President's Message from Lori Candela
Lori Candela | Published on 4/4/2023
Hello Amazing Coaches,
There is a lot that is happening this month. The United Nations designated April 21 as World Creativity and Innovation Day “to raise the awareness of the role of creativity and innovation in all aspects of human development.” As coaches, we can all feel connected to this day. 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 process of coaching often unlocks previously untapped sources of imagination, productivity, and leadership.” The benefits are many. In her article, The Role of Creativity in the Coaching Process, Nour Azhari, ACC, shares that “Research shows that behaving creatively is associated with increased positive emotions, decreased stress and depressive symptoms, and even an improved immune system.” What wonderful outcomes! I would love to hear about the tools and techniques that you use to inspire creativity and innovation with your clients. Let’s engage on social media. You can find us on LinkedIn, Facebook, or Instagram.
April 22 is Earth Day. This year’s theme is Invest in Our Planet. I have a lovely memory from years ago. After the Memorial Day Parade in our town, I noticed my 7-year-old son walking on the town green, bag in hand, picking up litter that was left behind. When I asked what he was doing, he explained he was upset that people would leave trash behind, which was not good for the earth (It was a proud mom moment!) A gentleman overheard and thanked my son for caring about our environment and handed him a dollar bill. While my son appreciated the kind gesture, he felt deeply about protecting our land, and he still does today. Is there something that you would like to do to create awareness about sustainability and the environment? Check out the Earth Day website.
This year’s International Coaching Week (ICW) is also approaching, from May 8 -14, a week when coaches across the globe celebrate “the power and impact of professional coaching.” ICF Global offers a variety of events and resources that week, and so does our chapter! Our ICW 2023 committee is very busy creating an amazing week filled with activities, events, and resources for our members. As one activity, we are offering pro bono coaching to the community and our fellow coaches , an effort well-received in the past. We encourage you to sign up here. Our ICW Committee will be providing you with a social media toolkit, including creative images and customizable content, to help you promote this offering and your coaching services during ICW. The deadline to register as a pro bono coach is April 8. I hope you will join me!
You can learn more about ICW and other chapter goings-on at the upcoming Coach Café on April 5, 8:30am. Register here to attend, or on our ICF-CT.org website under Event Calendar.
Wishing you a wonderful Spring!
Lori