ICA Graduate Power Tools

A Coaching Power Tool By Cristina Ficetti
Life Coach, ITALY

Avvicinarsi al coaching significa voler ottenere un cambiamento, evolvere in una direzione spesso sconosciuta ed è normale che questo possa spaventare e creare uno stato di indecisione. L’indecisione e l’indeterminatezza in un processo di coaching possono essere sfide comuni sia per il coach che per il cliente. Questa situazione può derivare da una serie di fattori, tra cui la complessità del problema, le emozioni coinvolte o la mancanza di chiarezza nei risultati desiderati. Nella mia esperienza personale ho individuato come il passaggio all’azione e lo sbloccarsi della situazione possa avvenire nel cliente grazie all’adozione di una pratica intenzionale. Il percorso di coaching diventa così un vero e proprio accompagnamento del cliente alla definizione e realizzazione di una o più intenzioni.

A Coaching Power Tool By Hang Do
Career Coach for Young Adults, FRANCE

The Area of Weakness vs. Area of Improvement power tool was inspired by two typical job interview questions: “What is your weakness?” and “What is your area for improvement?”. Candidates frequently react in the same way to these questions. However, the phrasing might affect us and change our perception of ourselves. The traditional notion of “weaknesses” as irreversible flaws may be damaging, especially for young adults and international students pursuing professional integration. People, on the other hand, can turn their weaknesses into opportunities for personal development by adopting a growth mindset and positive psychology, as well as flipping this viewpoint. I wish to help more people realize their full potential by adopting the “Area of Improvement” flipped mindset. Embracing one’s flaws as stepping stones to becoming the best version of oneself is more essential than attempting to eradicate one’s flaws.

A Coaching Power Tool By TM George
Executive Coach, AUSTRALIA

The Control vs. Vulnerability Power Tool will be useful to support our executive clients, as many executives still think that control is necessary for success. Success and power depend on one’s capacity to maintain control over their surroundings and subordinates. It was considered a sign of weakness to be open or to communicate one’s emotions. During the coaching conversations, it is usually possible to gain insights into the client’s attitude and beliefs. There is undoubtedly a chance to go deeper into the subject with the client if they stand to gain from a change in viewpoint and beliefs as well as assistance in acquiring the knowledge and abilities that could enable them to be more genuine employees.

A Coaching Power Tool By Michal Antczak
Leadership Coach, FRANCE

Using the Blending in vs. Belonging power tool, the client must understand that while it’s normal for most people to want to feel as if they belong, this desire is different from the need to fit in. The coach should support the client in exploring the distinctions between the two ideas throughout the coaching sessions, ensuring that the conversation is based on the client’s values, personality, and preferred behaviors. Ask them to point out the instances of outward compliance that make them feel stressed or anxious, whether it has to do with attempting to fit in with the standards of their social group(s) or meeting expectations from others.

A Coaching Power Tool By Marie Romero
Leadership Coach, UNITED STATES

Using the Acceptance vs. Rejection power tool in my ICA journey and personal development, I’ve discovered how many problems are common to all humans. It could be a desire for understanding or respect, clarity, increased confidence, or the ability to face concerns. We seem to go through a lot of the same experiences at some point. Fortunately, coaching enables us to investigate, comprehend, resolve, and accomplish some of those problems or objectives. I became aware that I was impeding my own progress during my one-on-one coaching sessions. As I began to understand myself better, I saw that I, too, had some deeply held ideas and was afraid. I made the decision to put my peer coaches and clients to the test with this new power tool.

A Coaching Power Tool By Bemene Piaro
Transformational Life Coach, UNITED STATES

The difference between a driver’s seat vs. passenger’s seat is that the former refers to the perception that one lacks the power or ability to act independently. In control, one has the conviction that one is aware of the best course of action or how to resolve a problem. Feeling capable, resourceful, and supported in a situation or event. Acts or ideas that shift the focus from being in the passenger seat to being in the driver’s seat. It takes willpower to seize the wheel and choose your own route; everyone may be a passenger. A passenger is just a travel companion. Put simply, when you react, you are in the passenger seat of your life rather than the driver’s seat!

