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Introduction to Team Coaching For ever, coaching has touted to be deeply effective only in a one-on-one setting. However, in most circumstances, the coachee is working in a team and just like coaching a sports team, coaching a work team involves honing both individual and collective talent hand-in-hand to achieve shared organizational outcomes. What is Team Coaching Team coaching works systematically with a team of individuals as a single unit, with an agreed upon common purpose and with the same powerful energy as an individualized coaching engagement to radically benefit the larger, human systems we work in. Teams can then identify and resolve their challenges, resulting in deeper learning, sustainable performance and ongoing development. In the following piece, we discuss various facets,of team coaching. But, before that, we must get some things out of the way. What is the difference between Team & Group A team is a set of individuals knit as one unit, work together, have a common goal and are coached as a unit. A group, on the other hand, is a set of individuals, who, not necessarily connected but have a common problem. Though the goal is the same, the paths to the goal are different and individuals are coached based on their pace, requirement and attention. A group is a set of individuals who complain of inability to manage time for work could be put together in a coaching setting. The way to get to the resourceful state may vary but the end goal of time management is common to all of them. A team, say, your work team in the organization has certain targets, issues, commitments that are unique for the team, that have to be addressed as a team. This is where team coaching steps in. Having straightened that out, it is imperative for teams to draft a team agreement that can act as a compass at the beginning of every team coaching engagement.  Setting the Team Coaching Agreement An agreement is an ongoing, dynamic document with a clear set of objectives that govern how the team works. Often, being impatient to act, we directly set out to draft actionables to work upon but well in advance, the team coaching agreement should be drafted to help answer what goals need focus and why the team should get there.   If the team is stuck and doesn’t know the way forward, it must revert to the agreement for clarity, convenience and effectiveness. If it doesn’t exist in the document, it must be updated and then the team should go ahead.  Nothing is done on assumption, such that even if the team meets for the 100 th time, the team must browse the agreement, probably make required changes and then move into action. __________________________________________________ What does a Team Coach do? A team coach helps in setting the right and progressive team coaching agreement for the team. Teams can get pulled in different directions because of diverse thoughts and opinions but a Team coach brings alignment and a common direction to the agreement.  Having set right our team coaching agreement, let’s now get into the brass tacks of team coaching and what a Team Coach can do!  __________________________________________________ The team coaching scenario Whom do you coach? There are three major entities involved in the team coaching scenario: the team, the team leader and the stakeholders. Whom do team coaches focus on? Whom do team coaches ‘coach’? The team? The most obvious answer. Or say the topic, umm, or maybe the process itself? Some of you might go: Naah! Everyone in the line needs coaching. All said and done, team coaching focuses on the field of interaction. Anyone looking to build the team coaching muscle must tackle this field of energy and then, only then, can they become master team coaches. How to make a team great? What is the responsibility of Team Coach? Ask yourself this question: As a team coach, is it possible to make your team great? Yea! That’s why I was called. Or ‘Not really’.   A good number would likely fall in the ‘not so sure’ category. Team coaching experts are, maybe sadly, of the opinion that a team coach cannot make a team great! One, as a team coach, you could look at the team’s actual potential: They are already great! Is it actually that easy? Consider this: Your son comes home with test scores shy of a ‘C’. What do you do? Give him a piece of your mind or smile and encourage him to explore his actual potential? The catch is to make a sincere effort to look beyond biases and judgments that cloud one’s vision. It is darn simple to make judgments about the team to be coached but extremely difficult to oversee them and more so, put in sustained practice to succeed at it. Two, you accept them as they are. Why label them as ‘great’ or ‘not great’? Teams will be messy,  have unhappy voices, drop accountability sometimes but despite all of this, we must accept them as they are, without intervening to ‘make them great’. How about we now discuss the golden triangle of team coaching in the light of what we have read so far?  ____________ ______________________________________ The golden triangle of team coaching __________________________________________________ Three Ps of Regal Team Coaching Purpose: It is a team’s meaningful and enduring reason to exist. Do you stay fixated on the next quarter’s target of x crores? Perhaps, to benefit from the team’s expertise and develop your potential? Or, to make a difference to your customer; to serve the people? and that is precisely why a deep appreciation of the team’s purpose is necessary right at the beginning of charting the agreement. The pharma company Novortis regularly puts out awareness pieces on diabetes since they further the cause of diabetes prevention and not only medicinal intervention which, funnily enough, in business light, is detrimental to the company’s profits.   Potential: Team coaching counts on the acceptance of team talent and capabilities as an expression of their potential. Talk about team potential and the first thing that flashes in most minds, thanks to the movie, is the Indian cricket team of 83’. Guess what would have happened if the Indian manager didn’t trust the team’s potential and gave up on them like every other person in the Indian team management or literally, the world. We wouldn’t have such a nail-biting story to tell, would we? Play: Play refers to deftly handling the subtle energies of the group. There will always be unhappy voices on the team but can there be some happy voices despite the unhappy ones? Can we bring everyone on board? Maybe simple things like calling out to share, asking for help or clarity. These tough conversations build trust and bring people on the team to hum together. And while we play along, let us breeze into understanding effective teams and how they work. Such an understanding will only help recognize teams and their dynamics better, making team coaching effective.  What do Team Coaches do: In a nutshell The team coach, with no prior judgment or bias, observes the team dynamic, their strengths and weaknesses. They oversee the drafting of the team charter, along with setting the agreement, compelling group goals and success criteria. They ask tough questions about the way the team shall reach the desired resourceful state and nudge participants to ponder, ruminate and speak up their thoughts, feelings, views and opinions. Finally, being in the light of an action-oriented stance, the coach encourages harnessing compelling competencies towards the fruition of collective commitments. Having discussed the various aspects of team coaching, it is time to ruminate on the essence and necessity of team coaching for your team. Do you think team coaching can aid your team to reach a more resourceful state? Maybe help you reach common goals or smoothen out paths of interaction?  There you are!  Make the most of ICF Team Coaching with REGAL Unlimited Regal Unlimited offers team coaching to leading organizations across the globe, enhancing productivity and interaction with customized team based offerings and continued support. If you wish to hire a team coach, then visit www.regalunlimited.com and get in touch with internationally certified team coaches.  Well, if you are not so sure and perhaps just want to have a chat on team coaching, you are welcome too! Just log onto https://regalunlimited.com/icf-team-coaching/   and drop in a mail to procure an appointment with our esteemed team coach, Subash CV who can then guide you with both information and support.  Here is a chance to build better teams. Give it a go!

Are you willing to consider coaching as your career add-on? Inclined to become a coach? Feeling stuck in deciding whether to go for a Coach Certification or not? Is your mind filled with lots of questions? Relax… We got you covered. Introduction to International Coaching Federation (ICF) The International Coaching Federation (ICF) is a not-for-profit organization, committed to promoting the science, art, and practice of professional coaching. It is considered the gold standard in coaching. With its world’s largest network of Professionally trained Coaches, ICF is a leading organization in the Coaching and Coach Training (now ‘coaching education’) domain What Is The Best Definition Of Coaching? 1. One of the best definitions of Coaching is that is given by ICF. ICF defines Coaching as- “ Partnering with clients in a thought-provoking and creative process that inspires them to maximize their personal and professional potential. “ What makes it the best? ICF coaching is partnering between two adults or a team.  It is a process, but not constrained as it is thought-provoking and creative. It operates at the confluence of science and art, and more.  It inspires the client – the inspiration, the awareness, and the actions are deeply personal for the client. Hence higher probability of staying with action. All focussed on maximizing potential, both personal and professional.  2. Another popular definition of coaching is, “Coaching is unlocking a person’s potential to maximize their performance. It is helping them to learn rather than teaching them.” – Sir John Whitmore (Author, Coaching for Performance, one of the most popular books on coaching) 3. We also consider pure and classical coaching as an opportunity for the client to move from the current state to a more resourceful state.  ‘Coaching is transformational. There is no coaching. And the transformation happens between the sessions. Hence coaching is most client-centric too.’  Some Facts and Figures on ICF Coaching: ICF has dedicated over 27 years towards ➤ Coaching Profession’s advancement ➤ Creating a network of 50000+ trained Coaches spread across the globe ➤ Establishing a structured approach to coaching by setting higher standards & ethics ➤ Providing independent certifications and strengthening the coaching community globally In India, as of September 2022, we have over 703 ICF Professional Coaches with active ICF credentials. Out of these, the following are the figures for ICF Coaches:     ➤  ICF ACC Credentials: 261 ➤ ICF PCC Credentials: 394 ➤  ICF MCC Credentials: 48 We have 6 ICF Chapters in India (Bengaluru, Hyderabad, Chennai, Delhi NCR, Mumbai, and Pune) Recently, Regal Unlimited Community has reached 300+. This number represents the total number of Coaches we have trained in the ICF methodology. Small in number, big on impact.  You can also be a part of the 300+ Regal Coaches Community by signing up with us for ICF coach training . Some ICF Coaching FAQs You Need to Know in 2022 FAQ 1. What is ICF Coaching Definition and What Does ICF Coaching Stand For? ICF Coaching refers to the structured and well-curated approach to the practice of coaching. It stands for the highest standards, its focus on ethical aspects, and the global acceptability of the ICF Coaching Credentials.Earning an ICF Credential degree involves rigor and thorough processes of Performance Evaluation and examination of the Coaching Knowledge ensuring the higher quality of the ICF Coaching. In one word, ICF Coaching is the GOLD standard in coaching globally. An undisputed leader with credible brand acceptance across the globe. __________________________________________________ FAQ 2. Do You Need ICF to Be a Life Coach? You don’t need ICF for becoming a Life Coach but you need ICF for becoming a good Life Coach and to give the best to your client.  ICF adds the credibility aspect which the ICF brand attaches to the tag of Life Coach. Moreover, ICF Coaching brings a structured approach to the Coaching skill which makes the Life Coach give the best to his/her/their client, as he/she/they touch the client(s)’s lives. The above-mentioned aspects are backed by first-of-its-kind research , which was done to understand the Coaching Landscape prevalent in India. It provides input for many similar doubts that arise in the minds of aspiring coaches. ICF provides a rock-solid foundation for Coaching (through its framework of competencies) Once the coach has mastered that – any other niche like Executive Coaching, Life Coaching, Wellness Coaching, etc can be practiced. No separate certification is required. __________________________________________________ FAQ 3. How Is Coaching Delivered? Coaching is delivered 1-to-1, either through online platforms or face-to-face meetups.  The pandemic as well as global connectivity have enabled the elimination of most of the issues regarding the logistics involved. Nowadays, most of the Coaching is done over online meeting platforms. However, wherever logistics are feasible for a personal meeting, offline sessions are also being opted for as Coaching Sessions. __________________________________________________ FAQ 4. How Do ICF Coaches Serve Their Clients? ICF has curated a framework considering today’s requirements in terms of Coaching, which not just ensures that the Coaching is provided in a structured manner, but also ensures that it is done keeping in mind the aspects like ethics, client’s best interests, etc. To become an ICF Coach – they have to go through almost 4 months of rigorous training, 10 hours of mentoring, and at least 100 hours of prior practice, and only after assignments and online evaluation, do they get ICF Credentialed. Therefore, these credentials ensure that the coaches are well-equipped to serve the clients in the best way possible. There are no shortcuts in the ICF Credential journey and that’s what makes it a very high-quality coach certification. Clients get the best coaching – thanks to the rigorous ICF  credentialing process! __________________________________________________ FAQ 5. What Is Coaching Not? Coaching is not Mentoring, as mentoring works in an advisory mode. It involves guidance from the mentor, who is a subject matter expert to the mentee, who is relatively less experienced. Coaching is not consulting, as consulting is giving solutions to the issue at hand. It is very ‘problem-specific.’ Coaching is not training, as training is imparting a skill with pre-prepared content. Coaching is not Therapy, as therapy/counseling involves correcting, confronting, and instructing a change in the attitude and behaviour of the client, to improve the performance that is below the set standards. __________________________________________________ FAQ 6. Why Might Someone Want ICF Coaching? ICF is considered the industry gold standard in the field of coaching. Its worldwide presence makes its Credentials acceptable globally. Moreover, an ICF Coaching Credential carries the credibility of the brand and also the structured approach to Coaching. Hence, if one is planning to consider options for Coaching Education, ICF stands out as the best option. Moreover, ICF Coaching Education focuses on Coaching Education rather than the niche. Hence, ICF Coaching isn’t a niche-specific one, to start with. This opens up the possibility of various opportunities in terms of choosing the niche. Be it Life-Coaching, Executive Coaching, or Millenial Coaching or for that matter, you choose any niche, the ICF Coaching Education caters to all. __________________________________________________ FAQ 7. How Can Someone Ensure They Benefit From ICF Coaching? One can benefit from ICF coaching by surrendering to the process. The framework is holistic, complete, and empowering. Regal Unlimited’s approach to ICF coaching involves Setting goals, for the engagement, and individual sessions Deeper exploration of beliefs, biases, and other subtle elements Awareness and action. The ICF coach then remains an accountability factor to enable the client to remain committed to the actions. All these are to enable the client to achieve the goals, and beyond, #beingRegal. We take pride in shaping coaches who are creating a positive impact in the lives of clients (through professional, personal, emotional, leadership & life coaching) __________________________________________________ FAQ 8. What Can You Expect From An ICF Coaching Certification? The ability to coach the ‘who’ of the client, beyond the ‘what’. At Regal Unlimited, we train ICF Coaches to coach the person, not the story. The spider, and not the web. An ICF coach does not get caught up with the client’s stories, even though that is the reality for the client. The potential is beyond, in the realm of the person, ‘who’.  All these require training on ICF coaching methodology & framework. The exposure to the framework, the synchronous & asynchronous learnings, the assignments, the mentoring, and most importantly, the practice hours… all help the coach to build the coaching muscle. There is no shortcut for it. ICF coaching certification process also gives the confidence to coach the client, in all areas of his/her work, and life.  __________________________________________________ FAQ 9. What are ICF Core Competencies? ICF’s curated framework involves 8 Competencies which are considered the ICF Core Competencies .  These competencies have been established to support a greater understanding of the skills that are required in the Coaching conversations in today’s Coaching Profession. 1. Demonstrates Ethical Practice 2. Embodies a Coaching Mindset 3. Establishes and maintains agreements 4. Cultivates Trust and Safety 5. Maintains Presence 6. Listens Actively 7. Evokes Awareness 8. Facilitates Client Growth __________________________________________________ FAQ 10. What Is The ICF Code Of Ethics? While defining the professional standards for Coaching, ICF has laid down the ethical standards as well. The ICF Code of Ethics is the blueprint for the standards that describes the core values of ICF, as well as the ethical principles and the standards of ethical behaviour that are expected from all the ICF-Professionals. Not just the Code of Ethics, ICF also provides a venue for consumers to file ethical complaints. The details of the process are mentioned on the ICF’s Ethics page. ICF Ethics is a very powerful component that establishes the baseline for coaching – safeguarding the nuances of coaching and preventing unscrupulous coaching interventions. __________________________________________________ FAQ 11. What Counts As Coaching Hours For ICF? Coaching hours for ICF involve the number of hours used for the practice of Coaching as an experience requirement for the ICF credentials. ICF mandates at least 75 (out of 100 hours) to be paid (either in cash or in-kind) and the remaining 25 hours could be either paid or unpaid. 25 out of 100 hours, must have occurred within 18 months before the submission of the application for credentials to ICF. The hours must include practice with at least 8 clients. You can check the ICF requirements in detail, as mentioned in the experience section. __________________________________________________ FAQ 12. What Is An ICF Membership? ICF provides membership option to the To-be-Certified-Coaches or Coaches, depending on their eligibility , which opens the doors for the Professional Coaches: to be part of it at a greater level enjoying the benefits and perquisites of being an ICF member One needs to pay a certain amount of fee for the ICF Membership as per the applicability. __________________________________________________ FAQ 13. Who Are The ICF’s Competitors? ICF is the gold standard in professional coaching. It is a not-for-profit organization, managed by full-time employees, and volunteers. All chapters, across the globe, are managed by volunteer coaches. As such, there is no competition for ICF. There are other good coaching bodies, such as EMCC.  __________________________________________________ FAQ 14. How Effective Is ICF Coaching? ICF Coaching can be very effective if the client chooses to trust the process and partners with the coach to move toward the action. A lot depends on the client’s willingness to work on themselves.  It helps if the coach is trained & certified, ICF credentialed & experienced, and continues to work on themselves.  Hence we say, trust the client, trust the coach, and trust the process  __________________________________________________ FAQ 15. Can Coaching Supervision take the place of Mentor Coaching for an ICF Credential? No. Coaching Supervision has a broader bandwidth encompassing supporting the Coach and sharing the wisdom. Whereas Mentor Coaching focuses on the skills of the Coach regarding the ICF Core competencies.  Therefore, only Mentor Coaching is considered and accepted for the Mentor Coaching requirement for obtaining the ICF Credentials, and not Coaching Supervision. __________________________________________________  FAQ 16. What does it mean to be ICF accredited? ICF accredited refers to the Coaching Education Programs or Institutes that have been approved by the ICF to impart the ICF Coaching Education and hence eligible for providing certification to the aspiring ICF Professional Coaches. These programs/institutes have been evaluated and reviewed rigorously in terms of quality and other important aspects like the learning philosophy, methodologies, evaluation, etc., to ensure that the quality of Coaching Education provided by the institutions is of higher standards and is conforming with the Coaching standards established by ICF. __________________________________________________ FAQ 17. How do I become a certified ICF coach? ICF has curated a framework and process through which an individual becomes a certified ICF coach. For this purpose, ICF Coach has accredited certain Institutions and ICF Coaching Education Programmes that help and support individuals in their journey to become ICF Certified Coaches. The process of becoming an ICF-certified coach involves 5 basic steps- Coaching Education (Coach-specific Training for a minimum of 60 hours) Experience (Coaching Practice for at least 100 Hours) Mentor Coaching (10 hours with a minimum of 3 hours of one-to-one Mentor Coaching sessions) Performance Evaluation (Submission of 1 audio-recording and transcript of a Coaching Conversation to ICF) Exam (ICF Credentialing Exam) In case you are inclined to know more about this at length, read it here __________________________________________________ FAQ 18. Could You Define Credentialed/Accredited? Credentialed, in the ICF’s context, refers to the individuals who have completed the stringentcoaching education and have fulfilled the experience requirements, and also have demonstrated mastery over the coaching competencies. Once the above aspects are ticked, ICF confers the credentials on the individual. While accredited refers to the Coaching Education Programs and Coaching Education Providers who are qualified by ICF to impart the Coaching education/training curated by ICF. These Coaching Education Programs are recognised by the ICF for undertaking the certification, which makes an individual eligible for the Credentials. This is to ensure that the Coaching Education provided to the individuals is of high quality and adheres to the framework curated by the ICF. In essence, ICF provides Credentials to the individual coaches. ICF provides Accreditation to the coach training Programs/Institutes. __________________________________________________ FAQ 19. How Much Does It Cost to Get ICF Certification? The ICF Certification cost might vary subject to the Coaching Education Provider.  With Regal Unlimited, the cost for ICF ACC Certification is ₹140,000 (plus 18% GST) for Indian Residents. Similarly, the cost is 2000 USD for Learners from Overseas. However, this cost doesn’t include the application fee, payable to ICF during the submission of the application for ICF ACC Credentials. T he application fee for ICF ACC Credential can cost from USD 175 up to USD 625, depending on the ICF Membership status and the pathway chosen for the application for ICF-ACC Credentials. The Application fees to be paid by ICF Members for ICF-ACC are as follows- ACTP Path- 175 USD ACSTH Path- 375 USD Portfolio Path- 475 USD The Application fees to be paid by Non-ICF members for ICF-ACC  are as follows- ACTP Path- 325 USD ACSTH Path- 525 USD Portfolio Path- 625 USD However, after every 3 years of the Credentials, there needs to be a Renewal of Credentials , which might cost around 175 USD for ICF members and 275 USD for non-members . __________________________________________________ FAQ 20. How Long Does It Take To Become an ICF Certified Coach? Approximately, it takes anywhere around 8 months to 18 months on average. It varies from Coach to Coach as the pace of clocking in of Coaching Practice hours and also the review of Performance Evaluation adds to the variability of the period involved. At Regal Unlimited , we encourage learners to complete the entire process in 12 months. We are very supportive of our learners, provide them with additional resources and cohorts to fast-track their practice, and consistently clock the coaching hours.  We also believe in ‘Getting Coached Slowly’. In coaching, there is no shortcut, hence detailed practice & mentoring sessions are encouraged! Regal Unlimited provides a supportive ecosystem to catalyze the journey of becoming an ICF Certified Coach within 12 months!  Have the above got your queries covered?  Do you still have further questions that you would like to discuss? If the answer is yes, please write to us at info@regalunlimited.com or ping us at +91 6362 872 685

Coaching as a profession is still largely unregulated. However, in the last 25 years, International Coaching Federation (ICF) has successfully established itself as the Golden Standard of Coaching. ICF Coaches are most sought after by Individuals as well as Corporates globally, for their professional credibility, as well as their integrity in Coaching engagements. In this blog, Priya Sundaram   an ICF ACC Coach discusses at length the importance of ICF Code of Ethics, read on to know why Ethics are critical part of Coaching Engagement. What makes ICF grow & be seen as a consistent & credible brand in the coaching ecosystem includes a Robust training curriculum standard Meticulous Credentialing process Well thought out Code of Ethics. This blog will specifically throw light on ICF Code of ethics What is Code of Ethics & its Purpose? “Ethics is, knowing the difference between what you have a right to do and what is right to do” – Potter Stewart. The importance of ethics can never be underestimated, be it in personal or professional life. Ethics proves invaluable in representing your organization/brand in good light & thus helps build trust with the clients. Code of Ethics is a guideline for all internal stakeholders to make day to day decisions & it gets reflected in every action of theirs, in the way they deal with the clients, as well as in all major decisions that takes place in that organization. It also empowers the internal stakeholders by acting as a guiding light in navigating & dealing ethical dilemmas one may encounter at work. Code of Ethics is also an external statement of an organization’s values & commitments. It helps create a positive image of the organization & sets expectations of professional conduct by encouraging professionals to align their behavior to the larger values of the organization & work in a fair & honest manner. This facilitates creating a loyal & happy customer base. Any deviation from the Code of ethics must be dealt with severity, as it could forsake the credibility & reputation of the organization.  ICF Code of Ethics ICF leads the way among other competitive coaching bodies, in creating a reputable name for itself – by embodying professional Coaching standards and establishing ethical standards among all its members. ICF Code of ethics describes ICF Core Values, ethical principles & ethical standards of behavior for all ICF Professionals. That’s why meeting these ICF ethical standards of behavior is the very first of the ICF Core Competencies ( ICF Core Competencies ) which says – The Coach, “Demonstrates ethical Practice: Understands & consistently applies coaching ethics & standards”.   Every aspiring Coach has to embody this Value, in order to become an ICF Certified Coach. A failure to meet these ethical standards (Or any of the Core Competencies) may result in Coach failing to earn their certification or having it revoked. The ICF Code of Ethics – The 5 main parts Given the situational & exhaustive nature of the Code of Ethics, it needs to be referred to, studied & adhered to word for word to draw a conclusion to the specific ethical situation at hand. Duplicating the detailed Code of Ethics is not the intention of this blog, however, if you want to look up the detailed ICF Code of Ethics, click here . You can download the Code of Ethics in pdf format here. Or take a glance at the nine-part video series here. ICF Code of Ethics as of the year 2022, contains 5 main parts, we will attempt at outlining what one can expect in those 5 parts.   