ICF Edmonton Latest News

Board Position Elections 2026

ICF Edmonton — Thu, 09 Oct 2025 04:02:19 GMT

Have you ever thought about stepping up and being part of something bigger? The ICF Edmonton Chapter is recruiting amazing people to join our board team - we are looking for people who love coaching, enjoy collaboration, and want to make a difference in our community.

Elections are open, and we are recruiting for the following positions:

President, 2-year term
President-Elect, 3-year term
Director of Programming, 2-year term
Director of Public Relations, 2-year term

Each term commences in January 2026.

About our Vacant Positions!

President

Looking for an opportunity to be the driving force behind our chapter's success? If so, this role is for you! As President, you'll lead energizing meetings, execute important agreements, and serve as our chapter's champion with the ICF while orchestrating an incredible team of officers and directors to achieve excellence together.

President Elect

Ready to step into a dynamic leadership role where you’ll be the President’s right hand and future successor? If so, this role is for you! As the President-Elect, you’ll dive into strategic initiatives, mentor fellow board members, and gain invaluable experience while helping shape the future of our chapter.

Director of Programming

Are you the person who enjoys bringing people together and creating those “WOW that was amazing!” moments? As the Director of Programming, you’ll be responsible for overseeing the planning, securing and executing of special events, including networking events!

Director of Public Relations

As Director of Public Relations, you’ll be responsible for crafting compelling messages that get people excited about coaching and spread the word about all of our amazing events - you’ll be the buzz-creator and community connector!

Ready to join the board and help make our chapter even better? Click here and let’s get started!

To nominate yourself or someone else, complete the online application form (paper option below).

The above positions will be filled by election, as outlined in the Chapter Bylaws.

To see who will be continuing to serve on the board next year, please see the chart below! If you would like more information about one of these roles, please connect with one of our current Board members – we would love to have a conversation about what is involved in giving back to your ICF Chapter.

Information on the ICF Edmonton Charter Chapter election process and by-laws can be found on the Chapter’s website at https://icfedmonton.com/about.

If you prefer to complete a paper form, download the nomination form and submit by midnight on October 15, 2025, by email to: secretary@icfedmonton.com and president@icfedmonton.com

January 2025 Newsletter

Wed, 15 Jan 2025 16:00:00 GMT

Earn renewal credits, register for events, and stay up to date with your local chapter's events.

November 2024 Newsletter

ICF Edmonton — Fri, 15 Nov 2024 16:13:31 GMT

Introducing the New Board Members, New Chapter Members and some of our events confirmed for 2025

September 2024 Newsletter

Tue, 17 Sep 2024 16:56:10 GMT

Welcome to Fall! Click here to read your September 2024 Newsletter

July 2024 Newsletter

ICF Edmonton — Tue, 16 Jul 2024 17:00:13 GMT

Who and What is New In your coaching community

Newsletter is published every two months and sent directly to our members emails.

Click here to read the latest

October 2022 Newsletter

ICF Edmonton — Thu, 13 Oct 2022 07:36:49 GMT

Welcome to October! <Read more.>

September 2022 Newsletter

ICF Edmonton — Wed, 28 Sep 2022 00:15:02 GMT

Gratitude - How is this a gift FOR me? <Read more.>

June 2022 Newsletter

ICF Edmonton — Fri, 03 Jun 2022 23:05:57 GMT

Courage. Action. Enjoy your summer. <Read more.>

June Blog 3+ Ways to Learn About Boards

ICF Edmonton — Fri, 03 Jun 2022 20:49:12 GMT

3+ Ways to Learn About Boards

As professional coaches, we know in our marrow that there’s nothing better than offering your head, heart and hands in meaningful service as a volunteer. Not only does volunteering get us out of our daily grind, expand our horizons and social or professional circles, but it can challenge us to build skills and competencies that stretch us. And all of this has a reciprocal and positive effect in knowing we are needed in and appreciated by our communities, professions and areas of passion. What better way to amplify that volunteer spirit and make a real impact on the coaching profession than to run for a board position?

But wait! Perhaps, like many, you feel ill-equipped about how boards operate and you’re concerned that it’s too complex to learn. Well, when it comes to learning the ropes of board operations, you’re in luck. There are several resources out there designed to help you gain an inside track on building your board leadership know-how. Below are a handful of easily accessible resources to get you acclimated to board operations and help you make that next step in adding a board position to your résumé.

