In 2018, I wanted to introduce coaching to my organisation as part of an intervention to shape its culture. To lead by example, I signed myself up for a coaching programme on 23-25 November 2018. What I experienced during the 3-day training programme blew my mind. My purpose was discovered and the rest is history. Coaching found me.
My "One BIG Thing" for 2020 is to,
Deepen My Coaching Practice To Live My Life Purpose.
Thanks to Covid19, the last 8 months have been amazing. It was filled with growth and fulfilment. I coached like I have never done before to impact many lives positively. The rise of online learning during the Covid19 pandemic also provided high-quality skilling opportunities for me to deepen my practice as a coach! Life was pretty exciting after work hours. I'm so thankful.
This week, I received the honour to be officially accredited as a Professional Certified Coach (PCC) by the International Coaching Federation (ICF), the Gold standard in coaching and the world’s largest organisation for professional coaches. So this news really was the icing on the cake. This Credential Badge is a significant milestone in my journey as a Professional Certified Coach.
What you get by achieving your goals is not as important as what you become by achieving your goals - Henry David Thoreau
A badge is a badge, it does not make me a great coach. As such, this badge is not about how good or great I am as a coach. It is about who I am becoming in the process. For me, this badge means a lot more. It means,
PURPOSE
I made the commitment to pursue what I believed to be my life PURPOSE🔥 - A Shepherd Leader Who Empowers HIS Leaders. At times it was tiring, especially when you have a full-time job and only coach after a long workday or on weekends. But I learnt to look to my Lord and seek HIS face to motivate myself when I'm down and out. HE kept me going, HE resourced me abundantly in many ways. In doing so, my personal values of Faith, Friends, Future-Proofing Self and Fun were deeply honoured. I was living my values daily. I was fulfilled and felt complete.
I was on PURPOSE
CONNECTIONS
I am indebted to the many CONNECTIONS❤ who supported me on this meaningful journey of self-discovery. They were my family members (especially my loving wife), friends, teachers, fellow coaches, colleagues and those who trusted me - my clients/coachees. I'm also very thankful that my organisation granted me official permission to do this as part of my professional development. I am reminded not to take anything or anyone for granted. I really treasure all the connections I have made along this journey.
My CONNECTIONS were the real treasures
COURAGE
I took the COURAGE💪 to discover more about myself, expanded my range and faced my shadows. I had to start from the inside-out if I wanted to be a good coach. I had to be coached. I needed courage to get out of my comfort zone, be vulnerable, try new things, rethink my deeply held beliefs and do what it takes to fulfil my life purpose. I needed to be courageous myself if I want my clients to do likewise. My motto was "There is no comfort in the change zone and no change in the comfort zone!"
I was COURAGEOUS
To live my life with Purpose, Connection and Courage - to be the person whom I want to be - I showed up, and let myself be seen as a coach. It was not easy. My judge (inner self critic or saboteur) was all over me. I'm glad that I tapped into my inner compass and did it anyway. I no longer care about what others think about me. What I think about myself is most important - What do I want to contribute? What's my purpose in this life? What do I really like? What do I really want? Am I making choices about my career, relationships, and passions because I want them or because they will please or impress others (my Pleaser saboteur, step aside)?
A compelling question I asked myself was “What would I pursue or enjoy if I wasn't so worried about being judged?” Frankly, it was not easy going against the grain, taking risks, or face potential failure. But I decided on what matters to me, trusted myself, and I went for it. We don’t grow by always playing it safe; we grow by allowing ourselves a chance to fail. It was a very liberating exercise for me. I am now a butterfly free from its cocoon!
To all my clients/coachees (and future clients), this badge means that I'm serious about what I do professionally and I deeply care for the people I work with. Please allow me to explain.
PROFESSIONALISM
I have invested more than 500+ hrs of on-going training by masterful teachers, completed rigorous assessments, being coached to work on my own issues so I can be a better human being, and completed many hours of practice supervision by a wonderful Master Certified Coach (MCC) to expand my range. I know my coaching practice will continue to deepen as I invest time and energy on my training and self work.
I am Well Trained to coach.
