The global coaching industry has experienced significant growth over the past decade, with the International Coach Federation reporting annual coaching revenues of $4.56 billion USD in 2022 and more than 109,000 certified coaches worldwide. Leadership and business coaching continue to dominate the field, reflecting a broader shift toward relational, adaptive leadership in increasingly complex organizational environments.

Research consistently confirms coaching’s effectiveness. Multiple meta-analyses demonstrate that workplace coaching produces positive outcomes across performance, well-being, work attitudes, coping, and goal attainment. Leadership coaching, in particular, has been shown to increase self-awareness, confidence, clarity, and trust in teams, while also contributing to improved retention and leadership behavior.

As coaching evolves, emerging technologies such as AI are beginning to shape the field. While early research shows AI coaching tools can support structured reflection and goal-setting, human coaching remains essential for empathy, discernment, and meaningful connection. What the data makes clear is that organizations with strong coaching cultures experience stronger engagement, performance, and long-term returns — reinforcing coaching’s role as a cornerstone of conscious, sustainable leadership.

​Coaching skills aren't just for professional coaches, they elevate the approach for medical professionals, lawyers, leaders, consultants and therapists.

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Completely new to coaching others, ready to learn theory and practice? 
     ✅ Join us for Coaching Fundamentals!

Or, are you a Leader, Consultant, or Holistic Therapist who is responsible for the success of others? 
    ✅ Join us for Coaching Foundations - ICF LEVEL ONE.

Are you ready to take on private clients and build a coaching practice full-time, part-time, or as a future retirement legacy? 
    ✅ Join us to learn advanced coaching in the Certified Professional Coach - ICF LEVEL TWO.

If you’re ready to lead others into elevated potentials, we've created these pathways exactly with you in mind.
​
Have a question? 

Email Angela Bylo, Admissions Coach: [email protected]

Or, click below to schedule a Discovery Call with Angela. During a Discovery Call, Angela will review program options to consider, discuss financial aid, and support you in your decision-making process. ​

Timing.  It is one of the ways we can give our power away without knowing it.  We either over heed timing and allow it to become an excuse for not moving forward, or we allow our impulses to leave us in the dust of effect as we view cause with longing in the rear-view mirror and not knowing what happened. 
  
This exploration of timing is based on the simple principle: “Different times, different things.” 
  
Have you heard the adage, “There is no such thing as a good time – there is no time like now!”  Or, how about “It is best to heed timing and all will fall into place.”? 
  
These two seemingly discrepant perspectives on timing carry within them a single message.. a message that there is a time to act. 
  
At what point is not acting holding us back?  At what point is choosing exactly when to act empowering? 
  
Let’s start with the first adage, “There is no good time.”  I’ve heard people comment in this direction when it comes to having children, or going through a divorce.  However, having had children before I obtained my degree, I can speak first hand to this first adage not applying to me.  Waiting until after college would have been admittedly easier on them and me, financially and energetically.  
  
What about heeding timing?  That one has left it’s sting as well.  I remember wanting so deeply to give a mentor of mine a hug of gratitude one evening and felt too shy to approach her in a large group..3 months later she passed away.  There was no other time like now and I lament the missed opportunity that had sprung in my heart that day. 
  
When we boil down these concepts we are left with two possibilities.  The first is throwing caution to the wind, taking inspired action now and just going for it!  The second is thinking ahead and mapping out a combination of opportunities.  These possibilities beg the single question… At what point is it best to throw caution to the wind and go for it and at what point is it better to work from a well positioned plan?   
  
After-all, if we always work from a plan, we may miss ripe opportunities entirely.  Yet, if we always throw caution to the wind, we may create too much chaos and not anchor in a rich new opportunity. 
  
What criteria could help us determine when one is an asset and one a liability and vice versa? 
  
Let’s examine foundation.  Discernment:  “Is my desire to not move forward based on fear, or based on missing ingredients?” 
  
Person A:  Not starting a new program that would bridge me to a new goal but really wanting too.  Nothing is getting in the way that can’t be negotiated, but it that would bridge me to a major goal, feels like a big investment and life is always just too busy. 
  
Person B: Not starting a new program that would bridge me to a new goal because I just started a new job, need some time to settle in and focus.   I’ll start in 3 months. 
  
Which axiom would be more fitting, when? 

Coaching skills aren't just for professional coaches, they elevate the approach for medical professionals, lawyers, leaders, consultants and therapists.

Let's get you coaching! 

Completely new to coaching others, ready to learn theory and practice? 
     ✅ Join us for Coaching Fundamentals!

Or, are you a Leader, Consultant, or Holistic Therapist who is responsible for the success of others? 
    ✅ Join us for Coaching Foundations - ICF LEVEL ONE.

