From the President

by Susan R. Meyer,
MMC
president@certifiedcoach.org

Coaching
– Why Do We Do What We Do?

Even though Thanksgiving here in the US is almost a month away, I’ve
been thinking about the things I’m grateful for. I’m grateful that
the IAC has celebrated its tenth anniversary. I’m grateful for everything
we’ve contributed to this marvelous profession. I’m grateful for
the persistence and resilience that keeps the IAC strong. And I’m grateful
to be a coach.

I
recently had a wonderful interview with Shirley Anderson and heard great stories
about her earliest connection to Thomas Leonard – pre-Coach U, the creation
of the ICF, CoachVille and the IAC. I hope that you’ll have as much fun
listening to it here
as I had speaking with Shirley. It was clear why she became a coach. Ask a coach
why they coach and you’re likely to get an answer along the lines
of, “It’s what I was meant to do” or “I felt like I’d
come home.” It feels as much a calling as it does a profession. Yes, it
requires a skill set. Of course, for me that would be the Masteries™.
It requires more, though. It requires drive and a particular mindset.

Resilience is something I’ve been thinking about a lot lately. It was
clear in her comments that Shirley is a resilient woman. It’s one of the
seven factors that I’ve found supports the creation of healthy and successful
lives in the fifty women over fifty that I’ve interviewed. It’s
something, I think, that we help our clients achieve. It’s also a quality
that is present in every successful coach I’ve met along the way.

Think about your own coaching. There are times I come away from a call practically
dancing. And there are times I’m so drained that I can barely move. Still,
I answer the phone when the next call comes in. And I know that you do, too.
Why?

Mark McGuinness writes about this in Resilience: Facing Down Rejection and
Criticism on the Road to Success. He talks about wanting something badly enough
to endure whatever hardships come with your choice. He’s talking about
pushing for success. I see this more as having passion for your profession.
Here’s a partial list of factors he sees as driving passion:

• Generosity – helping others survive, thrive, and achieve all they
  can be
• Achievement – extending the limits of what’s humanly possible
• Knowledge – adding to the store of human knowledge about ourselves
  and the universe
• Joy – enjoying life and giving pleasure to others
• Wisdom – understanding what’s truly important: how to live a
  good life.

All of these speak to me, and I see them reflected in the work of the coaches
I meet. As you read the list, how many resonate with you?

This
is a short message. Next month, I’ll be wrapping up the year – and
my presidency – with a look back and a look forward to the team that will
carry the IAC forward. I’ll leave you with one more link. For those of
you who want more of Shirley, she hosts a call three Mondays a month. Here’s
how to find out more: Coaching Salon free call 1st 3 Mondays each month 610-214-0000,
code 1050958#, 2 pm Eastern time. Subscribe to Salon emails here.

Warmly,
Susan

Dr.
Susan R. Meyer, MMC is President of Susan R. Meyer, Coaching and Consulting.
As a Life Architect, she helps wise and wild women construct a joyful
life, provides executive coaching and instills a coaching approach
to leadership for organizational success. www.susanrmeyer.com.