In this webinar, the speaker, Vijayalakshmi S, MCC explores the Coaching Mindset, a key foundational component of the Updated ICF Core Competency Model. In the discussion, she will share her experiences & perspectives on: – The importance of this competency to the being of a coach & coaching mastery – How a coach can develop & embody it – The role of Awareness, Reflection, Learning and Being Fit for purpose About the Speaker: Viji is the founder of CoachConsult, an integrated Executive & Leadership Wellness coaching practice. She also serves as President-Elect, ICF Chennai Chapter. To connect with Viji, reach out to her on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/vijimcc

1. Leading with a
Coaching Mindset
Vijayalakshmi S, MCC
March 25, 2020
Coacharya Mastery in LeadershipThrough Coaching Series

2. What is Mindset?
A person’s set of attitudes, way of thinking, inclination or mental state
about something
A collection of thoughts and beliefs that shape one’s world view
Synonyms: Outlook; Mentality

3. And, Coaching Mindset?
One’s outlook, way of thinking and beliefs about coaching
The coach’s mind

4. What does Coaching truly mean to me?
What is my “Coaching-Why”?
Who is the Coach I wish to be?
Ask yourself…

5. Mindset & Leadership
Mindset gets you to figure out
Who you are
Where you are going &Why
And,
demonstrate Personal Mastery or Self-Leadership*
*The practice of intentionally influencing your thinking, feeling and actions towards your
objective(s)
- Self-Leadership, Bryant and Kazan, 2012

6. Competency Clusters – Old CCs
SETTINGTHE FOUNDATION
• Meeting Ethical Guidelines and Professional
Standards
• Establishing the Coaching Agreement
CO-CREATINGTHE RELATIONSHIP
• EstablishingTrust and Intimacy with the Client
• Coaching Presence
COMMUNICATING EFFECTIVELY
• Active Listening
• Powerful Questioning
• Direct Communication
FACILITATING LEARNING & RESULTS
• Creating Awareness
• Designing Actions
• Planning and Goal Setting
• Managing Progress and Accountability

7. Competency Clusters – Updated CCs
FOUNDATION
• Demonstrates Ethical Practice
• Embodies a Coaching Mindset
CO-CREATINGTHE RELATIONSHIP
• Establishes and Maintains Agreements
• Cultivates Trust and Safety
• Maintains Presence
COMMUNICATING EFFECTIVELY
• Listens Actively
• Evokes Awareness
CULTIVATING LEARNING & GROWTH
• Facilitates Client Growth
The Being of
the Coach
The Doing of
Coaching

8. Competency Clusters - Compared
New CCs
▪ Foundation
▪ Co-creating the Relationship
▪ Communicating Effectively
▪ Cultivating Learning and Growth
Old CCs
▪ Setting the Foundation
▪ Co-creating the Relationship
▪ Communicating Effectively
▪ Facilitating Learning & Results
• Broad Clusters unchanged
• Foundational cluster to include Coaching Mindset
• Coaching Agreements now a part of Co-creating the relationship (Doing)
• Evoking Awareness (Includes Creating awareness, Powerful questioning & Direct
communication) now a part of Communicating Effectively

9. Embodies a Coaching Mindset
Updated ICF Core Competency Model – Nov 2019

10. Definition
Develops and maintains a mindset that is open, curious, flexible and
client-centered
The WHO
of the Coach
Embodiment – the representation or expression of something in a tangible or visible form.
COACHING
MINDSET

11. Competency Markers
1. Acknowledges that clients are responsible for their own choices
2. Engages in ongoing learning and development as a coach
3. Develops an ongoing reflective practice to enhance one's coaching
4. Remains aware of and open to the influence of context and culture on self
and others
5. Uses awareness of self and one's intuition to benefit clients
6. Develops and maintains the ability to regulate one's emotions
7. Mentally and emotionally prepares for sessions
8. Seeks help from outside sources when necessary

12. Building Blocks
▪ Appreciating client autonomy
▪ Ongoing learning & development
▪ Developing reflective practice
▪ Contextual & Cultural Awareness - Self & Systemic
▪ Being Fit for Purpose & Self Care – Mental & Emotional Preparedness

13. Coaching Mindset – PCC (Old) Markers Reference
Element References
Client Autonomy Creating the Coaching
Agreement
Creating Trust &
Intimacy
Coaching
Presence
Managing
Progress &
Accountability
Ongoing Learning &
Development
ICF Code of Ethics (S.5)
Ongoing Reflective
Practice
Cultural / Contextual
Awareness & Openness
on Self & Others
Creating Awareness
(Client totality,
connections & threads)
Coaching Presence
(Who, how, what)
Active Listening
(Context)
Usage of Coach’s Intuition Direct Communication Creating Awareness Coaching
Presence (Gut)
Developing & Maintaining
Emotional Regulation
Direct Communication
(Non attached)
Creating Trust &
Intimacy (vulnerability)
Mental & Emotional
Preparation
Seeking Outside Help ICF Code of Ethics

14. Contexting within the Updated
CCs
CultivatesTrust & Safety; Maintains Presence

15. Cultivates Trust & Safety
Partners with the client to create a safe, supportive environment that
allows the client to share freely. Maintains a relationship of mutual
respect and trust.
▪ Creates a safe, supportive environment
▪ Respects whole person of the client
▪ Acknowledges the work of the client in the process
Client Context – Includes identity, environment, experiences, values & beliefs
Adaptability – Adapts one’s coaching to the client
Vulnerability – Demonstrating openness & transparency

