As International Coaching Week unfurls its sails once again (the 25th of its kind) it invites us to embark on a journey that transcends boundaries – those boundaries that we perceive to be external; different time-zones, different cultures. And those boundaries that are internal; our values of importance that we hold so dear, our emotions that inform our actions and our closely held truths, which as our Founder Feryal Hassaine shares in our Level Two program, they can be both our cemeteries and our gardens.
What we have observed and been fortunate enough to experience in the build up to International Coaching Week 2024, is how coaching propels us into realms where limitations dissolve, and possibilities stretch to the horizon. Let us tell you more how and where these thoughts developed…
It was only a few short weeks ago that we received the call from our dear alumna, Elza Baptista Filha. In the spirit of collaboration and advancing the coaching industry, she invited Nova Terra to participate in International Coaching Week alongside the ICF chapter in Portugal. It was an opportunity we could not resist. Partnership. Collaboration. Connection. It speaks to the heart of our profession. An invitation we accepted gladly.
This invitation encouraged us to reflect on where ‘we’ as a company, and also the coaching profession find ourselves today. In the vast expanse of the coaching landscape, there are no borders, no visas required for entry. It's akin to sailing in international waters, where the rules are not constrained by the lines drawn on maps. Here, we are free to explore, to delve deep into the recesses of our aspirations and fears, without inhibition or restraint.
In fact, we observed how in accepting this invitation, not only were we going beyond the borders of a geographical nature - but also mentally, and spiritually, with regards to our internal borders. Our colleague Gareth - who will be opening up ICW24 with a LIVE coaching demonstration - highlighted this in conversations both with us and the ICF Portugal.
“They do know I’m an ACC” he said, laughingly. “Let’s frame it appropriately…” and so became the banner - Action - Courage - Compassion, which all felt would encapsulate the spirit of the event. But this raised an interesting reflection - it's true we do not see many ACC demonstrations, or at least, not led by someone who is working at that level of certification. What does it take for such action? Courage? Whether it is your first coaching session with a client, or your first coaching demonstration beamed across various computer screens - courage and daring to meet yourself at your personal frontier is walking the talk that we invite in our clients. It also necessitates compassion for ourselves, as coaches, to take a risk, to be visible, and vulnerable. These are some of the behaviours that may be needed to go beyond our internal borders…
Elza’s collaboration with us, alongside the esteemed partnership with ICF Portugal, underscores the global resonance of coaching. Together, we navigate the seas of self-discovery, fostering growth and transformation across continents and cultures.
In coaching, we transcend not only geographical boundaries but also the confines of our own minds and hearts. Just as a sailing vessel braves the open ocean, coaching takes us beyond the shores of familiarity, pushing us to confront our inner landscapes with courage and compassion.
As we connect, engage, and explore the depths of human experience, we are reminded that the true essence of coaching lies in our ability to traverse the vastness of our potential - which is both boundless and borderless. It’s a testament to the resilience of the human spirit and the endless horizons that await those willing to set sail.
In the spirit of this International Coaching Week, let us continue to embrace the adventure that lies before us, charting a course towards a future where the only limits that exist are the ones we dare to imagine.
We looking forward to having you with us.