Section 1: Introduction This section captures the who (Professionals) & where (Coaching related interactions), the Code of Ethics are applicable. ICF Professionals abiding Code of Ethics strive to be ethical, even when doing so may involve making difficult decisions or acting courageously. Section 2:Key Definitions  This section defines all possible references associated with a Professional Coaching Engagement, including – Client, Coaching, Coaching Relationship, Code, Confidentiality, Conflict of Interest, Equality, ICF Professional, ICF Staff, Internal Coach, Sponsor, Support personnel, and Systemic Equality. Section 3:ICF Core Values & Ethical Principles  ICF Code of ethics is based on the four ICF Core values and the actions that flow from them. The Core Values are: Integrity Excellence Collaboration and Respect. All the above values are equally important and they support one another. ICF Professionals are expected to showcase and propagate these values in all their interactions under all circumstances. Section 4:Ethical Standards  The ethical conduct outlined by the ICF Code of Ethics is divided into four sections: Section 1: Responsibility to Clients Section 2: Responsibility to practice and performance Section 3: Responsibility to Professionalism Section 4: Responsibility to Society. Section 5:Pledge  The Code of ethics ends with a pledge. Every ICF member and credential holder is to take this pledge agreeing to ICF in its sole discretion may hold them accountable & answerable for any breach of the explicitly outlined ethical standards. This may involve sanctions such as mandatory additional training or the loss of ICF Membership and/or Credentials. The specific case is then subject to a review process by members of the ICF ethical conduct review team. __________________________________________________  ICF Code of Ethics – Resources & FAQs Ethics plays a crucial role right from Start to End & everything in between that of a Coaching engagement.  ICF has created an exclusive Ethics Resource page to support & empower ICF Professionals to strive for Ethical Excellence. This page extends support through easy & free access to ICF Ethics Hotline, Liability Insurance for Coaches, Code of Ethics Overview, Code of Ethic FAQs, Complimentary Ethics CCE Course, Ethics Community of Practice, Ethics Water Cooler Conversations, Chapter Leader Ethical Guidelines and Interpretive Statements. A good part of Ethics comes into Purview right from the Contracting stage with a client &/or a Sponsor and stays throughout the process of coaching till the closure of the Coaching agreement. It’s best for the Coach to clearly convey the nature & potential value of Coaching, the nature & limits of confidentiality, financial arrangements and any other logistical terms and conditions of the coaching agreement.  It’s imperative for the coach to differentiate Coaching from the spectrum of training, counselling, mentoring, consulting & therapy. This lays the foundation of what to expect and what’s not in the scope of a Coaching contract. A clear understanding of how the information will be exchanged among all the parties involved during all coaching conversations should also be transparently laid out to avoid ethical conflicts & possible breach of trust & confidentiality. Defining the success outcomes, the roles & responsibilities of the Coach, Client & the Sponsors involved is also crucial to check progress and eventual measuring of the ROI of the Coaching Engagement. It’s critical to emphasize the client’s responsibility to get results while the coach is there to co-create desired solutions by asking powerful questions, holding a non-judgemental space for the client to reflect on their situations & curiously exploring possibilities.  An ICF Coach should also remain alert to indications that there might be a shift in value received from the coaching relationship & if so, they should proactively make changes in the relationship encouraging the client/sponsor to seek another coach or another professional or use a different resource to get the desired outcome . Further to some of the above ethical outlines that are crucial in any coaching engagement, here’s a detailed Frequently Asked Questions which captures various probable scenarios & ways to navigate them. This is a must for aspiring coaches to clear their Coach Knowledge Exam & a go-to document for practising coaches to navigate ethical dilemmas. Code of Ethics Overview and how is the ethical Conduct of a Coach is Measured? ICF Code of ethics is an integrally embedded part of the ICF Coach training curriculum. All ICF accredited training courses will include live practice, case studies related to ethics and evaluation based on Ethical conduct. To bring forth the best in each and every professional representing ICF, ICF Members, ICF credentialed Coaches, ICF training providers, and ICF Mentor Coaches – all are committed to:  Acting and being an ethical individual in all professional interactions with ethical behaviour as the foundation of their Coaching practice. Full accountability for the responsibility undertaken as an ICF Member and coach striving for continuous self-awareness, self-monitoring, self-improvement & Continuous learning in the field of coaching as required. Uphold the highest standards in a manner that reflects positively on the coaching profession, setting an example both to the profession & to the overall community. Be fully present in each and every interaction in which we engage, embracing diversity and inclusion, and value the richness of our global stakeholders. Recognizing and abiding by the applicable laws and regulations of each country, municipality and local governing body. Provide a safe space for coaches and coaches-in-training, trainers & service providers to learn, excel ethically and strive to become professional coaches of the highest calibre. Thus, no aspiring coach can claim ICF Credential without pledging to the ICF Code of Ethics. And if the Coach already has an ICF Certification, they will need to renew it every 3 years. This renewal requirement includes 10 hours of mentor coaching – where the Coach’s ability to follow ICF Code of Ethics will be assessed along with other competencies. The Coaches are also to earn a certain number of Continuous Coach Education points, which encourages the coaches to be on a lifelong learning path & continued self-improvement. What happens if ICF Code of Ethics is breached? Further to these checkpoints, should a coach fail to follow the ICF Code of Ethics, the client has all the rights to report to the ICF Ethical Conduct review team for further investigation and course of action. Regal Unlimited ICF Coach Training and ICF Coach Mentoring Regal Unlimited has been associated with ICF for both Coach Training ( ICF – ACC ,  ICF – PCC )& ICF Coach Mentoring for credential renewals. We stand & support ICF’s initiatives to advance the art, science & practice of Professional Coaching by embodying the highest standards of ICF Competencies and Code of Ethics.  We, at Regal Unlimited, take pride in providing the highest quality coach training to aspiring coaches and handhold them along their ICF journey! We are an ever-growing Coaching & ICF Coach Training institution in India , also catering to global coaches through virtual ICF Coach Training Classes. To know about the upcoming ICF ACC training Batch details, click here .

Colin, a successful high-flying corporate leader, will soon take over as the country-wide head of sales for his company. The organization decides to hire a professional coach to prepare Colin for his new role. They have one dilemma – should they go for an executive coaching program or leadership coaching program? Colin’s company isn’t the only one in this predicament. Most executives, leaders, and their organizations are confused about executive coaching and leadership coaching, and which one to choose. Getting clarity on what are executive coaching and leadership coaching, and what distinguishes them would help organizations and leaders choose what type of coaching would best suit their needs. What Is Coaching? The International Coaching Federation (ICF)  defines coaching as partnering with clients in a thought-provoking and creative process that inspires them to maximize their personal and professional potential. The scope of coaching has expanded over the last few decades. New niches have developed within the coaching space to cater to the varied needs, goals, and professions of the coachee. Executive coaching and leadership coaching are two such niches in demand in the corporate world. However, people tend to get confused between the two.  Executive Coaching vs. Leadership Coaching – Same or Different? Many clients and coaches consider executive coaching and leadership coaching to be the same. However, in reality, executive coaching and leadership coaching are not the same, although they are very similar. In fact, they largely overlap How Do Executive Coaching and Leadership Coaching Overlap? In executive coaching and leadership coaching, the coach partners with a client to identify and root out limiting beliefs and behaviours and replace them with empowering beliefs and habits. Both executive coaching and leadership coaching coach the ‘who’ rather than the ‘what’. Since every client is unique, the goals, approach, and solutions of executive coaching and leadership coaching are very individualistic and tailor-made to suit the client’s needs. Both executive coaches and leadership coaches provide much-needed ‘safe space.’ They can be an accountability partner, cheerleader, philosopher, sounding boards, mirrors, etc. as per the need of the client. The duration of both executive coaching and professional coaching is anywhere between 6 to 12 months. How Do Executive Coaching and Leadership Coaching Differ? The differences between executive coaching and leadership coaching are so nuanced they blur during the practical application of these two. But in our coaching experience, we have found that leadership coaching and executive coaching cater to different needs and clientele. Knowing these differences and then choosing executive coaching or leadership coaching accordingly would help you get the maximum RoI of coaching from your program. What Is Leadership Coaching? Leadership coaching focuses on creating mindful, compassionate, competent leaders who can inspire and motivate employees and teams. In leadership coaching, a leadership coach works with the client to develop skills, abilities, and competencies to help them perform better as leaders.  Leadership coaching identifies and resolves weaknesses and blind spots. It also builds upon a leader’s strengths, all to enhance performance and increase effectiveness. So there is more focus on personal development, unlike executive coaching. Who Can Benefit From Leadership Coaching? Contrary to executive coaching program, leadership coaching program are not exclusive to the leadership role or the corporate scenario. Anyone who wishes to equip themselves with leadership skills, or enhance existing skills, can take up a leadership coaching program. We have had a wide range of professionals from varied backgrounds opting for our leadership coaching, including a young astrologer looking to improve his communication skills. Of late, young politicians are looking for coaching to step up their leadership persona. Executive coaching program is less generic. In the corporate sector, leadership coaching can be taken up by ➤  High-value employees about to take up a leadership role ➤  Functional & Departmental Heads ➤  Middle-Level Managers  ➤  Team leads ➤  Project Heads/Managers ➤  Leaders looking to get promotions or raise ➤ C-suite leaders such as CEOs, COOs, CFOs, etc Focus Areas of Leadership Coaching Some of the common areas where leadership coaching can benefit leaders and organizations are: ✤  Sangeeta Sumesh , a prominent business and leadership coach believes that organizations can avail of leadership coaching to groom high-performing individuals for new leadership roles. Leaders can use leadership coaching for personal development ✤   Leadership coaching helps create motivated leaders who can, in turn, motivate and inspire employees ✤   Leaders can enhance their decision-making capabilities through leadership coaching. ✤   Leadership coaching can equip leaders to effectively lead and manage teams with diverse personalities, abilities, and talents. ✤   Leaders can use leadership coaching to refine communication skills ✤   Leadership coaching can help build emotional intelligence in leaders ✤   Organizations can use leadership coaching to turn around dysfunctional leaders, thus reducing attrition and the cost of finding and training replacements. ✤   Leaders see leadership coaching as an advantageous addition to the resume that would help earn raises and promotions. ✤   Leadership coaching can help develop leaders’ deeper self-awareness and tap into their intuition. Future leaders will depend on intuition, beyond the date. At Regal Unlimited , we call it #IQ2EQ2SQ.  P K Narayanan, an eminent CEO coach, goes a step further and works with Leaders in enhancing Leadership Presence – enhancing their ability to Inspire, Influence and Impact.  What Is Executive Coaching? Executive coaching is specifically meant for senior executives who steer large teams or organizations in the corporate world. They are highly competent individuals who have typically spent 10 – 15 years honing their skills to climb the professional ladder. Leadership coaching is not always relevant to them at this stage.  Executives bear a larger share of responsibilities than other leaders also, more stress. Hence executives benefit most from executive coaching as it is a niche area that focuses on the specific needs and challenges executives face due to their role, responsibilities, and stage of professional development. Executive coaching, while holistic, tilts more towards professional goals and objectives.  Executives coaches are generally individuals who have been experienced leaders or executives themselves before taking up coaching as a career. Hence executive coaches better resonate with the needs of an executive than a generic leadership coach. Although an ICF Coach need not be a subject matter expert, clients certainly relate better to an executive coach  from the same industry & niche. Who Can Benefit From Executive Coaching? Any executive or leader can opt for an executive coaching program. Seasoned executives or aspiring executives who have already attained a certain level of experience and seniority in their organization would benefit most from an executive coaching program Any executive or leader can opt for an executive coaching program. Seasoned executives or aspiring executives who have already attained a certain level of experience and seniority in their organization would benefit most from an executive coaching program . Executive clientele usually are – practising C-suite leaders, VPs, and Presidents transitioning executives new or aspiring executives successors to family-owned businesses founders and entrepreneurs leaders stepping into executive roles Focus Areas of Executive Coaching Executives typically opt for executive coaching for the following reasons: Support : It can get lonely at the top. Many leaders take executive coaching because an executive coach can function as a friend and equal with whom the executive can share thoughts and bounce off ideas without fear of judgment. Strategic thinking : Executive coaches can enable executives to enhance strategic thinking and decision-making at the macro level. An executive coach can help envision the bigger picture, understand strategic nuances, and enlarge the canvas for the executive. Enhance executive presence : Executive coaching can help build personas that can inspire, motivate and exert influence over others.  