16. Maintains (Coaching) Presence
Is fully conscious and present with the client, employing a style that is
open, flexible, grounded and confident
▪ Maintains full focus on the client (client-centered)
▪ Demonstrates curiosity (comfort with not-knowing)
▪ Manages emotions (self & client)
▪ Creates space for reflection
Grounded – Being centered, Being fully conscious & present to what’s going on around you , calm, stable

17. Reference in Other Competencies
▪ Culture & Context – Listens Actively (Client systems & context)
▪ Promotes client autonomy - Facilitates Client Growth
▪ Flexibility (Adjusts the coaching approach in response to client’s
needs) & Client Centered (Considering client experience) – Evokes
Awareness

18. Coaching Mindset - Notes
▪ Seemingly new competency but not really or entirely new
▪ The embodiment or showing up of this competency across the
session & engagement in other competencies
▪ Focus on Partnership – Honoring client autonomy
▪ Culture & Context – Broader approach to client & coaching goal
▪ May not see demonstrated evidence (clear or tangible) within a
coaching session; Assessment may have to be done via knowledge
test (CKA?)
▪ Interplay between mindset and embodiment

19. Mindset and Embodiment
Vulnerable
Aware & Intuitive
Appreciates
System & Context
Embraces
Partnership &
Autonomy
Reflects, learns &
grows
Grounded
Sharpens the saw
Emotionally
Intelligent
Fit for purpose /
Cares for self
Confident

20. Developing & Maintaining a Coaching Mindset
Exploring The How
• What kinds of learning?
• Does learning go beyond coaching skills & coaching?
• What can build a coach’s critical thinking?Thought-provoking
conversations?
• How can a coach learn to facilitate creativity in the coaching context?
• Awareness of one’s own learning style
Ongoing Learning
& Development
as a Coach
• What could a coach reflect upon?
• Reflections on a session; an engagement; across sessions; across engagements
• Reflections on Coaching competencies
• Reflections on one’s emotions & vulnerability
• Focus on building self awareness
• Focus on sharpening the saw every time
• The role of Supervision
Ongoing
Reflective
Practice

21. Developing & Maintaining a Coaching Mindset
Exploring The How
• What kind of interactions can enable varied cultural & contextual
appreciation?
• How can a coach develop an appreciative inquiry process?
• What opportunities can allow for experiencing debate & dissent? Are
we comfortable with that?
• Influence of our own context & culture on our thinking & being
Contextual &
Cultural
Awareness
• How does a coach Mentally prepare for a session?
• How does a coach Emotionally prepare for a session?
• How does one manage emotion and show up authentically at the
same time?
• Who is a coach’s support system? Who are the professionals and
others a coach can seek help from?
Fit for Purpose &
Self Care – Mental
& Emotional
Preparedness

22. Coaching Mindset - Mastery
▪ The being of the coach;TheWho
▪ Coach Development –Work in Progress
▪ Understanding totality – of the client and of the partnership
▪ Pursuing depth
▪ Vulnerable, “Not-knowing” curious Natural, easy, confident
▪ Reflected in MCC level competencies – Coach’s “Being” shows up as
“Doing”

23. MCC CC Rating Level
Trust & Intimacy Coaching Presence
Coach is comfortable not knowing as one of
the best states to expand awareness in.
Coach is a completely connected observer to
client.
Coach is willing to be vulnerable with client
and have client be vulnerable with coach.
The connection is to whole of who client is,
how the client learns, what the client has to
teach the coach.
Coach is confident in self, process, and the
client as a full partner in the relationship
The coach is ready to be touched by the client
and welcomes signals that create resonance
for both the coach and client.
Sense of complete ease and naturalness in
conversation; coach does not have to “work”
to coach
The coach evidences a complete curiosity that
is undiluted by a need to perform.
The coach is in fully partnered conversation
with client.

24. MCC CC Rating Level
Active Listening Powerful Questioning
The coach recognizes both hers and the
client’s ability of intuitive and energetic
perception that is felt when the client speaks
of important things, when new growth is
occurring for the client, and when the client is
finding a more powerful sense of self.
The coach is fully based in curiosity and the
coach does not ask questions to which the
coach knows the answer.
The coach hears the totality of the client’s
greatness and gifts as well as limiting beliefs
and patterns
The coach is not afraid of questions that will
make either the coach or the client or both
uncomfortable.
The coach’s listening is cumulative from
session to session and throughout each
individual session.

25. MCC CC Rating Level
Direct Communication Creating Awareness
The coach easily and freely shares what is so
for the coach without attachment
The coach’s invitation to exploration precedes
and is significantly greater than invitation to
solution.
The coach shares directly and simply and often
incorporates the client’s language
The coach appears as much an explorer as
well as client.
The coach fully trusts the client to choose the
responses to the coach’s communication that
is best for the client.
The coach has not concluded what awareness
should be (coach is willing not to know).
The coach has a broad language base to use
and play with and uses the client’s language to
broaden that base.
The coach allows client to make coach aware
and the client’s voice more prevalent than
coach’s.
There is a lovely sense of connected
observation of totality of who client is and
what client wants, sharing that with client,
and creating space for client to share back.

26. Thank you for your interest &
presence!
If you’d like to continue the conversation or discuss coaching in general,
reach out to me – viji@coachconsult.in +91 98400 50011