Resources:
DirectHer Network - This non-profit network hosts a live Board Basics session a couple of times each year. The next session is slated for September and is a pay-what-you-can offering. In alignment with DirectHer’s commitment to increase board gender diversity by demystifying the boardroom, this women-led, not-for-profit has a Board Basics session that’s both informative and interactive. During this live, hands-on session that includes a mock board meeting, participants will learn about the following using a real non-profit Board as an example:

Why Gender Diversity on Boards Matters
What’s a Board and Why is it Formed?
The Hierarchy of Documents Critical to a Board
Common Board Language & Process
Duties & Liabilities
Basic Financial Literacy

Volunteer Alberta - This non-profit organization supports volunteerism throughout the province. While there are many on-offer webinars and live events individuals and volunteer organizations alike can attend listed on their site, VA has a wealth of reading material related to boards and associated duties you won’t want to miss. Interested in finance? Check out the self-guided workbook on the Financial Responsibilities of Not-for-Profit Boards. This workbook, like others on the site, is complete with reporting examples and a handy financial management checklist, to name but two tools. VA has several free, downloadable workbooks to support key board positions like governance, finance and board chair.

Board Development Program - BDP is an Alberta government unit dedicated to improving the governance of non-profit organizations through curriculum-based training, presentations and consultation services. Their Community Development event series is particularly interesting with sessions like The Role of the Board Chair, Committees & Meetings, and So, you are the Board secretary? Now what?!. Follow them on EventBrite to receive notifications about free, online board development events in the near future.

A couple more options:

The Little Book of Boards: A board member’s handbook for small (and very small) nonprofits (2014) by Erik Hanberg is a quick way to prepare your mind and heart to the rewarding world of nonprofit boards in a digestible, sampling manner.
Roberts Rules of Orders cheat sheet is a handy little tool created by forsmallnonprofits.com. Just in case you thought “Roberts” didn’t actually write it down.

May 2022 Newsletter

ICF Edmonton — Wed, 04 May 2022 02:35:36 GMT

REIMAGINE. International Coaching Week <Read more>

April 2022 Newsletter

ICF Edmonton — Fri, 01 Apr 2022 06:28:43 GMT

Renewal. Hope. Enthusiasm. Commitment. <Read more>

March 2022 Newsletter

ICF Edmonton — Wed, 30 Mar 2022 05:26:08 GMT

We are Listening <Read more>

February 2022 Newsletter

ICF Edmonton — Mon, 14 Feb 2022 07:52:46 GMT

Connecting and Credentialing <Read more>

January 2022 Newsletter

ICF Edmonton — Mon, 14 Feb 2022 07:49:57 GMT

Saying so long 2021 <Read more>

ICF Edmonton Chapter Ambassador Program: November 2021 to March 2022

Fri, 01 Oct 2021 20:09:21 GMT

Looking for a way to learn and grow alongside another coach? Consider participating as a new or experienced member in the chapter Ambassador Program, a mentorship designed that invites reciprocal learning opportunities.

The Ambassador Program was designed to:

support onboarding and the development of new coaches
increase and improve member engagement
build a stronger culture of communication, knowledge sharing, and skills building

What are the benefits for new members?

gain skills and insights based on your needs and coaching practice
develop a relationship with a “critical chapter friend”
better understand the benefits of ICF global and local chapter membership
cultivate a larger professional network

What are the benefits for experienced members?

gain a new perspective in your coaching specialty by interacting with new members
give back to the profession by supporting and engaging with mentees in the work
enhance your mentoring and/or coaching skills
broaden your existing professional network

Participation in the Ambassador Pilot Program requires a six month commitment from November to March 2022. The nature of the mentorship relationship will be determined by the two participating members based on the needs of the new member with an expectation of regular connection. In April, participants will be invited to provide feedback which will be used to shape the Ambassador Program for the future.

It has been an honour and delight to be a partner in the Ambassador Program over the past few months. Initially I signed up to give back to a community I am proud to be a part of, and there has been such joy and learning for me personally along this journey. Together we have stretched, challenged and grown as executive coaches. I find myself looking forward to each of the sessions and believe this will be a life-long relationship I will cherish. I would recommend this program to any coach who is feeling somewhat complacent in their role and wanting to push their own boundaries. It is truly a win-win of a delicious nature. - Linda Maul

If you are an ICF chapter member with two or more years of membership and are interested in mentoring a new member, we invite you to submit an Expression of Interest by clicking here.

If you are a new ICF chapter member with less than two years membership and are interested in partnering with an experienced member, we invite you to submit an Expression of Interest by clicking here.

The deadline for submitting your Expression of Interest is October 23rd. Interested participants will be matched by the Ambassador sub-committee based on the experienced members’ areas of expertise and new member needs.

For further information or questions, please contact laurie@fenskecoaching.com, charlene.kushner@gmail.com, or contact@joannebergos.com.

5 Affordable Board Training Resources

Sat, 28 Aug 2021 03:43:12 GMT

Considering Adding Board Member To Your Resume? Check Out These 5 Affordable Board Training Resources

As professional coaches, we know in our marrow that there’s nothing better than offering your head, heart and hands in meaningful service as a volunteer.

Not only does volunteering get us out of our daily grind, expand our horizons and social or professional circles, but it can challenge us to build skills and competencies that stretch us. And all of this has a reciprocal and positive effect in knowing we are needed in and appreciated by our communities, professions and areas of passion.

What better way to amplify that volunteer spirit and make a real impact on the coaching profession than to run for a board position?

But wait! Perhaps, like many, you feel ill equipped about how boards operate and you’re concerned that it’s perhaps too complex to learn.

Well, when it comes to learning the ropes of board operations, you’re in luck. There are several resources out there designed to help you gain an inside track on building your board leadership know-how.

Below are a handful of easily accessible resources to get you acclimated to board operations and help you make that next step in adding a board position to your résumé.

Board Training in Alberta

DirectHer Network - This non-profit network hosts a live Board Basics session two - three times yearly. The next session is slated for September and is a pay-what-you-can offering. In alignment w/ DirectHer’s commitment to increase board gender diversity by demystifying the boardroom, this women-led, not-for-profit has a Board Basics session that’s both informative and interactive. During this live, hands-on session that includes a mock board meeting, participants will learn about the following using a real non-profit Board as an example:

Why Gender Diversity on Boards Matters
What’s a Board and Why is it Formed?
The Hierarchy of Documents Critical to a Board
Common Board Language & Process
Duties & Liabilities
Basic Financial Literacy

Volunteer Alberta - This non-profit organization supports volunteerism throughout the province. While there are many on-offer webinars and live events individuals and volunteer organizations alike can attend listed on their site, VA has a wealth of reading material related to boards and associated duties you won’t want to miss. Interested in finance? Check out the self-guided workbook on the Financial Responsibilities of Not-for-Profit Boards. This workbook, like others on the site, is complete with reporting examples and a handy financial management checklist, to name but two tools. VA has several free, downloadable workbooks to support key board positions like governance, finance and board chair.

Board Development Program - BDP is an Alberta government unit dedicated to improving the governance of non-profit organizations through curriculum-based training, presentations and consultation services. Their Community Development event series is particularly interesting with sessions like The Role of the Board Chair, Committees & Meetings, and So, you are the Board secretary? Now what?!. Follow them on EventBrite to receive notifications about free, online board development events in the near future.

Do you prefer something readable? Have a look at these options.

The Little Book of Boards: A board member’s handbook for small (and very small) nonprofits (2014) by Erik Hanberg is a quick way to prepare your mind and heart to the rewarding world of nonprofit boards in a digestible, sampling manner.
Roberts Rules of Orders cheat sheet is a handy little tool created by forsmallnonprofits.com. Just in case you thought “Roberts” didn’t actually write it down.

Board Opportunities with ICF Edmonton

Are you interested in joining the ICF Edmonton Charter Chapter Board?

Learn more about the available positions and election process on the Board Election page.

IGNITE Initiative Updates for 2021

ICF Edmonton — Sun, 02 May 2021 23:20:06 GMT

IGNITE is an initiative of the ICF Foundation. Through IGNITE we leverage the power of coaching in support of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals. Many of you will remember our Chapter's IGNITE work last year. Through pro bono coaching we helped the leadership of the Red Deer Public School District and Inclusion Alberta to become better at what they do: moving us closer to UN Sustainable Development Goal #4 (Education).

Changes for IGNITE 2021:

any coach holding an ICF credential can participate as a pro bono coach
coaching can be related to any of the UN Sustainable Development Goals
coaches can provide up to 10 pro bono hours per client - increasing the potential impact of our work.

Would you be interested in being a part of a committed team of coaches out to help to make our city, our province, our world a better place? Do you hold an ICF credential? Are you willing to volunteer up to 10 pro bono hours between now and 31 Dec 2021? If so, please contact our IGNITE Project Manager, James Greengrass, using james@fortfico.ca, to sign up!

In addition, if you know of any organizations which have a mandate aligned with any of the UN Sustainable Development Goals that may be interested in this initiative, please provide James with their information again, using james@fortifico.ca.

Join The New Ambassador Program

ICF Edmonton — Tue, 09 Mar 2021 23:12:02 GMT

Your board is excited to announce a new opportunity for experienced and new members to participate in a collaborative mentorship in 2021.

