Professional Coaches » Mom Coach

International Coaching Federation

admin — Fri, 16 Jan 2009 15:41:54 +0000

The International Coaching Federation (ICF), is an organization that not only awards credentials for professional coaches, but also offers a goldmine of information and resources to its members.

According to the ICF, the following are the core competencies of professional coaches:

Setting the Foundation
Co-Creating the Relationship
Communicating Effectively
Facilitating Learning and Results

Regardless of what type of coach you are, these core competencies ring true. Without them, it would not be possible to support or guide clients toward an appropriate goal. But, do these competencies look the same in all types of coaching? Are they applied the same by life coaches and executive coaches? Or is it more about the individual coach rather than the type of coaching? Every coach implements these competencies in one way or another, but depending on the coach, more focus may be given to one competency over another.

Members of the ICF are also listed in a directory on the website. A potential client can enter in several pieces of qualifying information including geographic location and type of coaching desired, and then a list of ICF member coaches is displayed.

This added marketing benefit may be reason enough to join, the additional credentials notwithstanding. For many potential clients, additional credentials can be a relief. There has been some buzz over recent years regarding the regulation of the coaching industry. As such, having additional credentials may put potential clients at ease.

They are in the process of updating and redesigning their website so we’ve found that a few of the links aren’t working but we’re sure they’ll be fixed once they get the kinks ironed out.

Lisa on behalf of Contemporary VA

Similar Posts:

Share and Enjoy:

Putting Stress into the Proper Perspective

admin — Mon, 17 Nov 2008 02:18:35 +0000

When life’s little stresses get to be a bit too much, have your clients ask themselves: "Will this really matter five years from now?" You’ll find that this quick tip can really help place any immediate stressors into proper perspective. Finding out you’re wearing two different colors of socks or running out of an ingredient for tonight’s dinner may still be stressful at the time, but relatively unimportant in the grand scheme of thing. This is a great coping technique which will allow your clients to give themselves a break and focus on what really needs immediate attention. Another way to keep life’s little stressors in perspective is to have your clients find something to be grateful for or to divert their attention. Sure – the different color of socks can be embarrassing, but when these things happen (and can’t be immediately changed), advice your client to purposefully look for something else to focus upon. If he can place his attention upon the new falling snow or the colorful holiday lights, it takes his mind out of the immediate situation. Learning how to properly handle stressors is so very important today, especially when there are so many external pressures that can’t be changed. Using a few tips and tricks can certainly help everyone get through a tough day.

Linda for Contemporary VA

Similar Posts:

Share and Enjoy:

The 3 S’s of Personal Finance

admin — Tue, 11 Nov 2008 16:58:37 +0000

Turn on the TV or read the news and you’ll see stories of the millions of Americans struggling financially. As a culture, we remain blind to the devastation of bad financial decisions until we are completely overwhelmed. And, when the economy is shaky, the chance that families will break apart and lives will shatter just increases.

Because finances play such a large role in a person’s well being, coaches must definitely address the subject by bringing a plan with them to the table. I like to use 3 S’s to explain how financial goals should be set and believe other coaches could use this same system with great results. The 3 S’s are: stabilize, standardize and simplify.

Stabilize
In the step of stabilization, families need to quit adding to debt, especially credit card debt. Because debt can easily grow large and create stress fractures in any family unit, stopping the outflow of money that hasn’t even been earned yet is a priority. Another step in the stabilization process is to track cash spending for a month’s time.

Once the spending habits have been stabilized, it’s time to determine how to standardize finances.

Standardize
In the standardization process, the family creates a spending plan by putting essential spending first. This includes the rent or mortgage, utilities and taxes. This is similar to creating a budget, but should be flexible enough to handle emergencies and should include “fun” spending money. Using the tracking done in the stabilization step can help a family create a realistic plan they can live with.

This step also includes building a savings plan. Since savings is the financial rock upon which families need to stand upon, this step needs to be implemented as soon as possible.

Simplify
Once the plan has been built, it’s time for families to simplify their financial choices. Help families understand how important it is to determine the difference between wants and needs. Yes, a family might need a car for transportation, but the choice of a BMW versus a Chevrolet is a want. If the family is really struggling financially, helping make some changes to simplify and downsize might be a great longer term option to get the family back on track.

By implementing the 3S plan, families can begin to make their money work for them – instead of having to spend all their time working for their money.

