We Are Now the IAC North American Virtual Chapter

You may have noticed that things have been pretty quiet here. Our little St. Louis Chapter has been taking a rest.

However, we've been reborn as the IAC North American Virtual Chapter and we're now growing exponentially!

Meetings are monthly via telephone conference line and everything is free.

Join us and receive a free White Paper on Becoming and IAC Certified Coach.

To connect between meetings, also join our online social networking group here.

Do the Right Thing: Ethical Dilemmas for Coaches

Coaching is a fantastic profession, but even coaches run into sticky professional situations that can lead to big problems.

• What do you do if a major newspaper calls you for a quote about one of your clients? That could mean fantastic free marketing for you, but is it ethical for you to discuss your client publicly?
• And what should you do if your client in Hong Kong threatens to harm his next door neighbor? Do you have an obligation to notify local authorities?
• And what if you and your client fall in love? Is it ethical for you to become romantically involved, even if you end the business relationship first?

You might be surprised by the answers.

Don't risk damaging your business and your reputation by making the wrong choices. Learn about the IAC Code of Ethics (and have fun at the same time).

Actor, storyteller, and professional coach, Suellen "Sue" Meyer Koppel, PhD, will present a fun and informative interactive talk on ethics for coaches at the April IAC St. Louis Coaching meeting.

What: IAC Coaching St. Louis April Meeting, Do the Right Thing: Ethical Dilemmas for Coaches

Where: St. Louis County Public Library HQ, 1640 S Lindbergh (across from Plaza Frontenac)

Why: Because you don’t want to get caught with your pants down

Who: All professionals, especially professional coaches, will find this topic fun, enlightening, and a big relief!

Plus: Learn this month’s new masterful coaching skill, IAC Coaching Mastery™, #3 Engaged listening, a must if you want to coach like a master and keep yourself out of hot water.

IAC St. Louis President, Julia Stewart, IAC-CC, will teach new techniques for hearing what’s really most important.

Relationship Coaching Coming Right Up

I'll keep this one short, because the real info is in the post below. Just an update that we were snowed out last month, so we're doing "Beyond Flowers and Chocolates: Coaching for Relationships" with Duke Worthington this Thursday, March 20th, 7-9 PM at the St. Louis County Library HQ. Everything is the same, but the date!

See you there ~

Beyond Flowers & Chocolates: Coaching for Relationships

It's no accident that our February meeting is all about relationships. We have a fantastic speaker for you on Thursday, February 21st, 7-9 PM at the St. Louis County Public Library Headquarters, 1640 South Lindbergh Blvd., across from Plaza Frontenac. Duke Worthington is a Certified Life Coach and Professional Speaker, who specializes in coaching relationships.

Obviously, this is the perfect session to bring a guest to, whether a significant other, friend, colleague, or client. They don't have to be a coach to get great value from Thursday's event. Anyone who would love to have happier relationships, with less conflict and drama will thank you for bringing them. (Know anyone like that? ;-)

I'm requesting that you bring at least one guest this Thursday and as a "Thank you", you'll BOTH get in FREE. (At $5, our suggested contribution is a great bargain, anyway!)

Read more about Duke here:

Duke Worthington, Certified Life Coach and Professional Speaker.

Founder & Chief Enrichment Officer of Enrichment Coaching

"For more than thirty years I’ve been a student of human dynamics. In my studies I’ve come to understand how infinitely strong we are and yet how fragile we can be. I have realized how much we are all connected and the amazing ripple effects created by our thoughts and actions. I also understand our need for acceptance, respect, and above all else, unconditional love. .. Relationships are the fabric of our lives and I’m thankful each day to have been given such a rich tapestry of experiences. As a certified Life Coach and Professional Speaker, I’m committed to enriching relationships and sharing my understandings with you. "

I'll also introduce you to IAC Coaching Mastery #2: Perceiving, affirming and expanding the client's potential, and I'll introduce you to THE single communication skill that can transform all your relationships instantly (and that's not hype). It's part of Mastery #2 and it's sooo easy to do, once you know how...(If you want to read more about me, go here.)

