‘Good Bye and thanks for all the fish!’

As I write this, I am watching the snow steadily falling onto a pristine white carpet in my garden. Living in rural Kent, we have managed to escape this over the last week. My 3 children have watched the news from Scotland and the North and East of England with mounting frustration, wondering when they would be able to build snowmen – and today they are getting their wish. Winter has come upon us fast. This important season of dormancy, when the plants shut down and conserve themselves, when things die back and withdraw, is well and truly here. This is the time when our thoughts turn to completion, reflection and consolidation, knowing that this is an essential time, and an important process, in advance of the next stage of planning and then visioning for the new year to come. It does seem to have arrived with a rush. And, I have to admit, I am really ready for it :o)

It has been an incredibly full year, and I am looking forward to some ‘time off for good behaviour’ and the chance to rest, reflect and consolidate the rich experiences of the last couple of years.

So this is the last UKICF Newsletter of 2010, and it is my last newsletter as President. By the time you read this (weather permitting) the 2010 UKICF board team will have had their last face to face meeting, and handed over to the incoming 2011 board team who will have met together for the very first time. The completion, review and celebration of the 2010 team, and the launch, connection and initiation of the new, is an essential part of life, and of our work as coaches. Doors need to close before new ones can open, and your UKICF board team have been mindfully undertaking this process to ensure the maximum insights and learning can be taken forward, the skills and knowledge that has been gained, and the connections and wisdom developed over the last few years, can be shared with the new 2011 team.

The new team is kicking off its own journey under Deborah Price’s able leadership and beginning to plan and build on what has gone before. They will share with you their plans early in 2011 and you will have a chance to get to know them soon. For this last newsletter I want to reflect on and complete the year, share some last pieces of information with you, and to acknowledge, say ‘au revoir’ and a huge ‘Thank you’ to all those who are completing their terms on the UKICF board and who have worked so hard on your behalf. I know you are all busy, especially at this time of year, and I do hope you take a minute to note the efforts of those who have been active in the UKICF Chapter.

Everyone is a volunteer. I’ll say that again, everyone is a volunteer.

I’m not sure how many times we have said this, and it still seems to surprise people. I realise this is still not always understood by the occasional frustrated email I receive from members when an enquiry hasn’t been instantly responded too. I try to (usually politely) explain that we also have our own practises and are not full time ICF people ;o) Everyone gives of their time for free. Everyone has busy lives, families and businesses. They are just like you. None of them is bored – and yet they have donated significant amounts of time, energy, skills and commitment to the ICF and the development of the coaching profession in the UK, Europe and Globally. Coaches are curious by nature, and many of you may well be wondering why on earth people do this? Why they donate precious time to serve and support their professional body? Well each of them has their own story and experiences to share as to why they have done it, and all the wonderful and unexpected gifts they have received from it.

For me, the experiences have been extraordinary, and varied. I’d like to share some of the ones that come most readily to mind for me, to give you a flavour.

I have:

• Met literally thousands of fantastic people from a vast range of countries and every region of the world.
• Learnt more about coaching and leadership than in any of my previous years of either coach training or my previous extensive business leadership experience.
  
• Developed a much deeper understanding and passion for the profession I love, and for my professional body.
• I now understand more about credentialing, ethics, accreditation, training and much, much more, than I ever dreamed possible.
• Have an appreciation of what stage of development the coaching profession is in the many different regions of the world, and of how it is likely to grow and develop.
• Have friends and colleagues all around the world, and can connect with an ICF member anywhere I go in the world.
• Have developed a huge range of new skills, including learning to write – ok poorly, but, I can now do it when once I wouldn’t even have tried ;o)
• I have been invited to present to and speak in front of a wide variety of audiences in the UK, Europe and beyond, including very large audiences on a global platform, about coaching and the UK coaching profession.
• Most importantly, I have made some deep friendships that I will treasure all my life.

It has been a massive learning curve, a huge stretch, a stimulating and rich experience, great fun, full of joy and laughter - and at times raised voices, frustration and tears - and an amazing journey. It has been a wonderful gift.

I invite each and every one of you to consider when you might dip your toe into this water, as I first did 4 years ago, and get more involved. You really do never know where it will take you :o)

And, just as importantly, I invite you to give your encouragement and support to all those members who have already ‘stepped up to the plate’ and are contributing to the ICF as UK board members, UKICF ambassadors, tele-class presenters, UK committee members, Global committee members and Global board members.

Thank you for being a part of my own rich experiences over the last 2 years, when I have been so privileged to be the UKICF President. I hope may ramblings about my garden and family have not been too annoying, and you have appreciated the metaphors and the connections I have been hoping to make. I now look forward to the next 2 years, as we build together as a UKICF chapter, and as a European coaching community, and a Global coaching community, towards hosting the ICF Global Summit in London in 2012, after the Olympics. I will be there, and I look forward to seeing you all there too.

Have a brilliant Christmas and a fantastic 2011.

Cheers KP