Are you ready to take on private clients and build a coaching practice full-time, part-time, or as a future retirement legacy? 
    ✅ Join us to learn advanced coaching in the Certified Professional Coach - ICF LEVEL TWO.

If you’re ready to lead others into elevated potentials, we've created these pathways exactly with you in mind.
​
Have a question? 

Email Angela Bylo, Admissions Coach: [email protected]

Or, click below to schedule a Discovery Call with Angela. During a Discovery Call, Angela will review program options to consider, discuss financial aid, and support you in your decision-making process. ​

Coaching is increasingly recognized as a core leadership capability, not a supplemental skill. In one major financial institution, a long-term commitment has been made to train senior leaders through formal coaching education and applied practice. This investment includes structured training hours, real-world coaching experience, and mentor feedback embedding coaching into leadership standards rather than treating it as an optional add-on.

Since the program began, dozens of senior leaders have entered the certification pathway and collectively coached hundreds of employees. Participants report becoming more intentional in how they listen, communicate, and empower others to think independently. These shifts reflect the growing demand for leaders who can navigate complexity by developing people, not just directing outcomes.

The data points to a broader leadership evolution. As organizations face constant change and disruption, coaching has emerged as a critical driver of adaptability, trust, and long-term performance. These statistics reveal that coaching is no longer a “nice to have” it is becoming a defining competency of effective leadership.

Coaching skills aren't just for professional coaches, they elevate the approach for medical professionals, lawyers, leaders, consultants and therapists.

Let's get you coaching! 

Completely new to coaching others, ready to learn theory and practice? 
     ✅ Join us for Coaching Fundamentals!

Or, are you a Leader, Consultant, or Holistic Therapist who is responsible for the success of others? 
    ✅ Join us for Coaching Foundations - ICF LEVEL ONE.

Are you ready to take on private clients and build a coaching practice full-time, part-time, or as a future retirement legacy? 
    ✅ Join us to learn advanced coaching in the Certified Professional Coach - ICF LEVEL TWO.

If you’re ready to lead others into elevated potentials, we've created these pathways exactly with you in mind.
​
Have a question? 

Email Angela Bylo, Admissions Coach: [email protected]

Or, click below to schedule a Discovery Call with Angela. During a Discovery Call, Angela will review program options to consider, discuss financial aid, and support you in your decision-making process. ​

If you are new to the world of coaching, certification, and ICF credentialing, the pathway can initially feel complex.This roadmap shows the relationship between coach training, certification, and ICF credentialing.. 

Because many people have foundational questions about what the ICF is, whether certification is required, and how credentialing works, we invite you to explore our FAQ page. It will help you understand not just the how, but the why behind each step in the journey.

​Click the image below to access the full infographic file:

Coaching skills aren't just for professional coaches, they elevate the approach for medical professionals, lawyers, leaders, consultants and therapists.

Let's get you coaching! 

Completely new to coaching others, ready to learn theory and practice? 
     ✅ Join us for Coaching Fundamentals!

Or, are you a Leader, Consultant, or Holistic Therapist who is responsible for the success of others? 
    ✅ Join us for Coaching Foundations - ICF LEVEL ONE.

Are you ready to take on private clients and build a coaching practice full-time, part-time, or as a future retirement legacy? 
    ✅ Join us to learn advanced coaching in the Certified Professional Coach - ICF LEVEL TWO.

If you’re ready to lead others into elevated potentials, we've created these pathways exactly with you in mind.
​
Have a question? 

Email Angela Bylo, Admissions Coach: [email protected]

Or, click below to schedule a Discovery Call with Angela. During a Discovery Call, Angela will review program options to consider, discuss financial aid, and support you in your decision-making process. ​

Most people are accustomed to setting New Year’s Resolutions at the start of each year. Yet, when we only focus on the future, we miss some rich lessons from the year that just passed. Here is a retreat-style method you may follow to gain the most from the year that is done and to leverage the year to come. Best Practice: Set aside a half-day or full-day retreat to reflect and get creative. You may follow this process solo, with your coach, with a friend, or with colleagues. It can help to conduct this process away from home. You can complete it at a coffee shop, take a hike, rent a cabin, or find another escape. If you choose to stay home, you can create a cozy retreat-like atmosphere as a gift to yourself.
​

1. List out all of your accomplishments from this last year.
2. List out what worked well for you this last year?
3. List what didn’t work. What challenges did you face because of what wasn’t working?
4. What lessons did you learn this year to take with you into the next year? What do you need to let go of this year?
5. What all do you wish to accomplish in the coming year? What lessons from last year will help you?
6. What empowering “quality” will be your focal point this year?
7. What are your specific goal statements for this year? List the priorities.
8. What is your empowerment statement for this year?
9. What are your timelines? (Plug these into your calendar)
10. Reflecting on your goals, how would attaining these goals leave you feeling? Create a vision board around these.