Linda at Professional-Coaches.com Similar Posts:

Share and Enjoy:

Parent Coaching Part II

admin — Fri, 10 Oct 2008 17:52:20 +0000

Coaches are also keen to stress that parent coaching is about ensuring the well-being of the parent, rather than focusing on the child. If the parents are happy and secure, their children will automatically feel safe. Parent coaches can help parents crack negative parenting patterns, understand their child’s developmental stages. Main issue is that parents are not being confident in their own behavior! They’re not sure if they’re doing their job well enough, and this insecurity can be taken advantage of by their children. So coaches try to teach parents relationship skills which will help them respond well to their children. Coaches also stress how important it is for parents to have time for them – leave the washing-up till the next day and relax in the evening. If you’re constantly trying to be perfect something’s got to give, whether it’s your health or your temper. Families are scattered across the globe and the network of community is frequently weakened or lost through separation, divorce, relocation, job demands and other changes. Even when you do have close access to family members who have "been-there-done-that", you may not get the best advice from them. Best friends or parents may think they know what’s best for you, but they often promote their own staunch, old-fashioned opinions without considering the child’s personality, long-term goals or other factors in a situation. These difficulties indicate an area where coaching is needed, and where you may become proactive by teaching your children to make decisions using their best judgment and problem solving skills. Parent coaching educate them by setting and defending our own boundaries and by negotiating and accepting the boundaries of our siblings or playmates. A parent’s job is not to solve children’s problems, but to teach them how to make compromises and solve problems on their own. The aim of coaching is to allow children to take control of their lives and their learning, to think beyond the present and instant gratification, and realize they are responsible for the impact their decisions have upon themselves, the ecosystem and others. Coaching provides parents with an opportunity:

to gain skills and knowledge to face change with confidence,
to discuss strategies to deal with the challenges that modern day parents face,
to become observers of their own behavior as we can only change what we notice,
to make choices about changing their way of being,
to put steps into place to approach their relationship with their children differently,
to be accountable to themselves for the changes they wish to make,
to maintain close family relationships, which in our constantly changing world are more important than ever.

We will become a far more positive society when reaching out for support to help us deal with modern day parenting challenges is seen as a healthy thing to do instead of a sign of weakness. After all it is our next generation we are talking about here and they deserve the very best start in life that we as parents can give them. Are you a ‘Parent Coach’? Are you a business personal or professional coach? we would like to hear from you, write us at admin [at] contemporaryva [dot] com Professional-Coaches.com

Similar Posts:

Share and Enjoy:

Why do you coach moms?

admin — Thu, 02 Oct 2008 03:19:02 +0000

In the light of my last few posts published here at professional-coaches.com, I can summarize that, Coaching is an inspirational, confidential and non-judgmental relationship that helps you manage and succeed in life. Sometimes it can be difficult to achieve your goals and live the life you really want without the support of someone else. The coaching relationship provides synergy because the coaches and moms are a team, working together to focus on your personal goals and needs. And when you encounter obstacles along the way, the coaches are experts at providing solutions, strategies, and “out of the box” perspectives. As your coach, he/she will provide the structure and accountability you need to take more action, think bigger and create the life you envision. Now the answer of the question “Why do you coach moms?” would be….. It is fact that I am father but I watched my own mother do everything she could to keep our family strong. Moms are the heartbeat of the family and you want to help strengthen families by helping you…..

Balance your many roles in life,
Have positive energy to give to yourself, your family and the world,
Enjoy the fulfillment that comes from having a happy family life,
Be the role model you want to be in your home, work and community,
Leave a legacy your children can pass on to future generations

What moms coach can do for you…

Your partner in achieving all your personal goals,
Your advocate in helping you turn your life around,
Your instructor in communication and life skills,
Your sounding board when making important choices or decisions,
Your motivation when you need a little push to take positive action,
Your unconditional support when you fall down,
Your mentor in personal development,
Your co-creator when creative solutions are needed,
Your inspiration when you’re feeling down,
Your wake-up call if you don’t hear your own,
Your companion in helping you have all of what matters most to you.

How you get this service: Coaching is delivered during regular telephone or in person sessions, whichever is more convenient. You will work with coach to identify your goals and create an action plan for achieving them. He/she will help you overcome any difficulties along the way, bring about the changes you want, and celebrate your success. Why do women choose The Moms Coach?

Work / Family Balance,
Desire to feel better physically and emotionally,
Improve communication skills,
Increase quality of life,
Deepen relationships with others,
Stress management,
Get on a clear and focused path,
Manage life transitions

Are you a ‘personal coach’? Are you a personal or mom coach? we would like to hear from you, write us at admin [at] contemporaryva [dot] com

Professional-Coaches.com

Similar Posts:

Share and Enjoy: