FAQ
ABOUT LEADERSHIP
Question:
What is your definition of leadership?
Answer:
My personal definition refers to soul-inspired leadership. You are a soul-inspired leader when your actions, choices and words align with your soul’s purpose.
Soul-inspired leadership is not about how many people follow your vision. It is about how fully aligned you are in expressing your soul’s purpose in the world.
Soul-inspired leadership is about unearthing and articulating your innate purpose that is expressed through your personal leadership. It provides the foundation for the development of leadership skills in any chosen field.
The traditional approach to leadership development focuses on leadership skills and desired leadership qualities and is blind to the innate purpose - the core of leadership IN EVERY PERSON. I liken this to building a skyscraper without a foundation and structural framework. Is it surprising that it collapses under the slightest strain?
Question:
If everyone is a leader why do we see followers?
Answer:
On the surface it may look like some are leaders and some are followers when in fact this is not the case. A person will align their leadership with that of others when it allows them to express their soul’s purpose and soul-inspired leadership, irrespective of their conscious awareness.
This reality challenges our existing paradigms of leaders and followers.
There may be several reasons why we may perceive the leader-follower paradigm. Reluctance to take personal responsibility out of fear of failure; fear of making mistakes; fear of consequences; unpleasant past experiences; or feeling powerless and believing that one has nothing to contribute.
People who may be seen as followers, I believe, are people who still find themselves in the grip of fear. They may be at the verge of waking up and discovering who they are and why they are here. We can all reach out to these people, awakening them to their innate gifts and leadership potential and developing confidence and trust in themselves.
Question:
Many people see leadership as being at the forefront/the boss, being the one to take the initiative to get things done, being at the top with subordinates following. How does your definition differ from this traditional view of leadership?
Answer:
True, many people hold this view of leadership. It is often more about the authority of the position than leadership per se. In traditional leadership there is more focus on ‘How to do Leadership vs. What Leadership is for or the ‘Why’ of Leadership.’ This, I believe, is due to an absence or gross neglect of acknowledging and expressing our innate leader, our reason for being here. I concur with Professor Sinclair’s view of leadership “Leadership is not a job or a position but a way of influencing others towards ends recognised as valuable and fulfilling.”
Question:
What are the signs and characteristics that a person is leader? How do you know if a child or youth is a leader?
Answer:
My belief is that every individual is, innately, a leader, creator and innovator. So it is about uncovering and acknowledging the qualities and gifts a person demonstrates vs. judging them against a pre-defined set of leadership characteristics.
I frequently ask mothers what they are noticing about their children. A common theme emerges. Children as young as three are talking about being healers, bringing love to the world and being love. Does this mean they are leaders?
It's important to observe and cultivate these qualities, and remember that what you focus on grows. If you believe your child is a leader and you cultivate that in him or her that is what you will see emerging.
ABOUT CREDENTIALING
Question:
What is the purpose of the International Coach Federation (ICF) Credentialing System?
Answer:
The ICF Credentialing System serves to protect and serve consumers of coaching, assess and certify the competence of coaches, and inspire the pursuit of continuous development.
Question:
Why ICF Credentialing?
Answer:
Becoming an ICF Credentialed Coach is a necessity in a growing industry.
Clients want Credentialed Coaches: In the 2010 ICF Global Consumer Awareness Study 84% of adult consumers who had experienced a coaching relationship reported that it was important to hold a Credential.
Question:
What does it mean to be ICF Credentialed?
Answer:
It means the coach holds one of the ICF’s three credentials - Associate Certified Coach (ACC), Professional Certified Coach (PCC) or Master Certified Coach (MCC). The three credentials differ in the requirements in terms of hours of coach specific training, mentor coaching and client experience.
For each level the Coach needs to have completed an entire ICF Accredited Coach Training Program for the specific credential. The requirement for client experience hours are at least 100 for the ACC, 500 for the PCC and 2500 for the MCC. The MCC Credential is for the expert coach. Renewal of each credential must meet specific criteria and is required every three years.