• Step One – You may wish to use a list of life areas, like the Wheel of Life or 8 Domains, to generate ideas. You may also want to ask your friends and/or coach to send you a list of things you have accomplished. Many of us forget just how much we did achieve.
• Step Four - Do a ritual for letting go. For example: Write down what you’re letting go of on a piece of paper and rip it up or burn it in a fireplace.
• Step Six – The "quality" is one word or phrase that will be your focal point for the year. Examples: Alignment, Simplicity, Synergy, etc.
• Step Eight – Create a statement that powerfully reflects what you want and wish to integrate from what you learned last year. This statement should illuminate and support you in the year to come. You can read this statement at the start of each month to keep you on track.
• Step Ten – This step supports the energy of attracting what we want into our lives. You can take the answers from how it leaves you feeling and create a vision of you accomplishing your goals.

Coaching skills aren't just for professional coaches, they elevate the approach for medical professionals, lawyers, leaders, consultants and therapists.

Let's get you coaching! 

Completely new to coaching others, ready to learn theory and practice? 
     ✅ Join us for Coaching Fundamentals!

Or, are you a Leader, Consultant, or Holistic Therapist who is responsible for the success of others? 
    ✅ Join us for Coaching Foundations - ICF LEVEL ONE.

Are you ready to take on private clients and build a coaching practice full-time, part-time, or as a future retirement legacy? 
    ✅ Join us to learn advanced coaching in the Certified Professional Coach - ICF LEVEL TWO.

If you’re ready to lead others into elevated potentials, we've created these pathways exactly with you in mind.
​
Have a question? 

Email Angela Bylo, Admissions Coach: [email protected]

Or, click below to schedule a Discovery Call with Angela. During a Discovery Call, Angela will review program options to consider, discuss financial aid, and support you in your decision-making process. ​

​After COVID, I’ve spoken to many other coaches, friends, family and colleagues who share a concern.
 
The stress people felt from COVID-19 never passed after the pandemic passed. Many people seem to be experiencing ongoing feelings of fear, anxiety, imposter syndrome, confusion about the direction of their life and world, uncertainty about what is real and fake in the media, and so much more.
 
Let’s take a look at this through an integrational lens. As coaches, there are a few things it can help to keep close to the heart as we navigate the post COVID world with our clients and more importantly with ourselves.
 
First, let’s consider the impact of stress on integration. We talk about this a lot in our coach training programs. The impact is this:

When someone is under stress,
They naturally disintegrate.
They naturally become self-forgetting.
They naturally shut down.

​This is a normal human response. When we feel unsafe, we experience fear. As we know, fear when unchecked amplifies worry, stress, anxiety, depression, and reactivity.
 
Given that for many, this is the new landscape, what is the opportunity for coaches? Let’s go there next!
 
Just yesterday I was talking to a few other coaches about this. And we were sharing how after covid we were hearing more requests for guidance and advice from clients. The request that seems to be more prevalent is “Just tell me what to do”.
 
As coaches, it can be really tempting to step in. After all, we are here to help. We want to help.
 
Yet, here is the thing!
 
People may not want the coaching – they may be wanting to be given the answers – however, this is the moment when they NEED coaching – now more than ever.
 
It makes sense, I know that when I’m tired, weary of the political division or self-doubting I don’t want to look inside. Yet, that is exactly the medicine and direct route to regaining my empowerment.  
 
The Course in Miracles teaches:
 
True rest comes not from remaining asleep but from awakening.
 
So, as coaches, what do we do when we live in a world where people need their own wisdom re-engaged, they need their own self-trust to resurface, and yet many of us fall asleep to the fact that what is within us is the best medicine!
 
In these times I invite you to remember:
If you join someone in the limitation,
It strengthens the limitation on all.
 
As coaches, it is our role to not join limitation but to see past it.
As coaches, it is our duty to see the seeds of potential in others.
It is our purpose to help others expand, grow, and stretch beyond false limits.
 
How can we do this in a post-COVID world?
 
The next time you are with a client who is feeling the weight of the world,
Remind them you believe in them; as their coach, you believe in their wholeness.
 
In truth, each of us has everything we need to succeed within us. Yes, there is a time for external resources and provisions – but before we can utilize external provisions to their potential, we must first be elevated by our power.
 
Elevating our personal power is an inside job.
 
As a coach keeping this big picture perspective in a post covid world is also a way that we can continue to coach to integration. And also expand our own integration as a coach.
 
During these times, I invite us all to continue to share our confidence, patience, and presence with ourselves and our clients.
 