Executive coaching also helps with executive branding, grooming, building gravitas, holding a boardroom, and so on. To command a Board room requires a different presence. Develop 360-degree vision : The executive coach can provide different perspectives to widen the outlook. A coach can help develop a global mindset which is especially important for executives who need to integrate into different cultures of other countries. Role transition : New executives can transition to their new roles more smoothly and effectively with executive coaching. It can also help new executives successfully chart out their first 100 days. Life after retirement : Executive coaching can help retiring executives plan for the next stage in their lives. Many organizations enable their executives to avail of executive coaching for the same. A pan India battery manufacturing company engaged Regal Unlimited to groom their executives for post-retirement careers. Executive Coaching and Leadership Coaching – A Hybrid Approach Many coaches and coaching firms go for the hybrid model. Here elements of executive coaching and leadership coaching are included in the coaching model as per the client’s needs. Sangeeta Sumesh, business and leadership coach mentions the case of a CFO who came to her for coaching. Though his primary goal was to maximize business growth, equal focus was given to personal goals, thus making it a holistic combination of both. To know how leadership and executive coaching can benefit organizations, read our blog Top Organisational Benefits of Leadership Coaching . Executive Coaching and Leadership Coaching at Regal Unlimited The Regal Model believes in coaching the whole person rather than the Problem. The resolution of the problem is the corollary! Therefore our executive coaching and leadership coaching programs contain the best practices from both coaching segments customized to the client’s specific needs and objectives, thus empowering the client. We have coached over 1000 executives and leaders through our programs. We have a host of coaches proficient in both domains (Executive Coaching and Leadership Coaching). Feel free to get in touch and explore the right fit. All Regal Coaches are ICF credentialed, trained, and experienced. You could check out their profiles here .  To know more about the executive coaching program, read our blog – 6 Key Elements in Executive Coaching for a Successful Future How to Hire the Best Executive Coach or Leadership Coach? Many coaches and coaching firms claim to provide the best executive coaching and leadership coaching experience. But are they qualified, credentialed, and experienced? Which of them would give you the best RoI for coaching? It is necessary to research diligently and then choose the best executive coach or leadership coach.  Here are some steps to help you streamline your research and selection process. Steps to Select the Right Executive & Leadership Coach: Step 1: Identify whether you/your leader needs executive coaching or leadership coaching. You can crosscheck your/your leader’s specific needs to the indicators for leadership coaching and executive coaching to decide which would benefit you/your leader. Step 2: Identity promising coaches/coaching firms in your location and check out their credentials. Are they ICF-approved and certified ? What are their credentials? Step 3: Review client testimonials and stories. You could also ask the coaches to refer you to leaders or executives they’ve coached and hear their experiences first-hand. Step 4: Once you’ve shortlisted the most promising executive or leadership coach/firm, find out the RoI they provide and whether it is worth your while and penny. An easy way to do this is to find out what goals/focus areas they have coached the executives/leaders in earlier. Do these goals align with yours? Step 5: Choose the right executive coach or leadership coach for yourself through a chemistry session. Getting back to  Colin, the soon-to-be sales head, what do you think his company would go with? Executive coaching? Or leadership coaching? Or a combination of both? We are sure Colin’s company can make an informed, enlightened decision now, regardless of what it be! Should you be looking for executive coaching, leadership coaching, or a customized mix of both executive coaching & leadership coaching, rest assured we have the experience and expertise to deliver what you seek. Become a walking power of unassuming influence and charisma through the best executive coaching programs with Regal Unlimited.  Connect with Master Certified Coach, C V Subash Become an inspirational and transformational leader through Regal’s leadership programs . For more information, write to us at info@regaunlimited.com

Introduction All great things start with asking questions. There is so much information about the various topics pertaining to ICF Coaching and Coach Training . With the help of these blog posts, we aim to bring about more clarity on topics surrounding ICF Coaching and Coach Training topics. What is the end of education? What is the end of coaching education? Is there something like ‘the end’ of coaching education at all? What is our obsession with finding answers, finding solutions, finding clarity or ‘the end’? Where is it coming from? Coaching is an opportunity for the client to experience a transformational shift. For that to happen, the coach should be: Trained & Certified (with Regal Unlimited) Credentialed Member of ICF Continue to invest in themselves. Merely getting certified & credentialed is not the end of the journey. In fact, the real journey starts after the ICF credentialing; when we start practising as professional coaches. Partnering with clients will require “deep work” to strengthen the coaching muscle.  ‘Mastery in coaching is after all deepening presence, not upskilling.’ What is ICF Credential Renewal? Why does ICF mandate continuous learning for credentialed coaches at all 3 levels- Level 1, Level 2 and Level 3? These are ACC, PCC and MCC. It is not a matter of choice but prescribed to retain the credentials. This renewal is mandated once every three years. The coaches are expected to stay in the learning journey, pace the journey well over the three years and get the credentials renewed. Updated Credential Application Paths Coaching was always part of our consciousness. ICF has brought the concepts together and given a proper structure to them. ICF exists to promote the art, science and practice of professional coaching. It is a young, not-for-profit, organization, hence nimble too. ICF keeps fine-tuning the coaching framework to keep it in pace with market developments.  In November 2021, ICF coaching education (one of the verticals of ICF), released an updated accreditation structure for coaching training & education programs with a stated objective to “set the highest standards in coaching”.  ACSTH to Level 1 is for coaching education organizations that offer a path to ACC credential ACTP to Level 2 is for coaching education organizations that offer a path to PCC credential Level 3 is the pathway to the MCC credential. Renewing Your ICF Credential- Where Can I Find the Expiration Date? ICF membership details, including the expiry date, can be found on the ‘edit profile section’ of the ICF website. What is Required to Renew Your ICF Credentials? It is very important that coaches continue to renew their ICF credentials . Many coaches, after getting credentialed, do not renew their credentials. You must enjoy the process, and the system and believe in it. Continuous education, practice and up-skilling are important. Renewing credentials is very important as you also update yourself with the latest trends in coaching. All professionals keep reading, attending conferences, and keeping up to date with the latest trends in their industry – doctors, advocates, etc. to ensure that they can become the best and keep improving. As coaches, we must also dedicate ourselves to improving our skills through renewing our credentials.Professional Coaching is like any other profession (doctors, advocates, etc.) and therefore requires a regular upgrade in knowledge and practice. Secondly, it is all about the client. Regularly renewing your credentials helps you give the best possible experience to your clients. If we are not constantly striving to improve, we are doing a disservice to our clients. Thirdly, the spirit of renewing should be correctly understood. There are coaches, who race to hoard the CCEUs at the end of the year, just to complete that quota of 40 CCEUs. Mere collection of CCEUs is not the objective of ICF Credential Renewal. It is to re-align, re-visit and absorb the recent trends, practice sharper and pursue some deeper work (as an individual).  Remember, our being gets reflected in the way we coach… That being needs nourishment. And the journey of Renewal (40 CCEUs) is a nourishing space! For more details on the specific requirements to renew your ICF credentials, please refer to the answers below. What are the Requirements for an ICF ACC Renewal? The basic requirement is additional CCEU 40 hours of Continuing Coach Education (CCE) over the three years since getting the first credential, or renewal. 26 hours of core competency. This includes the e-learning modules on ethics. There is an additional 10 hours of Mentoring for ACC renewal only. 14 hours of resource development For more information on mentoring for renewals, please visit our webpage . What are the Requirements for an ICF PCC Renewal? The basic requirement is additional CCEU 40 Hours of Continuing Coach Education (CCE) over the three years since getting the first credential, or renewal. 26 hours of core competency. This includes the e-learning modules on ethics. 14 hours of resource development What are the Requirements for an ICF MCC Renewal? The basic requirement is additional CCEU 40 Hours of Continuing Coach Education (CCE) over the three years since getting the first credential, or renewal. 26 hours of core competency. This includes the e-learning modules on ethics. 14 hours of resource development At Regal Unlimited, we encourage the alumni coaches to regularly connect with the current batches (ACC and PCC) to practice, facilitate and get mentored to sharpen the coaching quotient.  What is Coaching Unlimited? For the renewals of ACC, PCC, and MCC credentials renewals, Regal Unlimited offers the coaches a very unique opportunity to refresh their coaching skills, the business of coaching and deep work, through ICF-approved CCEUs at Coaching Unlimited . This is a unique program, over three days, face to face, with a small group of professional, practising coaches.It is the first-of-its-kind coach-centric program. The quality of networking is very high as the participating coaches engage in meaningful conversations and practice. There are many who complete their CCEUs for the sake of it. But how does that improve you as a coach? How does that enhance your coaching capabilities? How does that ensure you become the go-to coach for prospective clients? Earn CCEUs & Renew your ICF Credentials with Coaching Unlimited. An Off-Site Face 2 Face Event Experienced Coaches as partners Powerful Coaching sessions Revisiting the Core Competencies  In the serene lap of nature… Chasing mastery & beyond as Coaches……. That is the promise and premise of Coaching Unlimited. To know more, visit our webpage on Coaching Unlimited. Check out our webpage on ICF Mentoring services we offer. You can also write to us: info@regalunlimited.com What is the end of education? Master says, “character”. Everything else, including mastery in incidental.  What is the end of coaching education? Not just mastery. ‘The ability to coach from a state of being. No effort, or doing, Just “be”. Unconscious competency. Coaching as a state of mind. Client-centric, but from a partnering space.  Is there something like ‘the end’ of coaching education at all? No, it is a journey to learn & grow for the coach too. Every client is a default coach after all.  What is our obsession with finding answers, finding solutions, finding clarity or ‘the end’? Where is it coming from? It comes from our upbringing. It is good to stay in the realm of questions, not force answers. Let the answers, guidance come to us. Hence we strongly feel coaching as a process comes to us when we are ready. To coach at work and in life is an opportunity to touch lives. To be a professional coach is a blessing and a big responsibility. We owe it to our clients, other stakeholders, and ourselves to keep sharpening our coaching mindset. For the best mentoring opportunities for professional coaches, internal or external, visit https://regalunlimited.com/icf-acc-renewals-mentor-coaching/ FAQs for ICF Renewal & Mentoring: How can I find a Mentor Coach? The best place to find an ICF mentor coach is the ICF website. There is an up-to-date list of all coaches accredited by the ICF. The next best option is  www.regalunlimited.com . What does the ICF Renewal Application look like? The ICF provides a recertification sample document. It can be accessed from the ICF website using this link: https://coachingfederation.org/app/uploads/2019/05/SAMPLE_Credential-Renewal-Application_12-2020.pdf. What is the cost of Renewing my ICF Coaching Credentials? As of 2023, it is $175 for members and  $275 for non-members. How long does renewal typically take? The estimated timeline for the review of renewal applications at ICF for any credential level is 6-8 weeks. Often with much faster response times from the ICF. Where can I get ICF CCEs for Credential Renewal? The various events held by ICF and ICF chapters are one source. This includes ICF’s communities of practice. Also, ICF-approved coach training institutes offer ICF-approved CCE programs. Regal Unlimited’s coaching retreat for professional coaches is one such opportunity to get CCEUs, at the same time, get valuable opportunities to learn and refresh. How can I renew my ICF Credentials? Complete the CCEU requirements over the three periods, get additional mentoring for ACC renewal only, and apply to ICF by going to the “renew credential” section of the ICF website.

