In The May Issue...

Upcoming Events
Past Events
Member Spotlight
Committee Reports
Issue of Month
Links of Interest
Member Questions 

Upcoming Events...

Why is it that some coaches thrive in this profession while others struggle? Is it luck? Are successful coaches better at coaching? Or, do they posses more certifications or better accreditation?

The answer is… successful coaches are consistently utilizing strategies, techniques, and practices that anyone can employ in their own practice. Most importantly, they understand that they MUST see themselves as a businessperson who sells coaching skills (a SkillPreneur), rather than merely a coach-for-hire.

In this presentation, you will learn how to shift your mind-set towards thinking like a savvy business owner who sells coaching services and away from the limited mindset of a coach-for-hire.

Additionally, you will learn a step-by-step process that will guide you through the most critical components of a successful SkillPreneur business and the action steps necessary to further enhance, develop, and grow your coaching practice.

Learning outcomes:

1. Understand how to think like a business owner
2. Shift your mind-set towards that of a business owner who sells coaching services, and away from being a “coach-for-hire”
3. Gain a step-by-step process for understanding and managing the business aspects of a coach practice
4. Understand the value of a client acquisition cycle and what to do during it the cycle
5. Learn the difference between Sales and Marketing, and create a marketing funnel
6. Gain valuable insight about effective networking vs. ineffective card collecting

PRESENTER BIO:

Ed Abel has invested more than three decades learning how to build a successful, thriving business. At age 24 with a $5,000 loan and the energy and passion of a young entrepreneur, Ed was ready to take on the world. And he did, only to emerge seven years later at the top of a $36 million organization with 585 employees. Inspired by the challenges that led him to success, Ed went on to build other multi-million dollar businesses, yet he missed the passion he experienced “in the trenches” of his formative years.

Determined to find a way to educate and advise others in the construction and sustainability of a vital business, he founded ABEL Business Institute. Over the course of this process, he began developing a systematic approach to the construction, maintenance, and growth of businesses--an approach that has become the philosophy and methodology of ABEL Business Institute.

Ed went on to create and direct the SkillPreneur Business Alliance (SBA) an innovative organization that helps business owners achieve success in an environment where camaraderie exists, information flows, knowledge is shared, purpose is achieved, and everyone walks out feeling like part of a larger community. The SkillPreneur Business Alliance (SBA) brings this same opportunity to small business owners everywhere promoting a refreshing, communal alternative for sharing ideas, exchanging advice and being accountable to a group of non-competing peers. It is one of the most powerful business strategies to emerge in decades. 

Ed is an adjunct professor of entrepreneurial studies at New York University (NYU) as well as the Director of the business division at the world class Institute for Professional Excellence in Coaching (iPEC). At iPEC, Ed directs the business division that is responsible for supporting the graduate coaches in their business development process. 

Ed lives in New York City, where he is an avid participant in different Volleyball leagues as well as a student in boxing. He also has a huge collection of Napoleon Hill original writings 

CCEUs: TBD

DATE:   May 29 (registration closes May 28th)

TIME:   7:30 pm to 9:00 pm

COST:  $25 Members | $35 Non-Members

LINK:   A link to join the webinar will be sent to you after payment. If you don't receive that email please contact info@md-icf.com.

Past Events...
By Mary Ellen Waltemire

Member Spotlight...Floyd Price
By Mary Ellen Waltemire

As part of a team going through change, would you be most like a zeppelin, a balloon, a bottle rocket or a jet? Mmmm, interesting perspectives for sure! This analogy is one method Coach Floyd uses while working with both individuals and groups as a professional coach.

After working in Silicon Valley, he enthusiastically describes the coaching of teams in organizations going through change, his sweet spot.  Floyd notes that change is everywhere ~ from technology and movements to e-books and electronic toothbrushes ~ and that change makes our lives better the more we are able to embrace it.  Embracing change requires moving from our place of comfort and the good ‘ole days mentality.  