If you are a coach bumping up against the “just tell me what to do” challenge, my message to you is hold your faith in people’s wholeness, resourcefulness, wisdom, potential, and continue to hold the doors of possibility wide open.
 
Questions to consider:
How will I maintain faith in my client’s natural abilities to be resourceful and whole? How can I continue to support and communicate my faith in them?
In what ways do I need to re-engage my trust and faith in myself?
What is the bigger umbrella of truth I can operate under as a coach? 

Coaching skills aren't just for professional coaches, they elevate the approach for medical professionals, lawyers, leaders, consultants and therapists.

Let's get you coaching! 

Completely new to coaching others, ready to learn theory and practice? 
     ✅ Join us for Coaching Fundamentals!

Or, are you a Leader, Consultant, or Holistic Therapist who is responsible for the success of others? 
    ✅ Join us for Coaching Foundations - ICF LEVEL ONE.

Are you ready to take on private clients and build a coaching practice full-time, part-time, or as a future retirement legacy? 
    ✅ Join us to learn advanced coaching in the Certified Professional Coach - ICF LEVEL TWO.

If you’re ready to lead others into elevated potentials, we've created these pathways exactly with you in mind.
​
Have a question? 

Email Angela Bylo, Admissions Coach: [email protected]

Or, click below to schedule a Discovery Call with Angela. During a Discovery Call, Angela will review program options to consider, discuss financial aid, and support you in your decision-making process. ​

Have you ever heard someone tell you, "Stop trying to control everything."  Or, "That person is a complete control freak." 
 
Have you ever thought you were being controlled or manipulated by another? 
 
Have you ever felt out of control? 
 
Today, we are going to unpack the cost of control. The attempt to control is life draining. This article will help you connect with better strategies so that you can choose a life-enhancing strategy instead. 
 
First, what is control? 
 
Control is a noun and, according to Oxford Dictionary, is: "The power to influence or direct people behavior or the course of events." 
 
Control is not a human virtue which we will introduce later. Control is a strategy the egoic-self devises to stay safe. Control at its worst turns into manipulation which is the ego's desperate attempt to remain safe. 
 
First, it is best to understand that actual control is 1) impossible and 2) illusion based. While someone might be successful at manipulating others, there is always a cost involved. 
These include: 

• Trust 
• Love 
• Connection 
• Respect 
• Fulfillment 

In essence, all of the beautiful virtues of life that leave us feeling safe and connected are pinched off by the machinations of the egoic-self. 
 
The good news? There is a better way. To dispel the costs of control, we must first understand the human psyche and how the ego attempts to run the show. 
 
There is you. Then there is fear-based you. Fear-based you splinters off in an attempt to remain emotionally safe. This is how the egoic-self forms. The ego is based on fear and the false premise that "I am separate." 
 
In truth, while we may be physically separate from others and feel separation, we are not separate at all. We are connected. Spiritual teachers have been teaching this fact for centuries. Quantum physicists have backed this up by discovering that everything is energy and energy is interconnected. 
This is the reason we say, "love hurts." When in reality, it is not love that hurts, but the absence of love that hurts. If we were not connected, the absence of love would bear no cost. 
 
What is the alternative to control? What is on the other side? 
 
Connection. Connection is the bridge from the vice of control to the virtue of connection. 
How do we navigate from control to connection? After all, if it were evident, we would all be choosing something with benefits and dropping the behaviors with costs, right? 
  
Let's break down the anatomy of what happens. 

First, a situation or phenomenon occurs.  

Second, the brain determines if the phenomenon is safe or unsafe 

    If safe, then all is well, and no need for alarm. 

    If unsafe, then there is an alert that goes out. 

When an alert goes out, two things happen.  

We are alerted there is something we don't want 

The ego, attempting to keep us safe, launches into an evaluation of the situation.  
  
This becomes a story that includes a full-blown analysis of who, what, when, where, why, how, good, bad, right, wrong. The mind begins to spin and delivers a mess of false messengers. So naturally, we can see why the ego devised control as a strategy to remedy the chaos it produces. 
  
The problem with egoic evaluations and the stories generated? They are riddled with illusions—false evidence appearing real. The body reacts emotionally to the ego's storyline, and then our evaluations feel very real. Thus, confirming that its assessment is indeed justified.  
  
And... this process solves nothing and keeps us in reactivity. 
  
Masterful people do not live through stories. They lead life through vision. They lead life connected to themselves, the possibilities embedded within, and are therefore connected to others.  
 Let's break down the anatomy of what happens. 

A phenomenon occurs. 

The brain determines if it is safe/unsafe. 

If unsafe, the alert goes out. 

The masterful person stops here and notices, without judgment, "I feel off about this." They then ask, "what part do I want to play in this?" They begin with the end in mind, a vision. This stops the egoic mind from derailing into story land.  