Charles Darwin The quote above reveals a profound truth. The long game of survival is won not by might or intelligence, but by one humble trait, adaptability.  Leadership is not a short, thrilling T20 game, but a gruelling test match. Might, intelligence, or ability are inadequate if you want to be in the long game. When push comes to shove, ? That decides whether you survive 5 years or thrive 25 years in the leadership space. These are rapidly changing times in the business world, with technology disruptions and socio-eco-environmental instability. In these VUCA times, leaders like you need to evolve and adapt to changing climes to keep yourselves and your organizations ahead of the curve. Do you want to have an enduring leadership legacy? Then the coaching style of leadership is the game changer. Leaders as coaches such as Sathya Nadella of Microsoft and Sheryl Sandberg of ex-Facebook (now Meta) are examples of a new wave of leaders who are ahead of their game, thanks to their coaching leadership style. The Role of a Leader  As a leader, your role would include  ●  Managing teams and employees ●  Maximizing your team’s/organization’s potential and performance ●  Stimulating innovation and growth ●  Shaping new leaders Adopting a coaching leadership style would enable you to do all the above much more efficiently and holistically. How? Read on to find out! What Is the Coaching Leadership Style? Coaching leadership style is a management style where the leader partners and collaborates with employees to unlock their potential, and then harness that potential to achieve organizational objectives. In coaching leadership, the leader-coach does not use a ‘one-size-fits-all’ approach to manage team members. They customize their interactions according to individual strengths, weaknesses, and motivations. Must-Have Coaching Skills Every Leader Needs The coaching style of leadership incorporates basic professional coaching competencies and skills. If you want to be a coaching leader, these are the skills and competencies you would need in your toolkit. ⦿ Balance care & challenge: Are you sensitive to the needs of your employees?  Do you also challenge them when required? A coaching leader finely balances both. The leader as coach propels team members to beyond to achieve goals without losing the human touch. ⦿ Focus on potential : A leader as coach concentrates on employee potential rather than looking superficially at current performance. As a leader-coach, direct your energy towards unlocking that potential. ⦿ Active listening :  Listen to your team members with undivided attention, minus any agenda. This is a vital, yet tough skill every coaching leader must master to be a great leader-coach. Jean-Phillipe Courtois , a member of Sathya Nadella’s leadership team at Microsoft describes Sathya Nadella’s ability to listen. “He’s with you. You can feel it. You can see the body language. It doesn’t matter if you’re a top executive or a first-line seller; he has exactly the same quality of listening.” ⦿ Ask rather than tell : A leader as coach uses powerful questioning to handle issues, solve problems and elicit creative ideas from employees. Ask open-ended, concise questions.          For eg. What did you find challenging?          How would you approach this issue?          If you feel you are right, what is holding you back? ⦿ Provide a non-judgmental safe space : Leaders as coaches encourage their team members to communicate freely without fear of judgment or retaliation. Sathya Nadella encouraged the people at Microsoft to be open about their mistakes and to learn from them. ⦿ Give feedback : As a coaching leader, give your team members constructive feedback that would help them grow professionally and personally. You too should be open to their feedback for self-improvement. 360-degree feedback for coaching leaders and employees makes the coaching leadership style highly effective.  ⦿ Champion learning and development : Leaders as coaches take time to develop each member of their teams by mentoring, guiding, and supporting them, as per the requirement. Leaders as coaches empower team members to discover the larger role and purpose they play in their organization and this helps enhance individual performance immensely. How Does Coaching Leadership Style Unlock Potential? – John Donahoe, Nike CEO The Nike CEO couldn’t have summed up how coaching leadership style unlocks potential any better! The coaching style of leadership believes in maximizing both the personal and professional potential of employees, uniting them towards a higher vision, and partnering with them to get there. In coaching leadership, leaders as coaches facilitate the personal and professional development of team members. The leader as coach collaborates with team members to identify individual strengths and achievements, which are applauded and honed. Sheryl Sandberg, COO of Facebook (now Meta) is known to celebrate the successes of her employees. She believes this encourages them to greater achievements. Leaders as coaches partner with team members/employees to spot weaknesses and work on them. At no point does the leader as coach instruct or direct. Team members /employees decide and own the changes they want to initiate. The leader as coach functions as the cheerleader and sounding board. This empowering process enables employees to unlock their personal and professional potential, creating highly motivated individuals. How Does a Leader-Coach Improve Performance? Coaching works on the premise that once potential is unlocked, optimum performance is a natural outcome.  As a coaching leader, you have already established the momentum of performance by igniting the potential of your team members. These motivated individuals are raring to put in their best at work. All they need is a streamlined process to direct their skills and concentrate their efforts productively.  To know more about how a coaching leadership style can power performance, read our blog Coaching Leadership Style Why Do All Leaders Need to Be Coaches? Here’s why adding coaching to your leadership style would be the best thing for you, your team, and your organization. 1. Handling change and disruptions : Covid, economic slowdown, the Russia-Ukraine war, Brexit; these are unpredictable, constantly changing times we live in. A coaching mindset enables you, a leader-coach, to be a more resilient, agile leader. The coaching environment you establish as a leader-coach creates a safe environment for your team to operate at their full potential, no matter what the challenges and changes your organization may encounter.  2. Enhances productivity : A Deloitte research report reveals that organizations whose senior leaders coach effectively have better business results (an increase of 21%) than organizations who do not have coaching leadership.  3. Improves collaboration : Leaders who coach are better equipped to inspire and motivate teams to resolve conflicts, collaborate effectively, and work towards common goals. Sathya Nadella’s coaching leadership style was instrumental in transforming Microsoft’s competitive culture to one of collaboration. 4. Problem-solving : Coaching is a highly impactful tool by which a leader can wear the hat of a coach and enable struggling teams to pinpoint problem areas and discover solutions themselves. This path of self-discovery motivates teams and team members to adopt corrective measures and move to excellence.  5. Coaching culture : When you establish a coaching leadership style, the coaching mindset trickles down and eventually becomes a part of your organization’s culture. Coaching leaders at TCS , though small in number, have been able to create a coaching culture that has empowered employees and enabled the company to tackle challenges that came with Covid. 6. Achieve short-term and long-term goals : Leaders as coaches can enable teams to achieve both short-term and long-term objectives effectively using the GROW model. Constant achievement of short-term goals keeps the leader-coach and team members motivated to work toward the long-term vision of the team or organization. 7. Adapt to the current workforce : Millennials and Gen Z form a large percentage of the workforce. Their motivations and aspirations are starkly different from their predecessors. Thus traditional leadership styles such as command and control are counterproductive for this breed of workers. They are seen to respond best to new-age leadership styles such as the coaching leadership style. 8. Manage diversity : Leaders as coaches are seen to be more inclusive and empathetic while managing a diverse workforce.  At TCS, coaching leaders who were supervisors began to respect different time zones. This sensitivity came about as a result of a coaching mindset. Become a Leader-Coach Through Regal Unlimited’s Leader-as-Coach Program Regal Unlimited’s Leader As Coach (LAC) program, a premier leadership program in India has empowered more than 1000 leaders to add coaching to their skill set.  These leaders as coaches have gone on to inspire and motivate their teams and transform the fortunes of their organizations.  7 Reasons Why Regal Unlimited’s Leader as Coach Program Is the Best You Can Get: Get coached by Subash CV (MCC), a leadership and executive Regal coach who has more than 21 years of industry experience as a corporate banker and leader. 10 hours of concepts, theory, process, and skills. Some of the topics we deal with are Level 5 Leadership, Emotional Quotient for Leaders, Vulnerability & Authenticity for Leaders to Lead Organizations) 10 hours of mentored coaching practice with a Regal coach Assignments to keep you enriched with learnings Regal@60 exercise for better personal and professional alignment One hour of personal mentoring after 30 days of the course to address roadblocks. Access to the dynamic Regal Community of Coaches (300+) for continued learning.  Click here to know more about the Leader as Coach program. Download our Leader as Coach brochure Transform yourself into an inspiring coaching leader through Regal’s Leader as Coach program.  Get in touch on WhatsApp at 9108800892 . Reach out to us at info@regalunlimited.com in case you have any queries.

Is becoming a professional life coach your life-long dream goal? Starting such a career requires consistent effort and dedication. You must take helpful training programs to acquire an online life coach certification . Alongside that, you need to upscale your coaching skills. The more you research, the easier it becomes for you to handle your initial client expectations. To help you more, Regal Unlimited is offering you a well-curated Life Coach Certification Program. But, before you enrol, hover through the article that explains great workarounds to find your dream clients.  So, let’s begin!  The Traits of Your Ideal Coaching Client As a certified life coach, you must identify your ideal clients. For that, you can consider specific traits and qualities of the client before considering working for them. Here are must-have traits to identify your perfect life-coaching client. #1 Figure Out If The Client Is Ready To Change Remember, you are not a therapist! You are here to listen to the client’s past experiences and help him meet his future expectations. In order to gauge the client’s propensity to change, ask him the following questions: ●  Has he tried to make any changes in the past? ●  How eager is he to commit to the changes? ●  What’s the pace of change he is expecting? ●  Can he accept the suggested changes? Understanding how eager the clients are to change will simply help you connect with your clients emotionally. Once your client accepts you as their life coach, it will help them make the necessary changes to achieve their future expectations.  #2 Have Future Goals And Desires Every dream is achievable! The testimonials from Regal Unlimited prove that dreams are reachable with persistence and dedication. As a professional life coach, you must make your client believe in himself. Your ideal client should be driven to achieve his dreams and desires in the future. Before selecting your client, try to communicate with them to explore their life expectations. Indeed, you will be able to identify clients who are driven and filled with hope! #3 Ability To Accept Coaching What happens when the clients fail to follow your coaching? The life coaching online program from Regal Unlimited not only enables you with the right coaching skills but gives you an idea about how to identify clients who can be coachable. Here are a few questions that you can ask the client for a better understanding: ⯀  How important is a goal to your client? ⯀  Do they have lots of curiosity about their dream goals? ⯀  Are they willing to be accountable for their life-changing decisions? ⯀  How are they responding to criticism and complex challenges? ⯀  Can they commit to their goals and beliefs? Once you determine the answers to these questions, you will get the most positive and ideal clients to work with. #4 Willing To Invest in Self-Growth Driving the clients towards achieving their life-long goals explains Life coaching’s meaning . For that, they must invest in self-growth. As their life coach, you will have to ask your client the right questions so that they can regain self-awareness . By asking the right questions, you will ensure that you can help them by pointing them not just in the right direction but ensuring that all your efforts are customized for each individual client’s needs.  How to Get Your First Life Coaching Clients? No matter how many life coaching courses you attend, you also need practical experience. Once you start looking for clients in your initial days, you will face different challenges. However, you need to keep trying to get first-time clients. The following pointers are practical workarounds for life coaches to find more clients. Indeed, you can uti lize these ways to find your dream clients and build a strong portfolio. #1. Look for Referral Opportunities. Did you know that professional coaching is a worldwide referral business? Life coaches receive almost 70 to 80 percent of their clients through referrals. So how can you approach referrals? ➤  Use social media strategically to uplift your portfolio. ➤  Brand yourself a professional life coach.  ➤  Ask your contacts to share your online meetup invites with them.  ➤  Take feedback from your old clients to share online. ➤  Ask for suggestive recommendations from your clients. ➤  Develop a strong branding strategy to improve your networking. Indeed, many life coaches think asking for referrals is impossible; but it’s a self-limiting belief! There are many professional coaches who can actually help you with referrals. So put your efforts into garnering more attention from more people, as asking for references will actually take you far.  Expanding your business can garner a lot of monetary rewards. #2. Create Your Own Brand Today, content marketing is the key to connecting with more potential clients. Those who need you can find you through the content you put online. For that, you must create your own brand. The online life coaching certification from Regal Unlimited allows you to upscale your coaching skills and establish yourself as a successful life coach. Here are some effective ways to create your own brand: ✤  Create dedicated social media channels (Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, YouTube. ✤  Create unique blogs, short podcasts, and videos on different topics. ✤  Explain the life coach’s meaning to the reader/viewer through your content. Share the unique content explaining your mentorship techniques. This will help you and your clients to connect with each other online. Also, don’t forget to mention your contact information. If someone needs to consult with you, they will contact you! #3. Attend Networking Events Thanks to COVID, most in-person meetups are happening online! Take advantage of these events to expand your network reach. Attend the upcoming networking events such as: 🟆  ICF Converge 2023 (a dynamic global event for life coaches) 🟆  Regal Global Webinar You can join GCN (Global Coaches Network), where you can connect with other professional life coaches. You can also approach your potential clients to attend your free coaching sessions. You can represent your life coach skills and capabilities to more people. #4. Conduct Workshops & Meetups Attending online networking events isn’t enough! There might be times when there will be no upcoming online events. So instead of attending third-party hosted events, arrange and schedule online meetups yourself! Utilize different social media platforms to promote your workshops and demonstrations. Showcase your life coaching online certification alongside your achievements. Indeed, the attendees will be interested in planning a strategy session with you! #5. Take Part In A Well-Curated Coaching Program The online life coaching certification program from Regal Unlimited is the best way to start your life coaching journey. Here you get to coach directly from professional coaches. With years of experience, the professionals will guide you through the journey of life coaching . Alongside that, do the following activities: ❖  Download and read the free e-book from the website. ❖  Take the Life Quiz online. ❖  Hover through the blogs and testimonials.  Understandably, you can improve your coaching skills and gain more clients afterwards. Proven Ways for You to Attract Your Dream Client Starting Today: It isn’t not only about getting a client. As a professional who is a life coach of multiple individuals, you are also entitled to specific responsibilities. Now that you know the common traits to follow while looking for the right clients, it’s time to explore how you can attract dream clients starting today! #1 Quickly Perform Self-Checking You can connect with your dream clients faster by focusing on self-assessment and self-improvement. While doing your life coaching online certification, try improving your skills and capabilities. After a certain period, review your progress honestly. Keep checking for ways through which you can enhance your abilities. Meanwhile, try to explore the reason behind becoming a life coach. Once you discover your professional goal’s purpose, it will become easier for you to attract your dream clients. #2 Follow Your Purpose To Help The Right Clients The online life coaching courses teach you various things like communicating with clients, determining client needs, carrying out coaching and consultancy plans, etc.  However, choosing whom you want to help is entirely up to you. If you are unclear about whom you want to help, ask yourself the below questions: ➥  What are your end goals? ➥  Can you help the client? ➥  Will serving the client satisfy you? ➥  What can you achieve in the end? ➥  How can your help affect the client? The key here is to follow and match your dream client’s imaginary or demographic profile. Try to connect your purpose with the client’s requirements. If both match, they are indeed your dream clients. #3 Equip Yourself To Master Life Coaching Skills According to Lao Tzu, knowing about others is intelligence, while learning about yourself is wisdom. Like any other profession, getting a good life coaching online certification only gives you professional validation. To achieve this aim, every life coach must be ICF-certified. You need to put much more effort into learning all life coaching methods and become an expert. When you become confident about your skills, it attracts more and more clients. Here are a few resources to achieve mastery in your domain: 1. Read Regal Unlimited e-books that describe who is a life coach  2. Read case studies by fellow life coaches to explore more 3. Actively participate in different workshops, seminars, and training programs to upskill 4. Utilize social media power to connect to more people 5. Build your brand slowly by offering free coaching sessions in the beginning 6. Create a unique portfolio that showcases your services being more promising 7. Focus and work on your core strengths Lastly, don’t give up while facing challenges. Any of the life coaching online courses come in handy in finding a solution. The single most criterion which is necessary for any life coach, anywhere in the world is to be ICF-certified . Certification from ICF, not only ensures that you are fit to coach but also helps you get global acceptance.  #4 Create Client Engagement & Exceed Client Expectations  Creating client engagement is easier than ever with organic lead generation. As a certified life coach, create client checklists and plan boards to target more potential clients. Create free content for your professional website and social media accounts. The more people find your services online, the more they become interested in communicating with you. Indeed, it helps you to create a solid first impression on the client. Utilize the positive impact and offer the best services to exceed their expectations. Go beyond what they thought about you and attract more dream clients! Conclusion: The profession of a life coach is as challenging as enjoyable. If you can follow the above guide, you will be able to attract more clients. However, you must continuously make efforts to grab more clients while acquiring more knowledge and skills. For that, you require appropriate training. While so many life coach certification programs are available online, Regal Unlimited brings you the best of all life coaching courses. Hover through the course details on the website to know more!