The goals of this newly created Ambassador Pilot Program are designed to:

support onboarding and the development of new coaches
increase and improve member engagement
build a stronger culture of communication, knowledge sharing, and skills building
provide reciprocal learning opportunities for experienced and new members/coaches

These goals are aligned with the Edmonton ICF Chapter’s mission to operate a thriving, credible, influential Charter Chapter of ICF and be a leading voice/source of professional coaching in Edmonton and Chapter’s vision of growing and serving as professional coaches through connection, collaboration and community.

What are the benefits for new members?

gain skills and insights based on your needs and coaching practice
develop a relationship with a “critical chapter friend”
better understand the benefits of ICF global and local chapter membership
cultivate a larger professional network

What are the benefits for experienced members?

gain a new perspective in your coaching specialty by interacting with new members
give back to the profession by supporting and engaging with mentees in the work
enhance your mentoring and/or coaching skills
broaden your existing professional network

Commitment

Participation in the Ambassador Pilot Program requires a six-month commitment from May to October. The nature of the mentorship relationship will be determined by the two participating members based on the needs of the new member with an expectation of regular connection. In November, participants will be invited to provide feedback which will be used to shape the Ambassador Program for the following year.

Interested in Participating? Here's how to apply!

If you are an ICF chapter member with two or more years of membership and are interested in mentoring a new member, we invite you to submit an Expression of Interest by clicking here.

The deadline for submitting your Expression of Interest is April 23rd. Interested participants will be matched by the Ambassador sub-committee based on the experienced members’ areas of expertise and new member needs. Both parties will be notified by email by May 7th.

For further information or questions, please contact one of the members of the organizing committee: laurie@fenskecoaching.com, charlene.kushner@gmail.com, or contact@joannebergos.com.

Annual General Meeting - ByLaw Voting Outcome and Minutes

ICF Edmonton — Thu, 04 Mar 2021 20:30:00 GMT

Thank you to all who attended our Annual General Meeting (AGM). We had a great turnout and a very meaningful presentation from Sara Smith, ICF Global, Past President.

This blog post includes the ByLaw Voting Outcome and the Meeting Minutes.

ByLaw Voting Outcome

One of our orders of business was to vote on a bylaws amendment detailing quorum for our general members' meetings. We are excited to report back that we had 73 members vote on the amendment, which represents 42% of our membership.

2 comments were included

Comment 1

Just a query -- is the reduced quorum related to reduced participation in the monthly meetings? Do we know why the participation is reduced? Covid certainly is a contributor and likely more 'webinar-based' time added into the evenings also is a deterrent as we are on webinars all day. These are challenging times, I know. Thank you for the work you are doing on our behalf!

The rationale for amending quorum was to put us in line with industry standards for quorum and ICF Global. This does not mean we won't continue to strive for a turn out beyond quorum and better attendance to our meetings and events. The rationale for amending the bylaws was explored in greater detail in one of our past blog posts, you can read more about it here http://edmontoncoaches.com/are-you-a-clutterbug/

Comment 2

Good work on all of this. Very good communication.

Thank you to both our commenters for recognizing and appreciating the work of the Board.

Meeting Minutes

ICF Edmonton Charter Chapter's meeting minutes can be reviewed in the PDF. Also, the meeting was recorded, so if you'd like to watch it, please email Sarah at past.president@edmontoncoaches.com to get the link.

2021-ICF-Edmonton-AGM-Minutes.pdf

IGNITE Something Special

ICF Edmonton — Wed, 02 Dec 2020 01:30:00 GMT

As professional coaches we are convinced of the transformative power of good coaching and share an enthusiasm for using our expertise to make a positive difference in people’s lives and the world at large. The ICF Edmonton Charter Chapter has a history of looking for ways to give back to our community by providing pro bono coac

hing services to community organizations. In 2019/20 the Chapter took this to a new level as part of the ICF Foundation’s IGNITE initative.

IGNITE uses pro bonocoaching to harness the collective power of ICF Chapters to accelerate the United Nations 2030 Sustainable Development Goals. Our Chapter focused on Goal #4 – Quality Education.

In 2019-2020, two organizations partnered with us: the Red Deer Public School District (9 clients) and Inclusion Alberta (8 clients). Nine credentialled coaches, seven from the Edmonton Chapter and two from the Calgary Chapter, donated a total of 85 hours of coaching. The response from the sponsors and the clients was overwhelmingly positive. In fact, at least one client has chosen to set aside funding for professional coaching in their budget so they can make it available to their entire team. Truly a win/win!

Edmonton Chapter is looking forward to launching a new IGNITE initiative this coming year. If you hold an ICF credential at any level you are eligible to participate. Stay tuned for more information, and I hope to see you on our team as we seek to IGNITE Something Special in 2021!

