I usually use this blog as a way to share some thoughts on my work and theories around it. This week I will be doing another kind of blogging, sharing the converge experience hoping to spread some of the inspiration and learning I am in for.
ICF, International Coach Federation, runs a bi-annual global conference bringing together speakers, researchers and experienced coaches to elevate the industry knowledge. We call it ICF Converge and this year it kicks off in Prague October 23-26. I am here getting ready for a few intense days of learning, sharing and networking.
Sitting here with a mangojuice-coconut milk drink waiting for a plate of Japanese inspired duck breast wok at restaurant Yum-Yum could be “because I’m worth it” as the ad message goes. That’s me taking care of myself, enjoying a good meal and the atmosphere of a new city. But the actual fact that I am investing time and money to attend ICF conferences regularly is because my clients are worth it!
One of the things coaching entrepreneurs has taught me is that to be the coach they need I really have to be at the top of my game. Constantly developing, challenging myself and staying alert to match them. My clients need me to be present, updated, grounded and skillful in my craft, coaching them through the diversity and fast movements of daily life as an entrepreneur, a leader, a teacher. Facing challenges, taking on chances and growing beyond where they have ever been before. That’s why I am holding my own development a high priority and one way of doing it is being here.
An ICF Converge conference is a melting pot of front line research, new tools and practices, exchange of experience and influences from around the globe. I spent my afternoon trying to finalize my schedule, really making those last choices between competing interesting presentations - and ended up with a couple of slots still double marked. I guess I will simply have to go on chance, intuition or whatever is closest to where I am by that time caught up in an interesting conversation. *smiling*
Come join me at a distance, I’ll try to share some flavors of my week in a daily summary here.
And for those of you who are here in Prague too - come say hello live, I would love to meet you!
/Lena