Another focus for Floyd is best described as “strength finding;" as the term implies, he works with individuals or groups of individuals to identify their strengths and then determines how to best use those strengths for greater effectiveness and success.

He enjoys his coaching practice, and has learned an enormous amount over the years; he eagerly shares stories about his successes to date. With one particular individual who is part of a pre-release program, Floyd feels like he has gained as much in working with his “mentee” as his mentee has gained from his skilled coaching. In another instance, a client's wife recently praised Floyd for his coaching work, because he was able to support her husband to not only make changes professionally but personally as well; something that she and his mother had not been able to accomplish! 

Originally from New Jersey, Floyd spent his formative coaching years working in Silicon Valley,  before returning to the east coast in 1995.  Upon returning to this part of the country, he was able to not only re-connect with significant family members but quickly connect to the coaching community.

Originally he was part of the DC Chapter and when he got word that a Maryland Chapter was forming, he was all for it. As a founding member, Floyd chooses to be active in the Maryland Chapter because of the convenient locations of events and because he likes networking and learning with other coaching professionals.

He values the opportunity to talk with and learn from other professional coaches; it makes sense and feels good to be around other like-minded individuals. He values the skills each coach brings to the table.  Even more important to him, is the execution of those coaching skills with each unique situation. As a Maryland Chapter-ICF member, Floyd is part of the Membership Committee and enjoys growing the membership. He likens his involvement on this committee to that of on-boarding.

In the near future, he wants to take new chapter members to a different level, assimilating them to the organization by building relationships quickly with seasoned members, perhaps through a buddy system or other connecting strategies. He strongly believes that well-built relationships early on will be the key to member retention and involvement in the Maryland Chapter. He notes that success in any organization is dependent on the people and their involvements. With Floyd involved, hold on folks, we’re headed for growth in numbers and knowledge!

Committee...
By , Chair

Issue of the Month... Building a Thriving Coaching Practice

What advice would you give to new coaches who are ready to launch a coaching business? What skills have you had to call on to be a successful solopreneur? What have been lessons learned in growing your coaching practice?  If you had one piece of advice to offer a new coach, what would it be? Share your wisdom or question in our forum... Click here to post your comments!

Links of Interest...

ICF Coaching World: Current Issue

ICF Credentialing Requirements PDF

DC Chapter 9th Annual Capital Coaches Conference: June 7th, 2012

Member Questions...

We were recently asked by one of our members what it takes to become a professional life or business coach.

We suggest that all coaches become credentialed through the International Coach Federation at www.coachfederation.org. Their credentialing guidelines are available on their website at: www.coachfederation.org/getcredentialed/.

There are 3 different levels of credentials based on number of coaching-specific training hours and hours of coaching practice obtained. I have included links for all 3 levels since there are multiple ways to get the credentials.

ACC (Associate Certified Coach): www.coachfederation.org/icfcredentials/become-credentialed/acc/

PCC (Professional Certified Coach): www.coachfederation.org/icfcredentials/become-credentialed/pcc/

MCC (Master Certified Coach): www.coachfederation.org/icfcredentials/become-credentialed/mcc/

The easiest and best way to get the credentials are to go through the ACTP (Accredited Coach Training Program). These hours are contact hours, not semester hours and start at 60 hours for the ACC. Most Foundational Courses through ACTP schools are 40 hours in duration, and are completed in several months, so it is not a difficult program. The schools usually require "buddy" coaching to begin gaining skill level in coaching competencies.

For a list of schools/programs that offer ICF approved coach training programs visit: www.coachfederation.org/icfcredentials/program-search/

The International Coach Federation is the largest worldwide organization that credentials coaches (with over 15,000 members and hundreds of chapters in about 105 countries), although there are a number of organizations that offer their own credentials. ICF hopes to keep coaching as a self-regulated profession and keep it from being licensed at the state level, much like counselors, social workers, psychologists,etc. Technically, one does not have to be credentialed to offer coaching at this point, although ICF would prefer to have credentialed coaches with adequate training representing the profession.

Follow us on Twitter. Friend us on Facebook. Join us on Linked In.