James Greengrass
IGNITE Edmonton Program Manager

Coaching in 2020 – Where Are We Going? Where Have We Been?

ICF Edmonton — Tue, 03 Nov 2020 01:00:00 GMT

ICF 2020 Advance is a three-week virtual conference. The theme this year explores how the world is changing coaching, how coaching is changing for the client, and how coaching is changing the world. Host Ann Betz, CPCC, PCC, kicked off the conference by providing a "bell curve" adoption and evolution of the coaching profession starting from the Late Majority and worked her way toward the Innovators.

While ICF has been in existence for 25 years, the coaching profession is closer to 35-40 years old. As evidenced by the Late Majority, 84% of the population will say they have heard of coaching. They may not know exactly what it is, but they do know it is not sports coaching. I think that is progress if you think about how long you have been trying to explain coaching!

As we move into the Early Majority and Adopter’s space, corporate coaching strategies are aligning with development vs performance/punitive, more managers are using coaching skills and neuroscience proves legitimacy in organizational space. There is a focus on trauma and toxicity present in relationships and organizations, the overlap that can be addressed in either coaching and therapy and out-of-box strategies like equine-assisted coaching and technology (AI, bots).

Finally, in the Innovators space is coaching infusing other professions. Imagine lawyers, doctors, teachers using coaching skills.

I think Ann said it best when she told a story about being asked a question 10 years ago about what she saw as the future of coaching. Her response: A world without coaches…

Imagine a world where everyone listens with curiosity and without judgment, champions others and believes in the potential of his or her fellow beings.

That is a world I want to live in. I’ll see you there.

Lisa Shepert, PCC, CPCC
ICF ECC Secretary

Are You A Clutterbug?

ICF Edmonton — Mon, 02 Nov 2020 23:27:42 GMT

By: Lisa Jackson, ICF ECC Director At Large (Governance)

Recently I came upon a program on HGTV called “Hot Mess House”. The premise is that a person virtually helps people bring order to their messy spaces. It proposes that we each have a unique organizing style that brings us satisfaction. I’m a bee – that means that I’m a bit of a perfectionist, and I am visual. I like to see things in front of me. (Hmmm… a good person to dig into the governance!) What type of clutterbug are you? https://clutterbug.me/

What does this have to do with good governance? The ICF Edmonton Charter Chapter has bylaws that help us operate. Over time, the bylaws need cleaning, organization and de-cluttering. Regular maintenance helps us make sure that we are operating at our best and it will allow us to focus on the work we really want to do – pursue our shared interest in coaching!

One of the bylaws that needs some attention is our quorum bylaw. Quorum is the minimum number of members we need at a meeting to approve chapter business. Why is quorum important? Because we as a board want to make sure we are representing the interests of you, and that our business plan is reflecting your input.

Section 3 of our bylaws says that 33% of members in good standing will constitute quorum at any meeting. In today’s numbers, assuming we have approximately 150 coaches, that means we would need 50 people at our annual general meeting so that our programming could be approved! We would love to have 50 or more attend our meetings, but more typically our attendance is between 20 or 30. This year we have held virtual meetings in response to the global pandemic, and that has impacted attendance.

So how do we start bringing order to this messy space?

ICF Edmonton Board is taking a couple of approaches to get a quorum for the AGM

First, we are going to get your input, even if you cannot attend a meeting in person. Look for more online voting opportunities and surveys.

Second, we did a jurisdictional scan of what other ICF coaching charters set for quorum. From this scan it appears that our quorum is high: the other charters we looked at range from 10-25%. The Board will be proposing updates to our bylaw prior to our 2021 AGM. This proposal will include a reduction in % with the inclusion of an alternative minimum number of required attendees. Including a minimum number will allow us to remain adaptive and accountable as our membership grows. You will have the opportunity to provide input on this proposal and you can expect us to report back on what we hear.

We welcome your thoughts on bylaws anytime, either through the survey or directly through email at president@edmontoncoaches.com.

Finally, during our fall board strategic session, we are going to keep governance on the agenda and make sure it all stays organized.

Best wishes everyone as we all organize our homes and yards (and bylaws) for fall!

Good Governance is Surprisingly Fun

ICF Edmonton — Mon, 01 Jun 2020 14:00:00 GMT

By: Lisa Jackson, ICF ECC Director At Large (Governance)

Have you ever seen “governance” and “fun” together? In my role as the ICF Edmonton Director At Large (Governance), I truly enjoy ensuring the chapter rules and procedures are up-to-date so our chapter runs smoothly.