So who are you going to invite to the next IAC St. Louis meeting? Why not call them right now and make plans? The meeting is only a few days away and it's one you don't want to miss!

Calling All Missouri & Illinois Coaches

The new IAC St. Louis Coaching Chapter meets in less than 2 weeks with a timely program, including:

“BEYOND FLOWERS & CHOCOLATES: COACHING FOR RELATIONSHIPS” with the amazing Relationship Coach, Duke Worthington*

Plus an introduction to:

“IAC COACHING MASTERY #2: PERCEIVING, AFFIRMING AND EXPANDING THE CLIENT’S POTENTIAL” and how the simple act of acknowledgment can evaporate conflict and improve every relationship, with Julia Stewart, IAC-CC, Master Mentor Coach.

If you’re a coach from the Missouri/Illinois region, you’ll want to make the trip to join your friends, colleagues and fellow coach-preneurs at this dynamic, interactive meeting.

Bring your brochures and business cards, because we’ll make time for informal networking. AND bring your friends! If you bring one person with you, who is new to IAC St. Louis, you both get in FREE. (Admission is normally $5)

Not from the Midwest, but know someone who is? Please do them (and us) a favor and pass this message on…(Thank you!)

In fact, IAC St. Louis Coaching is NOT just for coaches. ANYONE who is interested in improving relationships with better communications skills will LOVE these fun, interactive, educational sessions that feature the latest in cutting edge coaching skills.

When and where do we meet?

Thursday, February 21st, 7 – 9 PM
St. Louis County Public Library Headquarters
1640 S Lindbergh Blvd (Across from Plaza Frontenac)

How can you find out more?

Check right here often

Email

How can you get regular updates and reminders from us?

Join

*If you attended last month’s meeting, then you got to hear a masterful demonstration by Duke on how to challenge your clients in ways they embrace AND change their life in an instant.

Remember, if you’re a coach who’s interested in masterful coaching skills, loves learning, networking and meeting other coaches; or if you’re someone who is interested in hiring a coach, or you just want amazing communication skills that will upgrade your personal and professional relationships, this meeting is for you!

I’m excited to announce a fantastic new resource from the IAC for St. Louis-area coaches, with opportunities to meet and collaborate with like-minded professionals.

It’s the new IAC St. Louis Metro-Area Chapter and we’re about to launch our very first official meeting in just a few days!

IAC Chapters are open to members and non-members of the IAC, so I hope you’ll join us on:

IAC ST LOUIS COACHING MEETING

Thursday, January 17^th from 7-9 PM

St. Louis County Library Headquarters

1640 S Lindbergh Blvd (Across from Plaza Frontenac)

WHAT IAC ST LOUIS IS ALL ABOUT:

• Bringing together smart passionate coaches like you to learn, collaborate, and support one another’s growth & success
• Having fun, interactive meetings and workshops on subjects you that matter to you
• Sharing valuable information about the business & practice of coaching in our metropolitan community, that supports seasoned professionals and beginners, alike.
• Communicating about professional opportunities for local coaches
• Discovering client attraction techniques that really work
• Announcing our members’ workshops, seminars and more - bring your brochures and and biz cards (you must attend to announce something or share to marketing materials)
• Exploring hot coaching niches and specialties
• Learning about IAC Coach Certification ~ you don’t have to attend a particular school or track thousands of hours to get it ~ just demonstrate masterful coaching skills
• Introducing the NEW IAC Coaching Masteries™: The next generation in great coaching

OUR FIRST MEETING IS THURSDAY, JANUARY 17^TH, 7- 9 PM:

TITLE: Coaching for Your Life & Business with Julia Stewart, IAC-CC

• Meet other amazing local coaches like you (if you want to be successful, the right people in your life are everything!)
• Voice your passions, challenges and needs (we can serve you best, when you tell us how)
• Hear about an awesome upcoming professional opportunity for St. Louis coaches (this is an opportunity to get paying clients)
• Ask your questions about certification & training (do you really need it ~ how do you decide?)
• Get introduced to a new masterful coaching skill (It’s so simple and yet many coaches fail to do it)
• Find out about the other fun and informative resources and events that we have scheduled this year
  
• This is perhaps our most important meeting of the year (do everything you can to be there!)