When properly understood, fear is a great asset to have. It alerts us to what we don't want. The Sufi tradition invites us not to stop there. What we don't want is only half a message. What we do want is the other half of the message.  What we do want will never be found in fear. We have to move beyond the egoic extrapolations and into our hearts where our wholeness resides. 
  
When we stay stuck in fear, it turns from asset to liability. It is just the messenger, never the truth. The truth of what happened does not define the truth of what is possible - unless we remain in fear.  
  
The masterful person responds by sifting through all of the virtues embedded as possibilities within them and answers the question. "In this situation, I'm choosing to be the possibility of …." and they fill in the blanks. They lead by vision. They lead by virtue not by vice. Virtues are within us all waiting to be tapped into. Therein lies your true potential.  
  
To recap:  
  
Fear fragments the mind leaving us in a state of disintegration. Fear fragments us off from possibility and takes us to the land of probability due to reactiveness that has costs attached.  
  
What is the good news? Illusions only last as long as we allow them to. Once they are brought to the surface of our awareness, they disappear. We can't fix what we don't see. As we see, so will we be. To this end, I invite you to step out of the story and into the power of your vision. This is living integrated through wholeness.  
 The next time a fear occurs, ask yourself: 

1. What does the fear tell me I do not want? 
2. Connect to what you do want in this situation. 
3. Ask: What do I want to be the possibility of here?  
4. Move from fear to connecting to a new possibility. 

Coaching skills aren't just for professional coaches, they elevate the approach for medical professionals, lawyers, leaders, consultants and therapists.

Let's get you coaching! 

Completely new to coaching others, ready to learn theory and practice? 
     ✅ Join us for Coaching Fundamentals!

Or, are you a Leader, Consultant, or Holistic Therapist who is responsible for the success of others? 
    ✅ Join us for Coaching Foundations - ICF LEVEL ONE.

Are you ready to take on private clients and build a coaching practice full-time, part-time, or as a future retirement legacy? 
    ✅ Join us to learn advanced coaching in the Certified Professional Coach - ICF LEVEL TWO.

If you’re ready to lead others into elevated potentials, we've created these pathways exactly with you in mind.
​
Have a question? 

Email Angela Bylo, Admissions Coach: [email protected]

Or, click below to schedule a Discovery Call with Angela. During a Discovery Call, Angela will review program options to consider, discuss financial aid, and support you in your decision-making process. ​

​Timing.  It is one of the ways we can give our power away without knowing it.  We either over heed timing and allow it to become an excuse for not moving forward, or we allow our impulses to leave us in the dust of effect as we view cause with longing in the rear-view mirror and not knowing what happened.
 
This exploration of timing is based on the simple principle: “Different times, different things.”
 
Have you heard the adage, “There is no such thing as a good time – there is no time like now!”  Or, how about “It is best to heed timing and all will fall into place.”?
 
These two seemingly discrepant perspectives on timing carry within them a single message.. a message that there is a time to act.
 
At what point is not acting holding us back?  At what point is choosing exactly when to act empowering?
 
Let’s start with the first adage, “There is no good time.”  I’ve heard people comment in this direction when it comes to having children, or going through a divorce.  However, having had children before I obtained my degree, I can speak first hand to this first adage not applying to me.  Waiting until after college would have been admittedly easier on them and me, financially and energetically.
 
What about heeding timing?  That one has left it’s sting as well.  I remember wanting so deeply to give a mentor of mine a hug of gratitude one evening and felt too shy to approach her in a large group..3 months later she passed away.  There was no other time like now and I lament the missed opportunity that had sprung in my heart that day.
 
When we boil down these concepts we are left with two possibilities.  The first is throwing caution to the wind, taking inspired action now and just going for it!  The second is thinking ahead and mapping out a combination of opportunities.  These possibilities beg the single question… At what point is it best to throw caution to the wind and go for it and at what point is it better to work from a well positioned plan? 
 
After all, if we always work from a plan, we may miss ripe opportunities entirely.  Yet, if we always throw caution to the wind, we may create too much chaos and not anchor in a rich new opportunity.
 
What criteria could help us determine when one is an asset and one a liability and vice versa?
 
Let’s examine foundation.  Discernment: “Is my desire to not move forward based on fear, or based on missing ingredients?”
 
Person A:  Not starting a new program that would bridge me to a new goal but really wanting too.  Nothing is getting in the way that can’t be negotiated, but it that would bridge me to a major goal, feels like a big investment and life is always just too busy.
 
Person B: Not starting a new program that would bridge me to a new goal because I just started a new job, need some time to settle in and focus.   I’ll start in 3 months.
 
Which axiom would be more fitting, when?