COMPETENCE
I have impacted more than 35 lives and 540+ hours of coaching experiences (and counting). I am able to draw out my clients' creativity, resourcefulness and potential effectively once I gained their trust. I am able to shine a light on something my clients cannot see for themselves. As a coach, I do not accept at face value what my clients want from the coaching session. I will dig and ask thought-provoking questions that will expand my clients' thinking, and discover subconscious ideas that might be preventing their progress. I give my clients what they need and that may not necessary be what they think they want. I offer the right balance of challenge and support. I manage the polarity of flexibility and structure in service of my clients always. I will always honour my client's 'WHY', and I will provide a structure or process to help them with their 'HOW'.
I am Competent to coach.
CARE
I am committed to high Ethical Standards as a ICF Professional Coach. The Code of Ethics is designed to provide the appropriate guidelines, accountability and enforceable standards of conduct for all ICF credential holders. I will exercise a duty of care to all my clients in safeguarding their safety and well-being. I don't coach for a person to be fixed. I coach for a life to be fully lived.
I Care and can be Trusted as a coach.
My coaching is a Gift and I do not do it for $. My life purpose is to be a "Shepherd Leader who #EmpowersHISLeaders". Talk to me if you need support or someone to help you step out of your comfort zone (or someone you know need support). The coaching fee you need to pay is your commitment to become an #Empowered version of yourself.
What's Next for me? Time to take a pause, reflect and ask myself these powerful questions as I trace back my 2-year coaching journey to plan forward.
PURPOSE🔥
What kept me on purpose?
What would the next 10 yrs look like?
CONNECTION❤
Self: What have I learnt about myself?
Others: Who should I thank, appreciate and acknowledge? This is going to be a long list...
COURAGE💪
What is the range I want to expand or experiment next?
What must I create, accept or stop to sustain my journey over the long run?
I'm humbled, thankful and complete.🙏 and my journey continues towards…
Mastery of Self to Deepen My Coaching Practice;
Commitment to Be HIS Instrument to Empower HIS leaders;
and developing my
Coaching Thought and Community Leadership to contribute back.
I hope this reflection on my coaching journey inspires you to live your purpose and follow your dreams. If I were to summarise my personal thoughts into 3 critical tips for all coaches out there or those chasing your dreams, they would be,
Be clear of your WHY? Be clear of your purpose and intentions. Once your "WHY" is clear, your "HOW" will be easier; and
Don't give up easily. Keep at it. Have faith! YES, it will be tough AND chasing your dreams will develop your courage;
Give selflessly and share generously with a shepherd's heart along the way. At the end of the day, it is all about people, it is all about love.
Confidence is the start of it, Joy is a part of it, Love is the heart of it. - Oystein Skalleberg
Go! Pursue your dreams with a shepherd's heart. In the process, you will help to make this world of ours a better place while reaping the benefits of creating a sense of meaning for ourselves.
Only those who have learned the power of sincere and selfless contribution experience life's deepest joy: true fulfilment. - Tony Robbins
My Gratitude Prayers:
Thank you Lord, for the many blessings You have bestowed on my life. I am so grateful for everything that You have given me. Thank you so much for the loved ones in my life, my friends, my clients/coachees and for the many ways in which I am cared for and supported on a day to day basis. Thank you for the many ways You have given me to serve and give to others.
Lord, I pray that You continue to make me an instrument of Your Power, Grace and Love. I pray that where there is hatred, You will let me sow love; Where there is injury, You will heal through me; Where there is discord, You will let me bring harmony through my coaching interventions; where there is doubt, through me You will restore faith by connecting values and purpose; where there is despair, You will help me bring hope by opening up new perspectives; where there is darkness, let me shine Your light; and where there is sadness, through You I will bring joy. Lord, You will be the Master Coach behind every session and every intervention. I'm just Your instrument.
May I grow more and more to be like You as a Master Coach. I ask that You continue to guide and teach me in all that I say and do as a coach, and that I may do all according to Your will.
I give thanks to you, my Lord, my Master Coach, with my whole heart, and everything I do, I will glorify your name forever.
Amen.
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