To JOIN our members list & get monthly updates on IAC St. Louis meetings CLICK HERE.

MEETING LOCATION:

St. Louis County Public Library HQ

1640 S Lindbergh Blvd, Across from Plaza Frontenac

2008 MEETING SCHEDULE:

7-9 PM, on the 3rd Thursday of each month (5th Thurs in October)

1-17 Coaching for Your Life & Business

2-21 Beyond Flowers and Chocolates: Coaching for Relationships

3-20 Are You Closing a Sale or Opening a Relationship?

4-17 Do the Right Thing: Ethical Dilemmas in Coaching

5-15 Where to Draw the Line: Coaching vs. Therapy

6-19 Surviving Summer: Coaching for Parents

7-17 Celebrate Good Times!

8-21 Love Your Advertising (Advertise What You Love)

9-18 Working Too Hard? Here’s How to Change All That

10-30 The Mean Green Meme: Are Negative Values Haunting Your Business? (5^th Thursday)

11-20 Accolades & Acknowledgments for Our Members and Supporters

12-18 Making a List: Share Wish Lists & Resources for 2009

HOW MUCH DOES IT COST?

Just $5 for each 2-hour meeting AND if you bring a guest (recommended) who is not already on our mailing list, you BOTH get in FREE that month!

HOW CAN YOU LEARN MORE?

JOIN our members list to get monthly updates on IAC St. Louis CLICK HERE

Visit our blog here: http://iac-stlouis-coaching.blogspot.com

Call here: 314-779-3586

Email here

Visit the IAC website here: http://www.certifiedcoach.org

Take great are,

Julia Stewart, IAC-CC, President

IAC St. Louis Chapter

Email Julia Here

Is the Window of Opportunity Closing on Your Dream of Coach Certification?

Today I got a call from a coach I knew years ago. He was trying to access the IAC website to finish their online certification test on the old Proficiencies before it’s taken down on January 1^st and wondered if he still had time to get certified.

Yes, there’s still time – three days. So, if you haven’t gotten certified in the Proficiencies yet, then it’s probably time for you to begin studying the Masteries! ;-)

Are the Masteries just the old Proficiencies with different language? No.

I taught Thomas Leonard’s Proficiencies for years. They were a big upgrade in coaching technology at the time. Teaching them was priceless learning for me AND now that I’m teaching the new Masteries, I’m quadrupling what I’m learning.

I’m also shocked (and thrilled) to see how fast new coaches are learning mastery, using SCM’s unique approach to coach training. When I reflect on the teleclass format we used at the schools I studied at, as well as those I previous taught at, all I can say is “WHAT WERE WE THINKING??”

Of course graduates of those coaching schools got stuck in limbo, neither masterful nor successful, when their primary way to learn coaching was to get on a phone line and listen to somebody else talk about coaching (while students answered their email, cleaned house, or - like me - worked out)!

That’s crazy.

You need to be fully engaged in class, using new skills as soon as you learn them and getting precise feedback right away from an expert, so you can step into mastery immediately. Otherwise, you could spend a lifetime in triads and study groups without ever knowing if you’re getting it right or not.

I’ve been preparing coaches for IAC certification since it came into being, because it’s based on the one thing clients care about: masterful coaching. And these current newbies are going to coach better than us veterans pretty soon. Exciting – and kinda scary!

Anyhow, if you missed the boat on Proficiency-based certification, don’t fret. You can still get certified in the Masteries and if you want to blow the top off your own coaching ability – and make sure you actually get certified this time – then you may want to check out SCM’s Certified Coach Training Program. http://www.schoolofcoachingmastery.com/cctp.html (Can you tell I'm biased?)

It’s for experienced, trained coaches who intend to be the best at what they do. You’ll be challenged, your skills expanded, your confidence solid, your mastery unquestioned. (And we’ll pay your certification fee!)

January is the perfect month to join. Have questions? Email here. Or call here: 877-224-2780

(If you're a new coach, we have a program for you too)