In addition to Alexandra Niño (PER), Daniel Álvarez Lamas (ESP), Alejandro Feiges (ARG), Marcela Parga (ESP), Sonia Colombo (DOM), Karina Pittini (URY/CHL), Raechel Ford (NZL), Ronald Granthon (PER), Luis Alfredo Pulido (COL), Virginia Pardo Camacho (COL), Guillermo Mendoza (USA) and Manolo Sarmiento (COL), we will have more excellent contributions from ICC Trainers in the coming weeks.

Coaching & AI

by Alexandra Niño, ICC trainer from Peru

Coaching can be very effective in developing skills that cannot yet be fully replicated by artificial intelligence (AI). Some of these skills include:

• Empathy and emotional understanding: Although AI can analyze data and patterns, it still lacks the ability to genuinely empathize and understand human emotions.
• Interpersonal communication skills: Coaching offers opportunities to improve face-to-face communication, active listening, and the ability to build personal relationships—skills that are essential in many human contexts and cannot be matched by AI.
• Creativity and innovative thinking: While AI can generate ideas from existing data, it still cannot match the human capacity for creativity and generating innovative ideas.
• Self-awareness and self-management: Coaching promotes personal reflection, self-knowledge, and the development of self-management skills, which are essential for personal and professional growth.
• Adaptability and flexibility: Although AI can adapt to certain predefined contexts, the ability to adapt to new and changing situations is a fundamental human skill that can be developed through coaching.
• Conflict resolution: Coaching can help people develop skills to resolve conflicts constructively, understanding different perspectives and seeking solutions that benefit all parties involved.
• Leadership and motivation: Through coaching, individuals can improve their ability to inspire and motivate others, as well as develop effective leadership skills that foster team growth and success.
• Ethical decision-making: Coaching can provide a space to reflect on personal and ethical values, as well as develop skills to make difficult decisions that consider not only practical outcomes but also moral and social impacts.
• Resilience and stress management: Coaching sessions can help individuals strengthen their ability to handle stress, adapt to adversity, and recover from challenges more effectively, thereby promoting emotional resilience.
• Networking and collaboration: Through coaching, individuals can improve their skills to establish and maintain strong relationships, as well as collaborate effectively in multidisciplinary teams, which is crucial in work and social environments.

Coaching focuses on comprehensive human development, addressing emotional, social, and cognitive aspects that are still beyond the reach of artificial intelligence in its current form.

Alexandra Niño is an ICC trainer from Peru, an expert in purpose, creativity, possibility, disruption, and also in AI in the field of Human Development.

Are you able to concentrate on something for 30 seconds without getting distracted?

by Daniel Álvarez Lamas, ICC trainer from Spain

If you want to develop your #attention, a crucial skill in today’s world, it’s easier than you think! Try these simple steps to train it daily:

1. Take 10 minutes for yourself. Smile and immerse yourself in the present moment. Enjoy it.
2. Connect with your breathing and feel each part of your body, from your feet to your head.
3. Notice how your breath flows smoothly through your nostrils.
4. Observe 10 or 21 breaths, repeating if you have time.
5. Finish with a smile and thank yourself for this moment of calm and peace.

When would you like to do it?

Daniel Álvarez Lamas is an ICC trainer from Spain, an expert in mental training, meditation, life coaching, high performance and well-being. Founder of the Ben Pensante Institute.

Have you ever wondered why giving feedback can feel like navigating a minefield?

by Alejandro Feiges, ICC trainer from Argentina

Feedback is vital in any professional setting, especially for leaders. But how can you ensure that your feedback is not only heard but also received and applied effectively?

The GROW model, a great formula for effective feedback:

1. G: Goal – What is your objective with this feedback?
2. R: Reality – What is the current situation?
3. O: Options – What improvement alternatives can be considered?
4. W: Will – What commitment to action can be established?

This model not only structures your feedback conversations but also makes them participative and focused on mutual growth. By adopting the GROW model, you create a safe space for dialogue and continuous improvement, ensuring that each feedback session is a step towards success.

Alejandro Feiges is an ICC trainer from Argentina, an expert in Executive Coaching, Team Coaching, team development and facilitation, Soft Skills development for leaders, and Coaching Supervision and Mentoring.

Conflict Management and Mediation through Coaching

by Marcela Parga, ICC trainer from Spain

Conflict is present in our lives and in our relationships.

No two people are alike, so there are no identical ways of understanding life, communicating, or relating.
Disagreements and misalignments are absolutely normal and necessary; however, we have been taught to interpret conflict situations as problems that need solving, when in reality, they are just “scenarios” from which we can learn and evolve in terms of our thinking, behavior, and even understanding of our emotional state.

By combining Coaching with Mediation, we can train communication and emotional management skills so you can transform your own conflicts and become an authentic facilitator. This way, you can help others experiencing conflict to listen, communicate, and understand each other as they never have before.

