If there is one word & emotion that the world collectively experienced in the last 1.5 years it was – CHALLENGED. Irrespective of where we came from, how old we were, what we did for a living or what life-stage we were navigating, the pandemic era has challenged each of us in one way or the other.
We had to embrace new ways of working and being, and often that was not a smooth process. This sudden change jolted many of us, leaving us enveloped in a sense of discomfort and overwhelm, sometimes questioning the so-called “basics”. Irrespective, it was an opportunity of Growth – personal growth for individuals, and collective growth for groups, communities & nations.
This leaves us thinking, can there be a way to navigate collective transitions such as this with confidence, ease and grace? The recently concluded International Coaching Federation (ICF) India Conclave 2021 on the theme Coaching For Growth – Individuals, Teams, Organisations, Systems shone the light on questions such as this and more.
The Conclave, a flagship event of the International Coaching Federation, had growth and coaching at its heart, was a fully virtual and global coming together of the entire Coaching ecosystem. It was hosted by ICF Chennai chapter (www.icfchennai.com) in collaboration with other ICF chapters in India.
It had global business and thought-leaders, acclaimed and masterful coaches, experts and change-makers from different fields address the topic of growth – inner and outer, micro & macro, individual, team, organisational & systemic; and how Coaching could help. Especially in times like these, when Growth feels painful & uncomfortable, how can we embrace a Growth mindset & Future focus to rebuild ourselves with Resilience. How a Coaching approach can be a sustainable vehicle for growth even in difficult times.
ICF defines Professional Coaching as partnering with clients in a thought-provoking and creative process that inspires them to maximise their personal and professional potential. All of us have unlimited potential and are creative, resourceful and whole. Difficult times therefore require us to find ways to maximize our inner potential.
The 43 sessions in the 3-day Conclave witnessed 83 speakers who left participants feeling inspired, reflective and provoked! They were a rich mix of power-talks, coaching success stories, interactive panel discussions, dialogues and experiential masterclasses.
The topics ranged from nation building and economic self-reliance through coaching, coaching for resilience, coaching and supporting crisis-leadership, coaching and leadership, reframing professional and personal growth narratives through coaching, shifting the stress-needle through coaching, coaching and business excellence, coaching for performance, employability and career coaching, coaching for diverse and inclusive growth, value of coaching in organisations, team coaching, coaching for empowerment and more! The galaxy of star-studded speakers left the audience asking for more.(Check them out at https://coachingforgrowth2021.com/speakers/)
The conclave also offered participants an opportunity to experience a 60 min 1:1 coaching session with an ICF dredentialed coach, and a chance for virtual networking with coaches and other panelists. Aided by the power of technology, the conclave provided an experience that was as close to an in-person event, bringing together people from different parts of India and the world. This in itself was a growth opportunity for the way events at scale can be run creatively in our socially-distanced times!
ICF India Conclave 2021 was a learning opportunity for anyone who is seeking growth for themselves or for others. And for anyone curious to know more about Coaching, wanting to experience and discovering its many benefits. It was a celebration with 1300 registered participants, drawn from diverse fields – thought leaders, coaching practitioners, coaching clients from organisations as well as individuals, students, professionals, entrepreneurs and community activists from private, public, and not-for-profit development sectors, who came together to learn, share and connect. It also benefited organisations with a vision to build a growth culture and enable high performance
According to Conclave Chair MCC Vijayalakshmi S said the vision & essence of ICF India Conclave 2021 is inspired by the ICF’s vision of Coaching being an integral part of a thriving society.
“We aim to create Coaching Awareness in the region across different sections of society. The conclave showcased the power and potential of ‘Coaching for Growth’ and why the world needs this direction now, more than ever! We believe that a combination of coaching and a growth mindset would address the global crisis being dealt with from early 2020. CFG ITOS was a rare opportunity to connect and partner with the entire coaching ecosystem – bringing together coaches, clients, sponsors, stakeholders, coaching aspirants and enthusiasts, under one roo,” said Vijayalakshmi S.
She said ICF India conclave offered this world-class learning event at a minimal cost (only covering infra-tech charges), to ensure that ICF could make coaching inclusive & accessible for all, in these difficult times. “We also supported students, seniors and those who has an economic constraint with sponsored tickets,” said Vijayalakshmi S.
ABOUT ICF
Founded in 1995, The International Coaching Federation (ICF) is the world’s largest organization leading the global advancement of the coaching profession and fostering coaching’s role as an integral part of a thriving society.
With 41,500-plus members located in more than 150 countries and territories, ICF is dedicated to advancing the coaching profession by setting high ethical standards, providing independent certification, and building a worldwide network of credentialed coaches across a variety of coaching disciplines.
