It's Official!

 

Well, I’m in! I’ve been accepted to Georgetown University for 2011 to reach the Professional Certified Coach level. I’ll go to Washington, DC for 3-4 days a month, beginning mid-January and finish next August.  In my profession, I work with others to assist them in developing skills to be more productive, and working with individuals and small teams has not only increased in the number of clients, but has also been a source of fulfillment.

I believe coaching is needed today more than ever as a tool for leaders and for anyone who wants to help bring about organizational change. So many of my clients tell me change is  essential for organizations to grow and adapt to rapidly shifting markets, but  people are naturally resistant to change. Therefore, coaching can create  productive change in people, and give leaders the opportunity to uncover  potential that might otherwise go untapped.  

The ability to coach leaders is a core competency for those helping organizations to develop. Through coaching, leaders learn how to maximize the strengths of individuals. Coaching helps stretch their capacity to lead and influence. They can then become catalysts for change within their organizations. In changing from old hierarchical models to relational models for leading and influencing, businesses are creating coaching cultures that encourage learning.

Coaching has emerged as the best way to help individuals learn to think and work together more effectively, and I find deep gratification in helping people achieve their personal and professional goals through learning how to make significant contributions as part of a team.

Supplementing the 19 days of in-person classes, I will complete significant outside reading and written assignments throughout the program, complete supervised coaching of 3 clients for a period of 3 months each, and receive individual coaching by an assigned faculty member for 6 months. I will spend about 10 – 20 hours per week throughout the program.

The program culminates with a written examination, a final coaching performance examination, and a final written paper of 20 to 25 pages in length. In addition to the amount of study of coaching content outlined above, I’ll be engaging in significant reflection and self-examination to better prepare me for the deep, personal work I will be doing with clients.