Coaching skills aren't just for professional coaches, they elevate the approach for medical professionals, lawyers, leaders, consultants and therapists.

Let's get you coaching! 

Completely new to coaching others, ready to learn theory and practice? 
     ✅ Join us for Coaching Fundamentals!

Or, are you a Leader, Consultant, or Holistic Therapist who is responsible for the success of others? 
    ✅ Join us for Coaching Foundations - ICF LEVEL ONE.

Are you ready to take on private clients and build a coaching practice full-time, part-time, or as a future retirement legacy? 
    ✅ Join us to learn advanced coaching in the Certified Professional Coach - ICF LEVEL TWO.

If you’re ready to lead others into elevated potentials, we've created these pathways exactly with you in mind.
​
Have a question? 

Email Angela Bylo, Admissions Coach: [email protected]

Or, click below to schedule a Discovery Call with Angela. During a Discovery Call, Angela will review program options to consider, discuss financial aid, and support you in your decision-making process. ​

I write you today with both a heart full of gratitude and a heavy heart. 

Gratitude because our Fall cohort of coaches has launched and will soon start expanding their positive impact in the world. Much needed positive impact, I might add!

Heavy-hearted because of the political unrest, division, and rise in violent outbursts. I’m wondering if the majority of us in the United States are feeling just as tired and disheartened as I have been over recent events. 

So far in September, there have been a public assassination of Charlie Kirk, 2 public hangings, and 3 public shootings (maybe more). 

These travesties leave us with so many questions. Is the US falling apart? What is causing so many US citizens to snap? Can the future of humanity still have a silver lining when people are disintegrating this far? 

Over the next month, we will be looking at the current state of affairs through the lens of Integrative Intelligence. It is not only possible during these times to see a bigger picture, but it is imperative we do so. 

Coaching wisdom teaches us that getting sucked into the problem does not serve the client. To illuminate new possibilities, it is imperative that the coach adopts neutrality and remains in the bigger picture. Coaches do this by rising above, seeing below, being open to the future, and acknowledging the past. 

When we expand coaching wisdom to life wisdom, the lesson sticks. If we allow ourselves to get sucked into the bigger problems, this does not serve our communities, our companies, our families, or ourselves. We can rise above and contribute to health, contribute to new solutions, and contribute to positive impact. 

If this topic has been resting upon your heart as well, stay tuned. Over the next two months, we are launching a new series to help you rise above and engage integratively intelligent perspectives. We will explore mindsets to see the bigger picture and expand positive impact, even during devastating moments. 

At the end of the day, one thing is certain. I sleep with peace in my heart because Integrative Intelligence taught me to be part of the solution, refuse to play a role in further division, to lead a heart-centered life towards others, and to take a stand for leaving a positive impact with the life I’ve been gifted. 

I hope you will join us in this series on Integrative Intelligence: Rising Above!

Coaching skills aren't just for professional coaches, they elevate the approach for medical professionals, lawyers, leaders, consultants and therapists.

Let's get you coaching! 

Completely new to coaching others, ready to learn theory and practice? 
     ✅ Join us for Coaching Fundamentals!

Or, are you a Leader, Consultant, or Holistic Therapist who is responsible for the success of others? 
    ✅ Join us for Coaching Foundations - ICF LEVEL ONE.

Are you ready to take on private clients and build a coaching practice full-time, part-time, or as a future retirement legacy? 
    ✅ Join us to learn advanced coaching in the Certified Professional Coach - ICF LEVEL TWO.

If you’re ready to lead others into elevated potentials, we've created these pathways exactly with you in mind.
​
Have a question? 

Email Angela Bylo, Admissions Coach: [email protected]

Or, click below to schedule a Discovery Call with Angela. During a Discovery Call, Angela will review program options to consider, discuss financial aid, and support you in your decision-making process. ​

Money mills are programs that sell you the rubber stamp of approval. A masterful, well-trained coach has had their skills assessed by a trained and qualified assessor. Money mills can sell anything from fake certifications to fake online doctorates. 
 
Have you seen the latest Facebook ad popping up everywhere: "Become a certified coach for $27!" That is a money-mill ad. The odds of you learning anything real is extremely low. Cheap programs deliver cheap results.
 
The other type of money mill is the massive $25-$65k investment mill. I've talked to dozens and dozens of devastated colleagues that felt suckered into formulaic sales funnels that sell "the dream of making millions." These companies deliver little results and blame you for not making their linear static system work for you. Linear programs that preach "follow my formula to get rich" deliver linear results.
 
In the coaching world, the International Coaching Federation (ICF) is recognized globally by companies and individuals as the leading standard setter. The ICF oversees the quality of coach education, ethical conduct, and professional credentialing. 
 
An ICF Accredited program will not be a money mill.