Introduction The coaching leadership style is fast gaining momentum in the corporate world. As the corporate world reels under silent (and significant) problems of Moonlighting, Quiet Quitting, & The Great Resignation – the traditional leadership style of Command – Control has to be shunned.  Daniel Goleman, a renowned author and science journalist, classified leadership styles based on emotions. Coaching is the leadership style for the 21st century. Future workplaces will have coaches and not bosses. The industry is changing. Are your organizations pivoting? It is your choice. Whether you want to be a Blackberry or an iPhone. Become irrelevant or become the industry standard. Future-proofing your leadership should be an obvious step. If it was not, we would recommend that you do it. How can you future-proof your leadership? By developing leaders as coaches. Here are a few strategies that you can employ to achieve the desired result. What Is a Coaching Style of Leadership? Before you try to embed a coaching culture in your organization, it is important that you must educate yourself about what is the coaching style of leadership.  The autocratic leadership style revolves around top-down decision-making. The coaching style of leadership is in contrast to that where leadership is oriented towards partnering, collaboration, guidance and support. As the baton of leadership is handed over to Millennials and Gen Z’s, coaching style of leadership will assume greater importance as they prefer to partner in the organization rather than be treated as a subordinate. You can read more about this leadership style in our relevant blog. Find Fitment of Coaching Culture in your Organization Now that we have understood what the coaching style of leadership is, you must critically evaluate whether the coaching style is something that resonates with you.  We know that even the best of the strategies fall flat if the culture is not conducive for its execution. The same is true for developing Leaders as Coaches in your organization. Your legacy. Better productivity, improved mental health, enhanced work-life integration, reduced employee attrition, and deep conversations will be the immediate benefits that you can witness personally. In India, the coaching culture is becoming a differentiator – Ford, TCS, Intel, CEAT and many other companies have embraced this rich culture of Leaders as Coaches Once you are convinced that you wish to embrace coaching culture , let us explore the various ways you can develop leaders as coaches. Strategies to develop Leaders as Coaches in your Organization Strategy 1: Hire ICF Credentialed Trained Coaches to experience Leadership Coaching for Senior Leaders In this strategy, the first step is to empanel coaches and experience the power of coaching through a pilot project. Any goal that you set or any challenge that you wish to overcome will be dealt with successfully.  Regal Unlimited has the best Leadership & Executive Coaches who can partner with you and coach your leadership 1:1 on various professional and personal goals. You can handpick the leadership coaches and groom your leadership so that they experience the power of Coaching.  Once they have experienced the power of coaching, and they are convinced of its impact – then the same can be percolated down the levels of leadership. That’s how executive & leadership coaching works in developing leaders as coaches.  Strategy 2: Train your HR/L&D Leaders to become ICF Coaches who in turn train leaders in the team Now that the senior leadership is convinced, the next step is to train your HR and L&D leaders to become ICF-certified and credentialed coaches.  The primary reason is – the HR function is people-centric, they have the nuances and the pre-requisite skills to coach employees. Investing in HR folks is a strategic move because they have the responsibility and the inclination to work with people. Finally, this is an investment by the organization because “Becoming a Coach” is a natural career path for many HR/L&D professionals.  Once the HR/L&D is trained in ICF Certification, these certified coaches can then inculcate coaching competencies in your employees. We offer ICF Coaching & Certification to HR/L&D folks through specially curated programs. Strategy 3: Handpick your high-performing leaders & groom them through the Leaders as Coach program We have a program specifically designed to embed a coaching culture in the organization – the ‘Leader As Coach’ program. For the sake of brevity, we shall not go into the details of that program but feel free to read up about it on our webpage.  We have worked with leaders from a global automobile company, a big receivables exchange company, a global pharma company that is a pioneer in Insulin & developed their leaders as coaches, and a tech company in South America, thereby establishing the coaching culture in organization.  Strategy 4: Learn from the Best Practices from Industry “All leaders are learners. The moment you stop learning, you stop leading.”- Rick Warren It makes sense to learn from the successful business practices of industry leaders. A lot of multinational companies have embraced a coaching culture. The wide-scale adoption indicates success as a consequence of coaching. Understand their model, tweak it to suit your needs, and implement it. There is no need to reinvent the wheel! Do it Yourself This is probably the easiest strategy. There is an abundance of information available that can be studied and replicated in your organization. This involves you getting an idea about what is truly a coaching culture and then trying to implement it.  You can educate yourself about the nuances of coaching by reading more books about coaching and attending webinars on the subtleties of coaching. Regal Unlimited conducts regular webinars for prospective learner coaches to educate them more about coaching. Here is a link to our YouTube channel with a lot of content around coaching for leaders. We regularly come up with interesting e-books, guides books & webinars for organization leaders like you. One such webinar is on Leaders As Coaches Since this strategy is being implemented independently without experts’ help, you will need to regularly monitor and track coaching outcomes. Conclusion: Leaders must be Coaches Leaders must be Coaches. There are various ways in which leaders can be trained to coach their peers, employees & even superiors. Companies that are embracing the Coaching culture are preparing for leading the industries. Developing leaders as coaches is a  prerogative because the millennials and Gen Z truly do not want a boss figure, instead, they prefer a leader who is a coach – an orchestrator – facilitating an ensemble!  Learn how to become a leader who can coach with Regal Unlimited through our Leader as Coach program , Download the brochure now!

A coaching conversation can change your life; it can change the way you perceive life.  Even one coaching conversation can begin a significant energy shift that can sustain you, life long. ‘ Tram’ Venkataraman , a well-known leadership coach and mentor,  brings us two precious nuggets from his coaching diary that reveal the power of masterful coaching conversations.  Are you a leader looking at executive coaching? Then Tram’s case vignettes are a must-read, for they showcase the transformative potential of the executive coaching process. Are you an aspiring or practicing executive coach? Don’t miss Tram’s thoughtful, in-depth description of his coaching experience that brings out the skilled ease with which he navigates ICF coaching competencies.  Winning the Inner Battle  Due to the focus on creating diversity and inclusivity in board rooms and leadership roles, we have seen many women leaders moving into very senior roles with a lot of responsibility and deliverables. We had the great fortune of coaching a senior woman leader working with a reputed IT company. Madhu (name changed) played a global role and held a key position which was a critical bridge between her company’s overseas colleagues and clients. Madhu was nominated by the General Manager of her company for an executive coaching program with us. I was the executive coach who worked with her. One of the topics which came up for her to discuss, explore and get some insights on was what she needed to do to break a pattern of disappointment, negativity, and resentment that was forming in her persona. There was serious internal turmoil, and she needed a very friendly and trustworthy coach to open up with, discuss and get clarity on how she would manage a situation, a point of inflection in her career and life. Madhu was looking for pointers on how she could manage herself as she fought a battle in her mind – she was at a stage where giving up her current role to attend to her growing daughter, a special needs child, was the only way out. She was emotionally disturbed and on a low because she was giving up an excellent role.  It was a good one hour of deep conversation just being with her, present and listening to every word, emotion, and experience she described as she grappled with her dilemma. I also listened to what she was not saying. The exploration was as per the trusted ICF process. As Madhu spoke it dawned on her that deciding on this, making peace with the turn of events, and getting comfortable with it was the single most important thing in her life at that moment. It did not matter what her past successes, experience across roles were and how rapidly she had climbed up the ladder.  Madhu’s torment then was how she would manage the consequence of moving out of such a powerful role into a lesser one, for she realized that was her best way out at that point in time. As she explored, she went through myriad emotions and thoughts as she discussed her options, thoughts around each of them, and possible outcomes. There was a lot of disappointment that she had to sacrifice such a great role, even if briefly.  From there the conversation moved to Madhu’s personal life. When she dug into what it meant to be a mother to her child at that hour, the realization hit her. She began to understand that being a mother for her growing daughter, a special needs child, was a much more important need. She went silent for a few moments. Emotions of grief and relief collided as she made peace and came out with what was the clear thought at that point.  She recognized that her being a mother stood above everything else. She acknowledged that her role or position did not matter at all. There were no other options to consider or discuss. She stated clearly, “it is my baby, and I need to be there.” Period. No other thoughts, emotions, or options. It was a very emotional session for her, but her trust in us enabled her to open up. As I gently listened, I played back key moments, expression, emotions, and the choice of words she used. I also observed the way her energy moved.  The final emotion was clarity and relief. Quickly, Madhu outlined what she would do from the moment our conversation ended. She was ready to take a career break with the new insights she got. As an executive coach, this was a powerful session for me. I learned a lot that day about work-life conflicts for women leaders and the way they thought through and went about their roles and positions to duly balance their familial and professional lives The Secret to Mastering a New Role Another coaching assignment that springs to mind is the one where I worked with a very senior IT industry professional, RK. RK was a talented IT architect. He had vast experience across the globe as a consultant delivering high-impact technology solutions for the banking and financial services sector. Clients just loved him and enjoyed working with him. RK was knowledgeable and with an excellent track record. Designing and delivering solutions was his forte. He just loved it. As always happens, RK’s organization switched gears to keep ahead of the competition. They were already very solution focused for maximum customer impact and stayed away from staff augmentation projects as much as possible. Now they wanted to zoom ahead post-pandemic. In line with the organization’s vision to accelerate growth, RK was to set up a $ 100 million business unit in his area of expertise in the BFS sector. He was responsible for revenues and profitability as well. From a solution architect, RK suddenly became a mini-CEO of a business module within a large domain. RK hated his new role. He was uncomfortable. He was unfamiliar. He wanted to quit. He decided to take up executive coaching and thus came to us. I became his executive coach. RK placed his predicament before me and said he wanted to share his thoughts. He said the company meant a lot to him. He was deeply connected to them and was disappointed that they had given him a role in which he had no prior experience. RK was pretty negative about the whole prospect. He loved to sit in front of clients, listen to their business problems, and design high-impact technology solutions. Now here he was,  staring at the prospect of doing something different, larger, end-to-end, and high-pressure. As we settled into the coaching conversation, I posed questions from a space of being present, in flow with RK’s thoughts and utterances. And he answered them. Slowly, he expanded on the various experiences he had had globally, in different languages and cultures. He recounted how clients always enjoyed his analytical abilities. RK revealed short- and long-term visions across his life span, including the financial perspectives. As RK spoke, he gradually realized that the present organization where he worked would help him afford all his wants and enable him to realize his vision.  RK then went on to the professional side of the exploration,  focusing on the new role. He dissected his new role, breaking it into various parts. He then expressed which specific parts were to his dislike and discomfort. Once I got him to analyze the new role in-depth, RK could see that very few parts were outside his knowledge and comfort zone. Then we started discussing his options. Through a set of questions, I helped him figure out how to handle the parts of the role that made him unhappy. It turned out that there were three zones 1) administrative and thoroughly boring(though nothing he did not know), 2) his sweet spot wherein the solutions and revenues would flow from, and 3) client acquisition – the toughest part. It was challenging yet worth trying out because it was a derivative of his sweet spot. Now it dawned on RK that he could get someone else to do Part 1, enjoy and excel in Part 2 himself and acquire special skills for Part 3 to leverage the large client base his organization already had to achieve organic growth. He also discovered that he would be better off in a geography where there were more prospective clients compared to India. RK was relieved. He was excited. His energy had shifted from quitting the role to taking it on.  To help matters, RK had a supportive boss. This whole process happened over four sessions because RK came from a negative space and had to do a lot of analysis around where his life was going, his financial needs, lifestyle, and so on.  Last I heard from RK,  he is in London heading up that small BU(small because his organization is multi-billion).