Over the coming months, I will be doing some bylaw updates so we can be assured that we’re following the rules while continuing to deliver fun programming. So while I’m working behind the scenes to clean up our governance, I thought I’d take the opportunity to introduce myself and share some insight on why I enjoy governance so much.

There is a part of me that likes to figure things out, and to sort and order. Governance pieces (like bylaws and policies) help me understand where I fit in to the world around me. Bigger than that, governance builds a foundation for me to have more fun. Let me explain.

When I was young, I wanted to learn to play the piano. I sat at the piano at my Aunt’s house and my fingers flew over the keys. You can imagine the sound I created! I needed to learn the rules, scales, theory and practice, in order to build a foundation of music knowledge. Once I did, making music was all about fun! In fact, when I learned to play jazz and blues, I learned where some rules could be bent, and sometimes broken – even more fun!

Something similar happened on my journey to becoming a coach. I attended Royal Roads University and learned the EXCEL framework. At first my mind was taken up with learning the rules and process of coaching. Over time, I built a foundation of knowledge. I was then more available to be present to the needs of my clients. And there is nothing more gratifying and fun than being a coach!

In a similar way, governance for the ICF Edmonton Charter Chapter builds a foundation so that members can focus on the fun of connecting and socializing with fellow coaches who share a passion for coaching. As members, we trust that the business of the committee is well handled, that the money we contribute is well managed, and that we will have opportunities to provide input into the plans and priorities of the group. It’s my role to make sure the rules and procedures are up-to-date so our group runs like clockwork.

Bylaw housekeeping items need to be addressed this year so we can provide assurance that we are following the rules, and continue to deliver fun programming! We are expanding opportunities for you to share your voice, such as online or email voting.

September is our chapter’s election season. You will see calls for nominations and opportunities to vote for board directors. Raise your hand if you are interested in serving on the board!

Stay tuned to the blog and our newsletter to stay up-to-date on any governance changes for our chapter!

Contact me if you share my interest in governance, music, or coaching. I’d love to connect.

Lisa Jackson
ECC Director At Large -Governance (2019-2020)
director@edmontoncoaches.com

Can You Overcome Your Success?

ICF Edmonton — Sat, 10 Aug 2019 02:28:12 GMT

All of us can probably identify a scenario where an all-star leader seems to have plateaued. They have shown early promise. They have taken on series of challenging assignments and knocked those opportunities out of the park. They seemed destined for even greater success down the road. Mysteriously, however, something seems to have gone amiss. The energy and drive that characterized past performance is gone and the pace of successful projects undertaken and completed has slowed.

Sometimes we describe this scenario as the "Peter Principle" - somebody keeps getting considered for more challenging opportunities until they succeed in getting a position for which they do not have the requisite skills and abilities.

This may not be a failure of the individual leader but of the organization who hired or promoted them into the opportunity. Was there a realistic assessment of whether the candidate did have the leadership toolkit to succeed at the next level? Or did both parties underestimate the size of the jump, overestimate the candidate's current skills, or neglect to assess the candidate's ability and willingness to learn.

It's this last point that I believe we too often ignore - either for ourselves as leaders or when being evaluated by others for more senior roles. A challenge of success is that it can reinforce a pattern of behavior - it worked before, why wouldn't it work again? In many sectors we do this when promoting technically skilled people to their first management position. They are a great nurse, technician, or carpenter. We then presume that what made them great at that level will allow them to easily move into a role as manger, supervisor or foreman.

Another analogy that we're probably familiar with is that of the tradesperson who is particularly skilled at using a hammer. If you have great skill and success with this one tool, every situation would seem to call for a hammer, until you have a plumbing problem to solve, or need to lay out a concrete foundation and so on. The same holds true for leadership. If you've been recognized and successful by using a limited set of tools the incentive to expand your repertoire is similarly limited. Don't fix it if it isn't broken could be the mantra. In fact, there may be a disincentive to invest in ongoing training, education and learning. After all, there is real cost – and time - associated with new or ongoing learning.

This unwillingness to learn, change and adapt can manifest itself in the form of complacency, defensiveness and even arrogance - don't need it, not me, I'm already great! Regardless of the form it takes, the consequences for an individual leader, and the business unit or organization they lead, can be significant. If remedial action is not taken business opportunities can be missed, competitive threats can be dismissed, and other organizational talent lost. Eventually either the leader or organization - and sometimes both - pay a heavy price.

So how to overcome this Achilles heel of success? First and foremost, is a need for powerful personal humility. I have always believed that the surest path to personal failure and irrelevance as a leader is to believe that all learning is done. This scenario is more untenable today than it has ever been with knowledge, technology and competitive factors seemingly changing daily - or even hourly! If we think we are the experts in something just wait a minute.