A Coaching Power Tool By Lauren Purse
Transition Coach, NEW ZEALAND

The Criticism vs. Kindness coaching power tool was inspired by my personal decision to treat myself with kindness instead of criticism. I had effectively coached myself, changing my harsh words to compassionate ones, and it had fundamentally altered my perspective. My inner critic was no longer holding me back. Similar to the history of my power tool, many of us critique ourselves first when we run into difficulties coming up with ideas, making decisions, or organizing our actions. We frequently judge and criticize ourselves more harshly than we do other people. Rather than being kind to ourselves at these times, we criticize, which frequently starts a negative thinking loop and makes us feel imprisoned by our inner critic (Walzer, 1987).

A Coaching Power Tool By Margaret Schultz
Leadership Coach, UNITED STATES

Because I have so much on my plate these days and am frequently overwhelmed, I designed this Overwhelm vs. Wholeness Power Tool. At times, it all seems overwhelming and unmanageable. I feel disoriented and unable to think straight far too often. I lost my confidence, my ability to reason, and the ability to solve problems appears unachievable. I’m presuming I’m not the only one who has these thoughts. For me, this Power Tool has been really empowering. With the use of this instrument, I am able to reestablish a connection with my entire self, which in turn facilitates reconnection with self-acceptance and the understanding that I am enough and equipped to proceed. As coaches, it is our job to use impactful questions to push our clients to acknowledge their fullness and completion.

A Coaching Power Tool By Richard Lefort
Life Path Coach, CANADA

Let’s compare the outcomes of being in a state of Obliviousness vs. Awareness. It seems to me that lack of awareness manifests itself in many ways, sometimes small, sometimes huge, both for myself and those around me I witness every day. These are just two examples of self-awareness; don’t forget about your awareness of the external environment around you. This idea may all sound a little “cheesy” or unrealistic, but I promise that over time when you navigate the world with attention and intention, there is a balance in the world that will return to you the energy that you give to it.

A Coaching Power Tool By Warren Dix
Personal Change Coach, NETHERLANDS

The expression “Need to vs. Get To” was frequently used by a client. They didn’t realize that any attitude they had—one that was based on a “need to”—made the perspective shift virtually impossible. Understanding the limitations of the language that led to a fixed mindset became the focus of this multi-layered session, which only addressed the beliefs or perspectives maintained after that. Again using the quote, start with your thoughts. That prompts the question, “Why is there a disconnect?” The short answer is that our diversity of viewpoints is what makes us special. We develop via a variety of lessons and subsequent insights. Our diversity of viewpoints is what makes us special, but what do we genuinely “Need to vs. Get To”?

A Coaching Power Tool By Nicole Paul
Leadership Coach, UNITED STATES

The power tool of empathy vs. detachment can be helpful when dealing with people who are struggling with their group and drifting into detachment, consciously or unconsciously. By using this tool, people can better grasp the empathy gap, the value of empathy, how it works in high-performing teams, and how to incorporate empathy into their leadership style. There are many ways coaches can use this powerful tool (hybrid coaching) to help leaders who may struggle with empathy, helping them recognize the value of empathy and begin to build empathy as a leadership competency. Start with oneself first. Ask the client about their preferred management style and their experiences working under various leadership philosophies.

A Coaching Power Tool By Ricky Koo
Leadership Coach, UNITED STATES

The difference between Passive vs. PassiON: Being passive is something we usually feel in situations where there is a lot of negativity or when we are feeling helpless. To avoid harm or “losing,” we disengage out of self-preservation and protection. Changing from passive to PassiON helped me discover my calling in life, as well as what I wanted to accomplish with my special insight and capacity to articulate my feelings clearly in writing that benefited other people. My writing moved me ahead more and more as more people read it and got in touch with me. People still spark that fire in me today with the numerous personal tales and insights they offer after reading my work.