As organizations and leaders, when is the right time to hire an executive coach? According to Subash CV , a Master Certified executive coach, most C-suite leaders take up executive coaching certification when they aren’t able to grow, either professionally or at a personal level.  So an easy way to identify when a leader like you would need executive coaching certification is to assess whether you feel stuck professionally, personally, or emotionally. Organizations usually hire executive coaches to enhance their leaders’  performance or to remove blocks that hinder them from performing optimally. We have identified some of the most common situations where leaders and organizations feel they need to hire an executive coach.  Given below are the questions they ask themselves in such situations. If any of these questions resonate with you as a leader or an organization, it’s a sign that executive coaching certification is your best option and would reap maximum benefits for you.  Read our blog Top Organisational Benefits of Leadership Coaching to know how executive coaching can benefit organizations. Read our blog 11 Benefits of Executive Coaching to discover how coaching can benefit leaders. Triggers for Executive Coaching Why didn’t I get that promotion? You are ready for a promotion. You are the most qualified candidate. You’ve worked hard and delivered your end of the bargain. But someone else gets promoted over you. And you just cannot fathom why! Executive coaching can hold the mirror to help you figure out what went wrong and why.  How do I deal with my difficult boss? Does this sound familiar? Unfortunately, one of the most common reasons high-performing leaders take up executive coaching certification is to manage a toxic boss. An executive coach can broaden perspectives to identify core issues and come up with solutions.  Executive coaching is a powerful tool that leaders could use to become more self-aware of traits that could hurt professional relationships. A seasoned VP who is also a coach recalls how his executive coach asked him to  . This shift in perspective helped him identify and rectify behaviours that had created a rift between him and his boss.  Does this sound familiar? Unfortunately, one of the most common reasons high-performing leaders take up executive coaching certification is to manage a toxic boss. An executive coach can broaden perspectives to identify core issues and come up with solutions.  Executive coaching is a powerful tool that leaders could use to become more self-aware of traits that could hurt professional relationships. A seasoned VP-cum-coach recalls how his executive coach asked him to  . This shift in perspective helped him identify and rectify behaviours that had created a rift between him and his boss.  Does this sound familiar? Unfortunately, one of the most common reasons high-performing leaders take up executive coaching certification is to manage a toxic boss. An executive coach can broaden perspectives to identify core issues and come up with solutions.  Executive coaching is a powerful tool that leaders could use to become more self-aware of traits that could hurt professional relationships. A seasoned VP-cum-coach recalls how his executive coach asked him to  . This shift in perspective helped him identify and rectify behaviours that had created a rift between him and his boss.  What should I do to ace my new role? Every new role comes with its set of challenges and learnings. Many organizations and leaders turn to executive coaching to prep for new roles. Working with an executive coach has proven immensely beneficial in enlarging the canvas, widening perspectives, and deepening understanding of new roles. How can I pay better attention to my health and relationships without compromising on work? High-performing executives generally lead stressful lives that have little time for personal well-being, family, and relationships. Most leaders understand that the balance is skewed, but are helpless regarding a solution. Executive coaching can enable you to integrate work and personal life in a holistic manner.  My current role/job does not give me growth. Is this the right time for me to move to another role or change careers? Switching jobs or careers are big decisions that have a significant impact on family and the standard of living. These decisions need to be thought through carefully and impartially. An executive coach can collaborate with you to defog your thinking, weigh pros and cons, and evaluate options.   Things at work and home are spiralling out of control. What do I do? Certain situations in life can render us powerless. Midlife crises, professional setbacks, disagreements with spouses, deaths within the family – these issues can take a toll on us, especially if two or more of them coincide. Executive coaching has the power to put you back in the driver’s seat. How? It provides a non-judgmental safe space that sows clarity, settles emotions, and gives birth to empowering measures Bonus triggers to hire an Executive Coach These are some of the major circumstances where executive coaching certification can become a game changer for leaders and their organizations. Some other triggers for executive coaching are For organizations ✤ Improving interpersonal skills of top performers. ✤ Enhancing the performance of leaders For leaders ✤Handle loneliness at the top with an independent-thinking partner ✤ Manage stakeholders Executive Coaching – An All-Weather Option Common misconception leaders have is that executive coaching is only for leaders who have professional or personal issues. Do you visit the doctor only when you develop a health issue? No, right? Most of us go for regular health checkups to pre-empt problems and maintain our health. Similarly, a leader need not wait for issues to crop up to hire an executive coach. A leader can benefit from executive coaching at any point of time in their career or life.  To clear other common misconceptions about coaching, peruse our blog  Seven Common Misconceptions About Coaching by Subramani Balakrishnan. Executive Coaching With Regal Unlimited It is very important to choose the right executive coach to maximize your ROI. Here are some signs that show it is the right time to choose executive coaching with Regal Unlimited ! ● 50+ organizations and 1000+ leaders coached in the last 8 years ● 20+ experienced, ICF credentialed and certified executive coaches and leadership coaches who have leadership experience in various corporate domains ● ICF-mandated coaching process that is time-tested and highly effective in ensuring maximum ROI ● One-on-one executive coaching program in top Indian cities such as Bengaluru, Hyderabad, Mumbai, Chennai, etc. We also coach executives overseas. ● We offer top executive coaching certification programs and leadership coaching programs in India. Visit our executive coaching webpage to know more.  Book a free discovery session with a Regal Executive Coach now Contact us at info@regalunlimited.com for any queries.

A few years ago, if someone had told me to work with a life coach , I would have wondered – Why? What’s wrong with me? The judgment would have kicked in even without knowing any facts. This response from people thus doesn’t surprise me, for . Now further to this limiting belief, let’s top it up with –  Large mass of Society has no clue what life coaching is all about and how it can empower individuals. – As Aldous Huxley put “Most human beings have an almost infinite capacity for taking things for granted” – We don’t prioritize ourselves. Our growth, our health, and our relationship with self, until the day we are forced to , encounter a major turn of events. – Like instant noodles, we want instant results with minimal effort.  – With everyone having a long list of merits & certifications next to their names, we don’t know who to trust & how to go about our vulnerability and not being taken advantage of. – “When a doctor only charges this much to cure me, why should I shell out so much to work with a Life Coach?” – a persistent challenge we encounter before we take a leap of faith to invest in our own growth & wellbeing proactively.   In this blog, Priya Sundaram attempts to inspire you to look beyond these limiting beliefs and take a leap of faith to experience Life Coaching for its sheer amazing benefits that could transform your life in a profound way.  Life Coaching Meaning “Our lives are a sum total of the choices we’ve made” – Wayne Dyer I would like to further add, that our lives are thus, the consequences of the choices we’ve made. And Change, being the only constant, every new situation in our lives, demands we make a choice. But repeating our decision pattern may result in the same results, thus . Every new situation in life, calls for an upgraded version of ourselves and presents us with two choices – REPEAT or EVOLVE. And , when we are able to no longer change the situation & neither repeat success, “” is the only way forward. A part of this evolution is observable w.r.t to the outcomes produced and the behavioural change. It’s safe to say this is obvious to notice for others as well as for ourselves, this is in the common conscious or awareness space. We may encounter resistance, fear, anxiety, denial, breakdowns, and self-doubts when the invisible/non-observable part is set in motion to cope with the changing external environment. This churn is not visible to others & largely in the unconscious realms for ourselves. We may experience the symptoms but may not be able to put a finger on what’s churning in us and how we can manage it. A Life Coach can show the mirror & help you get in touch with the very source of the churning. Long-lasting change when driven from this place by making the unconscious – conscious is called Unlike what we may expect, the transformation journey is not easy and definitely doesn’t happen overnight. Individuals wanting to transform their lives can greatly benefit from Life Coaching. Life coaching works on the core premise that every individual already has the answers to the questions they are seeking. Life coaching helps shift focus from the external to the internal being & takes stock of what’s at the core of an Individual and enables positive desired transformation – . What Is a Life Coach? ICF defines as partnering with clients in a thought-provoking and creative process that inspires them to maximize their personal and professional potential. In my own words, with coaching being that, A life coach is a person, who partners with an individual, enabling them to realize their true potential and most importantly – aiding them to live from a place of congruence – inside out. Whether certified or not, a life coach has a few common qualities: ➥ Life coaches are able to hold a safe space for the individual to dig deeper into their own internal world, to encounter & embrace their whole selves – the good, the bad, and the ugly too. ➥ Life Coaches are able to contain a wide range of emotions, self-concepts & world views without being judgemental. ➥ Life Coaches extend unconditional trust and positive regard to the individual, even when the individuals struggle to extend that to themselves. Not all life coaches are ICF Certified, however, ICF Coach Certification is considered a gold standard in coaching, inspiring a lot of Life coaches to take up ICF Certification to add credibility and brand value to their line of work.  What Does a Life Coach Do? Surprisingly, a life coach doesn’t lead, hold hands, show the way or give solutions, but rather extends a helping relationship which can be used by the individual for their desired personal growth & well-being. This relationship doesn’t develop overnight, but over a period of weeks and months, where the life coach shows up as – By being consistent, transparent & congruent – To communicate unambiguously – extending unconditional positive regards – Strong enough to stay separate from the feelings and personal meanings which the client is experiencing at the moment, without losing their own identity in the process & express/communicate what’s felt & perceived without judgement.   As the relationship deepens in trust & mutual respect, the client gathers the courage to explore their own true, vast potential waiting to happen, in a constructively realistic way. Are you considering exploring Life Coaching experience for yourself? Click here to know more. Five Amazing Benefits of Life Coaching Apart from getting to work with another human being, who is equally invested, if not more, in your growth & your success journey, here are some amazing benefits one stands to benefit from having experienced life Coaching. Some of these benefits are obvious, some subtle, some external, some very personal & internal and some are transformational & life-changing. Individuals working with a life coach are set on a path of self-awareness and self-transformation. When they learn to extend the gift of undistorted awareness to themselves, they 1) in being who they are and not just what others expect them to be. 2) As a result, the focus shifts from chasing perfection to choosing compassion towards all those that are trying to do their best. There is no more blaming, anger & frustration, but understanding, helping and collaboration to lift each other up. 3) The past version did exactly what it knew best then, and landed us in today’s treasure of awareness, gifting the opportunity to become the person we were waiting for, with patience, reverence, grace and gratitude. 4) – In today’s world of instant gratification, where there are many ways to fulfil one’s dreams, including but not limited to compromising on health, habits, relationships etc, Life coaching helps one lays the foundation of good process aligned with one’s belief & value system. While guaranteeing outcomes, this approach helps avoid the pain of internal turmoil and conflicts . 5) – Life Coaching inspires people to walk their talk and live congruently inside out. Thus, the person becomes a change agent and shows a way for others to lead life more authentically. This has a cascading positive effect on society at large, contributing to the collective advancement of the human race. Even big celebrities like Oprah Winfrey, Hugh Jackman, Deepika Padukone, Serena Williams, etc – who have everything that a common man would identify as “Success”, had felt the need to work with a coach, and have explicitly advocated the benefits they reaped from having worked with a life coach. This convinces me that almost every single person can benefit from Life Coaching, not just in a crisis situation, but to live our full potential & make possibilities a thriving reality.  What’s stopping you from taking the leap of faith and investing in your own growth and well-being? What may be limiting you from making this decision, could precisely be the thing you need to work on, for that pattern may be showing up subconsciously in other aspects of your life, without drawing your awareness to it. You deserve Life Coaching – Don’t shy away from it. Book a free discovery call here On the other hand, if this blog has inspired you even in the slightest possible way and you feel gravitated to the idea of becoming a life coach yourself – click here to know when the next batch of ICF coach training starts at Regal Unlimited .