Accredited programs have been assessed for their standards, curriculum, ethics and content delivery. Accredited programs either meet or exceed the highest caliber coaching standards.

#2 – Establish What Level of Mastery You Envision
 
There are two types and two levels of ICF coach training programs. 
 
The Two Types: The first type of program teaches only coaching skills. The second type teaches you the underlying principles and frameworks of coaching and why the coaching skills, standards, principles, and competencies exist. 
 
Neither is good or bad. You need to consider what level of masterful coaching you wish to provide people. If you want basic skills, the program that only teaches surface-level skills will be perfect. 
 
An in-depth program takes you deeper into the underlying foundational principles and dramatically expands your mastery.
 
My first coach training was a surface program, and I didn't know it. I wanted full spectrum training, so I had to invest in another training to get to the level of mastery I wanted. If I had known the different types of training, I would have saved myself lots of wasted time and money and found a more profound program the first time.
 
The Two Levels: There are two levels of coach training to consider when you are beginning. 

Level-one programs are designed for professionals who want to add coaching skills to an existing position. This level is considered the equivalent to a bachelor's degree in the coaching world. This training prepares you to apply for the beginning level coaching credential, an "Associate Certified Coach" or ACC with the ICF.
 
Examples: 

• Therapists adding coaching to their therapeutic process.
• Leaders adopting a coach-like approach.
• Directors cultivating a coaching culture.
• Team leads inspiring a team.

Level-two programs are designed for professionals who want to take on private clients or take employees through an entire coaching program from start to finish. This level is considered the equivalent to a master's degree in the coaching world. This training prepares you to apply for the mid-level coaching credential, a "Professional Certified Coach" or PCC with the ICF.

There is a third level, which is "Master Certified Coach" or MCC. You can obtain an MCC only after being a PCC and having over 2,500 hours of professional coaching under your belt.
 
Examples: 

• Therapists transitioning into coaching.
• Leaders offering coaching programs to develop employees.
• Learning and Training Directors overseeing internal coaching.
• Team leads coaching their team members individually.

 
We offer both Level One and Level Two ICF-accredited programs. Both of our programs are deeper dives and mastery focused. We gladly refer people to another program if they want just the basic coaching skills.
 
Identifying the level of coaching mastery you seek will save you loads of time, money, and wasted energy.

#3 – Understand How Customization Works
 
Some programs have you watch videos and fill out forms to learn. Then there are live interactive, customized learning classes. 
 
You will be coaching unique people who require different levels of support, have various concerns, and need different approaches. You want to engage in discussions, experience group activities that bring lessons to life, and enjoy a customized learning environment. 
 
Learning in isolation falls flat.
 
Would you want to go to an acupuncturist that watched a video? Or a massage therapist or doctor who never touched a patient during training? Coaching mastery is no different. Watching videos and reading books can only get you so far. The most masterful learning comes from interaction because you are learning to increase responsiveness to presenting issues. 
 
I once took a Tai Chi class from a master practitioner. He taught us that mastery is the ability to respond to anything that happens to us. Masterful coaches learn how to adapt their masterful responsiveness. Such mastery expands through live conversation, dialog, practice, and mentoring. 
 
If you invest in education, getting customized training is critical to gaining mastery much faster. Joining a program where your instructors get to know you, mentor you, and customize your training to your gifts and goals is a game-changing experience. You do not need to settle. 

Is being an educated and trained coach worth it?

The answer is YES!

Yes, if your goal is to be masterfully trained and expand your career options, that is. Coaching is a peer-regulated industry, meaning people hang their hats on assumptions and misinterpretations without knowing it. We see this all of the time and it is costing clients and professionals a lot of headaches, time and money. All of this is 100% avoidable.

Common mistakes we see:

• I have a degree (or 20 years of experience as a leader), and I always coach my people. No training is needed.
• Coaching is just guiding people. I'm already coaching people.
• I've been coaching people for years, so it makes sense to start my practice (with no formal training)

Common assumptions we see dispelled in class, day one:

• "I thought I was coaching for all of these years, and now I realize that I had no idea what I was doing!" – HR Director
• "I thought coaching was a light form of counseling people. I had no clue that counseling and coaching are entirely different processes." – Program Facilitator
• "As a consultant, I thought coaching was learning how to emotionally motivate people by inspiring them through my guidance. WOW, was I wrong! I am so grateful I was wrong because actual coaching helps me meet someone exactly where they are at, and they motivate themselves as they are coached. Brilliant!" – Business Consultant / Strategist

Coaching has a global presence. Now more than ever, people are turning to coaches in droves. Coaches are accessible online or via phone. People are receiving lifelong benefits from being professionally coached. Coaching is exploding in popularity, but not because it is a passing trend. Coaches are yielding profound results.

