.” Ann Jarvis, Marketing Manager “Lately, I’ve been leaning heavily toward folk music— particularly Bob Dylan.” ­ Kristin Kelly, Marketing Specialist “My go-to right now is ‘Sunshine Radio’ on Pandora, ‘a feel-good, energizing, fun mix’ including artists ranging from Natasha Bedingfield and U2 to The Supremes and Stevie Wonder.” Stephanie Wright, Brand Designer facebook.com/icfhq twitter.com/icfhq coachfederation.org/linkedin youtube.com/icfheadquarters coachfederation.org/blog Coaching World 3