Introduction The previous centuries of successful leadership was defined by the ability of leaders to have the correct answers. However, in this century, a drastic change is needed for the leader to be a coach. Coaching Leadership Style is the need of the hour to future-proof leadership. “In the past, a leader was a boss. Today’s learners must be partners with their people; they no longer can lead solely based on positional power.“- Ken Blanchard The Role of a Leader as a Coach In the 21st century, the responsibilities of a leader are undergoing constant changes. However, as a leader, your role would include- Leading, instead of managing, teams and employees Maximizing your team’s/organization’s potential and performance Stimulating innovation and growth Shaping new leaders Adopting a coaching leadership style would enable the leader to achieve all of the above more efficiently and holistically. What Is a Leader as a Coach? Coaching leadership stands in stark contrast to the traditional leadership style. The approach of the leader is what presents the difference between both leadership styles. The autocratic leadership style focuses on top-down decision-making. The coaching leadership style is characterized by partnering, collaboration, guidance, and support. Leader as a Coach involves leaders providing assistance and direction against directives and commands. Employees learn how to adjust to a continuously changing environment in ways that spark new vitality, ingenuity, and commitment. Must-Have Coaching Skills Every Leader Needs Coaching style of leadership incorporates basic professional coaching competencies and skills. Let us look at what are the coaching skills that every leader needs- Balance care and challenge  Ask yourself- are you sensitive to the needs of your employees? Do you care for them? Do you challenge them when needed? A leader, as a coach, must tread a fine balance between both. Leaders, as coaches, propel team members to go beyond just achieving their targets by infusing the human touch. Focus on Potential  A leader, as a coach, looks beyond the current level of performance of the employee and focuses on their potential. Leaders, as coaches, endeavour to unlock that potential. Active Listening  A leader, as a coach, must listen to his/her team without any agenda. This is one of the most important, yet challenging, coaching skills to master. A great example of a leader-coach who listens is Satya Nadella, CEO, Microsoft Corp. Jean-Phillipe Courtois, a member of Nadella’s leadership team at Microsoft describes Nadella’s ability to listen as “.” Ask and Not Tell  A leader, as a coach, uses powerful questioning to handle issues, solve problems and elicit creative ideas from employees. Statements and commands stop creativity and possibilities. Asking questions is empowering and opens up possibilities to change! The secret is to ask open-ended questions as against close-ended questions. For example- “How was the bus ride to work?” as opposed to “Did you like the bus ride to work?” Provide a non-judgmental safe space  Leaders, as coaches, inspire their team members to converse openly without any fear of being judged or of retaliation. Microsoft had a very hostile work culture between teams. Satya Nadella, the CEO of Microsoft, encouraged the people at Microsoft to face their mistakes and learn from them. Give Feedback  A leader, as a coach, gives constructive feedback that would aid the team members to thrive personally and professionally. The leader-coach should also be welcoming to feedback for self-improvement. 360-degree feedback for the leader-coach and team members increases the efficacy of the coaching leadership style. Champion Learning and Development  Leaders, as coaches, invest time to develop the team members by mentoring, guiding, and supporting them as per their needs. Leaders, as coaches, believe in empowering their teams to support them in the discovery of a larger role and their purpose in the organization that helps enhance individual performance dramatically. How Does Coaching Leadership Style Unlock Potential? Coaching leadership style believes in maximizing the potential of employees, both personally and professionally, rallying them towards a higher purpose, and partnering with them to actually get there. Leaders, as coaches, focus on amplifying employees’ potential both personally and professionally. A leader, as a coach, does not focus only on the professional potential of employees as he/she is invested in the all-around development of the employee.  In the coaching leadership style, leaders, as coaches, pioneer the personal and professional advancement of team members. The leader, as a coach, partners with the employees to discern individual strengths and achievements, which are celebrated and honed. Sheryl Sandberg, former COO of Facebook (now Meta), used to celebrate the success of her employees. She believed this would encourage them to scale greater heights. Leaders, as coaches, assist the team members to identify weaknesses and work on them instead of judging them for their shortcomings. How Does a Leader as a Coach Improve Performance? Coaching functions on the premise that once potential is unlocked, optimum performance is a natural outcome. A recent survey revealed the three most often quoted reasons for performance degradation: Motivational Deficit Skills Deficit Resources Deficit Usually, a deficit is a zero-sum game. If one is running short of $500, one can earn/ beg/ borrow/ steal to negate the deficit. Similarly, the deficit in skills and resources can be nullified by adding skill sets and resources. A leader who is a Coach can spot the deficit and propel the employees to work towards it (without resentment) Leader who coaches can steer the efforts of the peers and subordinates by aligning the vision, goals and targets with consent! How Coaching Leadership Style Solves Motivational Deficit? But the motivational deficit is a different ball game because the relationship between the one motivating and the one getting motivated is inversely proportional. The more you motivate, the less motivated the recipient becomes! Motivational deficit demands leaders with coaching skills. Coaching for motivational deficits requires trust building. A glimpse of it can be seen in the manner Aristotle coached Alexander. He did not coach him in military strategy or administration even though that was Alexander’s father’s explicit instructions. On the contrary, Aristotle motivated Alexander to look at the world differently and encouraged him to pursue poetry, beauty, and patterns in nature. Aristotle was coaching the ‘person’ and not the ‘problem’. Trust and Safe Space Leaders, as coaches, develop trust and create a safe space for employees to communicate freely without any qualms about being judged. Although many leaders are apprehensive of open communication, leaders as coaches allow free conversation to build trust and a sense of belonging. When employees feel listened to without any judgements, they feel a sense of belonging. Morale and motivation skyrocket out of belongingness. Power to the Employees Leaders as Coaches tackle the issue of the motivational deficit by ensuring that the command and control style of leadership is disbanded. “I am a leader so you do as I say-” approach is not empowering. Coaching leadership style gives power to the employees and holds them accountable. This sense of being empowered along with accountability helps bridge the motivational gap. How Coaching Leadership Style Solves Skills and Resources Deficit? A leader as a coach asks powerful questions instead of telling answers. The power of questions directs the employees to seek the answers and become accountable for the outcome. Leaders, as coaches, master the skill of being ‘present’ for the employees. When employees are skill deficient, getting rid of him/ her is the default approach Performance v/s Potential A leader, as a coach, looks at the employee’s potential and not just the current level of performance. Leaders, as coaches, use a different lens and view the same employee differently. A coaching conversation with the employee can reveal the unique strengths he/she has.  ● How can they contribute to the organization in a manner that they had not thought of earlier ● How can he/she upskill to continue to contribute  ● Does he/she feel the need to upskill ● How could he/she have known the need to upskill earlier ● How can upskilling help his/ her future self (personally and professionally) All of these questions can be explored and this helps the employee to realize why he/she should upskill instead of being directed to enrol for training programs.  The coaching conversation will also empower the employee to move from a scarcity mindset to an abundance mindset by helping him/her come up with answers to coaching questions surrounding the resources he/she needs. The answers make him/ her accountable and also leave him/ her feeling empowered which definitely translates to action. Get Leader As Coach Program from Regal Unlimited Our Leader As Coach (LAC) program, our in-house curated premier leadership program based on ICF and EMCC frameworks helps embed a coaching culture in the organization . The Leader As Coach Program has empowered more than 1000 leaders to add coaching to their skill set. These Leaders, as coaches, have inspired and motivated their teams and transformed the fortunes of their organizations! 7 Reasons Why You Deserve our Leader As Coach Program 1. Get trained by Subash CV (MCC), a Leadership & Executive Coach, an INSEAD Alumnus, Founder and Managing Partner, Regal Unlimited, who has more than 21 years of industry experience as a corporate banker and leader. 2. This curated program offers 10 hours of concepts, theory, processes, and skills. We cover topics such as Level 5 Leadership, Emotional Quotient for Leaders, and Vulnerability & Authenticity for Leaders to Lead Organizations. 3. This one-of-a-kind program also offers 10 hours of mentored coaching practice with a Regal Coach. 4. We uphold the spirit of adult learning with assignments that enrich your learning experience. 5. A session of our flagship and critically acclaimed Regal @60 tool that helps you align your life with your personal and professional goals. 6. 1 hour of personal mentoring after 30 days of the courts to address roadblocks 7.  Access to our dynamic Regal Coaches Community with 300+ coaches who represent the cream of the coaching industry for continued learning. You can visit our webpage for more information on our Leader As Coach Program . FAQs Why Should a Leader Be a Coach? Daniel Goleman, a renowned author and science journalist, classified leadership styles based on emotional intelligence. The coaching leadership style is the leadership style for the 21st century. “It is not the strongest of the species that survives, nor the most intelligent that survives. It is the one that is most adaptable to change.”- Charles Darwin. In an ever-changing world, future-proofing one’s leadership is an obvious step. If you don’t adapt, you put yourself at risk of becoming irrelevant! Blackberry laughed at Apple when the latter launched the iPhone. Today, Blackberry has been reduced to a thing of the past. As companies pivot towards technology and agile teams, which is important, they risk ignoring the human aspect of the business. A lack of human touch in business will come back to bite a business sooner than expected. If technology and humanity go hand in hand, those are 2 Aces that will help you win again and again. Coaching Leadership style helps harmonize technology and the human touch which will place you far ahead of the competition. What Does It Mean for a Leader to Be a Coach? A leader, as a coach, lives the dream of every leader. Every leader wants his presence to be yearned for.  A leader, as a coach, would inspire people with his/ her presence. His/her team members would feel safe around him/her and would be encouraged to be open while communicating. The employees would tap into their potential and exceed their expectations personally and professionally. Work will transform into play. A stressful workplace becomes a happy workplace. The attrition rate goes down and employee loyalty goes up. A leader, as a coach, will groom future leaders too. He/she will not mind focusing the spotlight on the employees to celebrate their achievements. This will encourage the employees to scale greater heights. Why Is Coaching So Important? “Coaching is the future of leadership.”- Subash CV, Founder and Managing Partner, Regal Unlimited . The top 6 organizational benefits of a coaching leadership style are- Helps increase revenue/ margins Develops the leadership pipeline to create able successors Helps equip leaders and teams for change management Reduces or arrests attrition Improves team performance Develops healthy company culture You can read our blog addressing the same topic for further details. How Can Coaching Help Leaders? The personal benefits of leadership coaching are- ● Increased Self-Awareness ● Enhanced Self-Confidence ● Greater Focus and Building on Strengths ● Augmented Communication Skills The professional benefits of leadership coaching are that it- ● Brings New Perspectives ● Builds Executive Presence ● Improves Business Performance ● Improves Teamwork and Collaboration Why Is Being a Coach Important to You? Here are 8 reasons why as a leader, being a coach, is imperative for you- 1. Handling change and disruption 2. Enhances productivity 3. Improves collaboration 4. Problem-solving 5. Coaching culture 6. Achieve short-term and long-term goals 7. Adapt to the current workforce 8. Manage diversity You can read our blog addressing the same topic for further details.