Here are two statistics that reflect the type of results coaches are producing:
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​This means that you can stand out in a company and/or take on private clients and thrive by positively empowering lives.

As the founder and CEO of the Institute and as a Master Certified Coach (MCC) through ICF, I'm a self-proclaimed coaching geek. In my studies at Harvard Business's Leadership Principles program, I discovered that coaching skills were critical for adaptable, inspiring, and emotionally intelligent leadership.

Since 2005, I've worked with hundreds of leaders and professionals who were answering a call to empower others and cared deeply about leaving the world in better shape than they found it.

Since 2012, I've educated, mentored, and trained over a hundred coaches to amplify their natural gifts while coaching others into their excellence. I've helped coaches grow clientele and make a true and lasting impact in homes, offices, teams, and even politics. 

Why Did I Say "Yes"?

The number one reason I’m here writing to you is because I noticed a heart-wrenching cultural pattern in the US. I reflected back on my career path and did some math. 

Since I began working at the age of 17, I realized I experienced 16 leaders or bosses. Twelve of those were horrible to work for, or with. Three of them were ok, neither positive nor negative. Only two of the 16 were outstanding and positively impacted my life by virtue of who they were and how they showed up. 

Only two! 

In talking to other professionals, I discovered that I was not alone. As you read this, I hope your experience is better, but unfortunately, the lack of outstanding leadership is what launched the Great Resignation.

What have I since discovered?

This need not be! This should be the opposite. Thanks to coaches, this is shifting. We are living in pivotal times. Are you feeling called to be a part of the pivot? I am. 

I saw that coaches were the ones flipping the switch. I became a professional coach because I was exhausted by working for horrifying bosses and wanted to be a part of the much-needed solutions. Simon Sinek is teaching us that it is possible to create work environments where people feel inspired, valued, and empowered. I 100% agree with his teachings. When this happens, everyone thrives.

This inspires me. 

I was then, and still am today, so profoundly proud to be a part of this profession and be the coaching geek that I am.

"What sport do you play?"
 
In 2005, coaching was still considered so new that barely anyone knew what I did. Many assumed it was counseling or mentoring. 

If I met someone new, they asked me, "Laurel, what do you do?" I would smile proudly and say, "I'm a coach." And like clockwork, they asked, "Oh! What sport?" Lol

This has since changed! 

Right now is a wonderful time to become a professional coach. The industry is new enough that it is not saturated, yet it is established enough that professional standards, ethics, and competencies are solidly formed and scientifically validated.

But it wasn't always flowers and sunshine. 

I had no idea if investing in a coaching education could go anywhere. I knew I felt called to empower people's lives, but was I going rogue by entering a newer profession? Should I play it safe and just become a therapist? 

In 2005, very few companies hired coaches, and growing a private clientele was more of a challenge because people didn't know what we actually did. There was a common assumption that coaches were unlicensed therapists avoiding bureaucracy. Yikes. 

Also, back then, we had to learn how to market ourselves differently than other professions, like massage therapists or dentists.

This has completely shifted! 

Individuals hire coaches when they recognize they need something much different than therapy to excel in life. Companies hire ICF coaches, such as: trained executive, leadership, wellness, and performance coaches. Companies hire coaches internally (within the company) and externally (with private contractors).

I'm not saying if you get training, you will have clients lined up at your door, or a new position will magically fall on your lap. I am saying that if you get the education and solid guidance available now, the road to success as a coach has shortened substantially. New opportunities and coaching positions are expanding rapidly. 

I have been an internal coach for an educational institute, and I've also been in private practice. I've loved every moment of coaching and love having the option to bring coaching into everything I did, from leadership roles to parenting. 

Coach training is an education that empowers more than your career. The results are deeply personally transformative as well. Some students have gone through the program just for the personal empowerment they receive. ​"Darn-it. I'm so bummed I took that
coach training program."
-    Said, No-one Ever​A Shortcut To Double Your Positive Impact 

Coach training is a shortcut to doubling your positive impact. Why?

It ELEVATES you!

Every approach you take goes better when you operate in a bigger picture. Instead of living under stress, you can rise above it. Instead of giving others advice and watching them not use it, you can inspire inner power. Instead of regretfully saying "no" to your calling, you can cultivate the spirit of "yes" in your heart.

A solid training will:

• Optimize current skills: communication, empathy, intuition, efficacy 
• Amplify your gifts and strengths 
• Locate and diminish your blindspots
• Grow your success team
• Educate you in best practices
• Invite your mastery to shine!

After being a professional coach since 2005, I know the true and lasting value coaches create.

You can wow people with your gifts and capacity by inspiring excellence in others. With this level of  ELEVATION you can create something we all deeply crave: Meaning, Impact, and Legacy.
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