Second, today's leaders must recognize that these rapid changes demand reliance on a team of people to succeed. Leadership - particularly at a senior level - is all about getting things accomplished by working with and through others. It is impossible to succeed without tapping into and effectively utilizing the FULL collective knowledge, skills and abilities of the team. A leader these days needs to consider themselves less of a boss and more of a facilitator.

Closely related to this ability to work through others is a readiness to be fully open, and demanding of, honest assessments and feedback from the team and others about what is working and what is not. This willingness to be open to feedback must be truly authentic otherwise followers will quickly realize that their personal success and survival depends on parroting the party line. Moreover, they will likely start looking for ways to distance themselves from any negative fallout if their expectations of failure come to pass. To ensure long-term success, a leader has to be able to hear the good with the bad and see all feedback as an opportunity for further growth.

Finally, a leader needs to continuously and vigorously evaluate their personal toolkit. Just because a certain style, approach, frame of reference, set of assumptions or model worked in a previous position, or last year, or yesterday is no guarantee of success in meeting the next challenge. As a leader you need to be constantly evaluating yourself, your toolkit and your frame of mind. To continue the analogy, you need to be constantly sharpening your saw. And you are going to have be prepared to hear and learn from a number of "instructors" or "tradespeople" along the way - your staff, your peers, colleagues, coaches, and others. They have much to teach you if you are ready to learn.

Don't rest on your laurels. Don't assume that what got you to your current leadership position is going to help you get to the next level - or even keep you where you are. As a leader you need to invest much in your own self-evaluation and redevelopment.

Assess yourself honestly, be open to feedback, and embrace your ongoing development as a leader.

Introducing Ignite – A Pro-Bono Initiative

ICF Edmonton — Tue, 02 Apr 2019 15:30:00 GMT

ICF Edmonton is happy to announce we are adapting our annual pro-bono coaching initiative to align with the ICF Foundation’s pro-bono initiative, Ignite.

Through pro-bono coaching projects, the Ignite Initiative uses the collective power of ICF Chapters to accelerate the United Nations 2030 Sustainable Development Goals. Since its launch in 2017, the specific focus is on Goal #4: Education – ensuring inclusive and equitable quality education and promoting lifelong learning opportunities for all.

Together, our chapter will ignite social progress in the Edmonton area by providing pro-bono coaching to partnering educational organizations. These organizations may include schools, educational nonprofits, nongovernmental organizations (NGOs), and associations that focus on education. When we share the power of coaching with our world, we have the power to ignite our local communities and spark a global impact.

What’s Happened to Date

In March 2019, our Chapter President, Kevin Tomkins, formalized our participation in Ignite by signing a Chapter Agreement with the ICF Foundation.

James Greengrass has been nominated as the Project Manager for our local initiative. He will formalize agreements with local educational partners, coordinate the program, and match volunteer coaches with the needs of our partner organizations.

During the early stages of the initiative, James is working to identify potential partner organizations and coaches who are interested in donating their time as a pro-bono coach.

How To Get Involved

There are two ways to get involved at this early stage as we launch the initiative:

Indicate your interest in being an Ignite pro-bono coach. ICF Edmonton members who have held a credential for a minimum of 3 years and can commit to a minimum of 3 pro-bono coaching hours qualify to participate in the program. Please email James at james@fortifico.ca subject line “Ignite coach,” to get more information and indicate your interest.
Introduce us to an educational organization that could benefit from pro-bono coaching. Please email James at james@fortifico.ca if you are connected to a local educational institution that could benefit from the Ignite program. We look forward to hearing your ideas on how we can support the local education community through the power of coaching.

To learn more about Ignite as a whole (including program history, requirements, background information, FAQs), please visit the ICF Foundation’s Ignite website.

President's Message - 2019

ICF Edmonton — Wed, 16 Jan 2019 04:05:24 GMT

My year as President has come and gone! It was eventful, full of learning, insight, challenges and growth. All that any new venture should be. And like the work we all do with our coaching clients it helped push me out of my comfort zone on more than one occasion and hopefully made me a better person and professional.

When I started my tenure as President I had a great base to build from with the strategic plan the Board worked so hard to establish in 2017. As I said at our January 14, 2019 AGM at the Derrick Club, it became clear that our aspirations sometimes (often?) exceeded our capacity. What that demonstrated to me is the passionate commitment each Board member brought to advancing our chosen profession and the commitment they shared to delivering value to our members and those we serve. That we have accomplished so much in the past year - and past several years - is a testament to the foundations laid by past leaders, members of the Edmonton Charter Chapter and by the particular efforts of this past year's Board of Directors. At the AGM I was excited to share some pretty impressive results that compare us favorably with coaching chapters throughout ICF Global:

Our financial health continues on target to the goals we set out in our 2017 plan;
Our membership renewal rate continues to exceed ICF Global targets - for the past several years we have approached or exceeded 90% renewal;
Our membership overall continues to grow and we now sit at over 150 members;
We continued to run a robust slate of CCEU eligible events, both in-person and virtual;
We developed robust partnership efforts with the Calgary Chapter of ICF and engaged in a cross-Canada webinar series with coaching chapters across the country;
For the 2nd year running we were able to have the Mayor issue a proclamation relating to International Coaching Week;
We had our biggest ever event (defined by attendance) in International Coaching Week 2018;
We continued our pro-bono/not-for-profit effort in 2018; and
And we had the best media coverage/social media presence both for ICW and for our work throughout the year.

The theme that I had proposed and hoped would animate my presidential year of 2018 was "What if?". What if we could fill the Telus World of Science to capacity of our signature International Coaching Week event? What if we looked to further access the support and resources of ICF Global? What if we could enhance our media exposure and social media activity? What if we could engage EVERY member of the Edmonton Chapter in at least one event? By that attitude and philosophy we achieved much. And together we laid the foundation for the year (and years) to come. Did we achieve everything that I hoped we would? No, but we shot for the stars and hit the moon! We set aspirational goals and thereby helped us appreciate how much more is possible if we challenged our assumptions and limiting beliefs.

As I conclude this post and my term as President, I also take steps to renew my commitment to the coaching profession and the Edmonton Charter Chapter for 2019. Specifically:

I look forward to supporting Kevin Tomkins, our President for 2018, and his Board as he looks to COnnect, COllaborate and CO-create with you;
I look forward to building on the success of our International Coaching Week success of 2018 and thus build a bigger and better event for 2019 - May 2nd at Telus World of Science Edmonton! Mark your calendars;
I have renewed my membership in ICF as of January 29, 2019;
As part of my ICF renewal, I have identified the Edmonton Chapter as my chapter thus ensuring that we get financial support from ICF Global in 2019 - a portion of all membership fees comes back to my chosen chapter;
As part of my ICF renewal, I have also chosen to contribute to the ICF Foundation, which is expanding the boundaries of coaching in the world through key focus areas:
- Cultivating frameworks for pro bono coaching;
- Engaging in and curating research for the multiplying effect of social progress through coaching; and
- Connecting training organizations and targeted populations for coaching scholarships.

Thank you for a great year. Let's make 2019 EXCEED our wildest expectations!

Kevin Tomkins, ICF Edmonton Chapter President (2019)

What are you saying "yes" to -- and why the question matters

ICF Edmonton — Sat, 28 Apr 2018 14:30:51 GMT

In my work as a Professional Coach I sometimes find that when I, to use a coaching metaphor, “hold up a mirror to my client” I see myself reflected in it as well.

In the course of a Coaching Conversation about choices and decision making I asked my client “If you choose this path, what are you saying ‘No’ to?” It’s a great coaching question, and it sparked some deeper thinking and, hopefully, some more powerful insights. However, I think that I could have asked a better question: “What are you saying ‘Yes’ to?”

I think that it is a better question because I realize that I ought to be asking myself that more. The trite answer is: “I’m saying yes to the goal, the objective, the future.” That’s true, but does it miss a lot? I believe it does. The question is important because as a society and a culture we frequently (and unconsciously) interpret the statement “if you can see it you can be it” as meaning “to be it, all you need to do is to see it”. Of course, that is an incredibly silly idea; but also a powerfully attractive one and we are surrounded with inducements to buy into it (literally).

Why commit to a regime of exercise and self discipline when for a small deposit and low monthly payments you can get this amazing new device which will have you looking like an athlete in only five easy minutes a day?

Why go through the hard and ongoing work necessary to build deeper relationships with others when you can simply drop a large sum of cash to register for a weekend seminar which promises to provide you with a “secret code” that will allow you to do it painlessly?

Why devote the hard work necessary to building up your business when you can sign up for a webinar that suggests that your participation therein is all that is standing between you and a six-figure income?

A very wise and honest teacher once advised his listeners to “count the cost” before they made any commitment. Asking the question “What are you saying ‘Yes’ to?” is a great way to spark some deeper thinking about what costs might be implicit in achieving the goal in question.

That goal that you are seeing, do you know what you have to say “yes” to in order to get there? Have you done so? Will you continue to do so? If not, what’s getting in the way?

James Greengrass, ACC