Conflict Management and Mediation through Coaching operates from two scenarios to facilitate its integration:
1. Internal: Transforming your own conflicts
2. Facilitator: Facilitating the transformation of others’ conflicts

I invite you to explore these two aspects within yourself:
• How do you communicate with yourself in conflict situations?
• How do you help others when they are in conflict with someone?

Marcela Parga is an ICC trainer from Spain, an expert in Conflict Mediation through coaching, and in integrating coaching tools into any profession.

Have you ever wondered about the greatness of the map of our actions as coaching professionals?

by Sonia Colombo, ICC trainer from the Dominican Republic

Let me tell you:

A little over 20 years ago, I began my training, my career, and lifelong learning as a coach. At that time, I understood that BEING a Coach was about helping others build that desired idea of being better people. I still believe this, but today I see great opportunities to expand my presence in a world of needs, where the ethical framework and professionalism allow me to support the awakening of consciousness, transform realities, and enable others (people, teams, and organizations) to learn how to learn!

My understanding of this new reality of Coaching has been shaped by my active practice of being an “explorer” of knowledge and other practices, which allow me to ask a very powerful question: “What would happen if I shared this learning?”
This practice has allowed me to expand my range of approaches and resonance, being generous with knowledge. My clients enjoy listening to other varied, diverse, and sometimes disruptive melodies.

Another resource to expand my map of BEING a Coach is to enrich and sharpen the awareness that my environment has a high need to learn something that is there, but they are not seeing it… or worse yet…, they believe they cannot learn or be different. As a coach, I generate possibilities to awaken to that reality!

Individually, in teams, and in organizations, our BEING a Coach becomes great. We become highly impactful in the lives of our clients when, clearly, intentionally, and with respect for the person, we support the construction of broader, more diverse worlds that can accompany others in building more inviting and brighter futures. But I do not lose sight of the fact that this is built from the change in our own beliefs to be able to support the change in other beliefs. This is your challenge and the challenge for everyone!

Sonia Colombo is an ICC trainer from the Dominican Republic. She follows a path that reinforces the work of consciousness and beliefs, the construction of individual and collective learning, and the transformation of traditional education models, which is the area she is currently focused on.

Take care of your body and mind from within!

by Karina Pittini, ICC trainer from Uruguay and Chile

Did you know that your body hosts more bacteria than cells? Incredible but true! These bacteria, known as the microbiota, are essential allies for your physical and mental health.

Dr. Dolores de la Puerta, an expert in microbiota, reveals that we are as microbial as we are human. The gut microbiota, in particular, is a fascinating ecosystem composed of billions of microorganisms living in symbiosis with us.

When this community of bacteria functions harmoniously (eubiosis), we enjoy mental, emotional, and physical health. On the other hand, if there is an imbalance (dysbiosis), problems such as inflammation, chronic diseases, and even mental issues can arise.

What can we do to take care of our microbiota?
– Healthy eating: Nourish your body with foods rich in fiber, prebiotics, and probiotics.
– Regular exercise: Get moving! Physical activity benefits your gut microbiota.
– Stress management: Stress can negatively affect gut bacteria. Practice relaxation techniques such as yoga or meditation.
– Quality sleep: Good sleep is essential for overall health and your microbiota.
– Avoid excessive sugar and processed foods.

Remember! Your health is in your hands. Take care of your microbiota and enjoy a fuller, healthier life.

Share this post with your friends and family so they can also take care of their microbiota!

Karina Pittini is an ICC trainer from Uruguay and Chile, Director of the HCC Academy. She is a psychologist, coach, columnist, and speaker. She is pursuing a master’s degree in Psychoneuroimmunoendocrinology and is an inspiring leader in human and organizational development. Passionate and committed to people, health, well-being, happiness, and development.

Wondering about the sweet spot between rapport and accountability in coaching?

by Raechel Ford, ICC trainer from New Zealand

Rapport lays the groundwork for deep, transformative chats with your clients. It’s like a warm hug, setting the stage for trust and openness. But let’s not stop there. As coaches, we also need to bring in some gentle nudges towards action. The most effective coaches balance warmth with accountability and even a gentle push, to help clients turn intentions into action.

So, how do we strike that balance? Accountability kicks in towards the session’s end with practical questions like “What’s your next step?” or “How committed are you?” It then rolls into the next session with us following up on what has been achieved, keeping the momentum alive.

To keep the rapport flowing, John Polemis suggests asking a simple yet powerful question: “How can I support your goals while holding you accountable?“

Raechel Ford is an ICC Trainer from New Zealand.

What would you do if you could have more extra hours in the day?

by Ronald Granthon, ICC trainer from Peru

Can you imagine having a 30-hour day?

It’s very common to hear people say they don’t have enough time to do the activities they’d like to. It’s inevitable to feel that time slips through our fingers, leaving us with a to-do list and unfulfilled dreams. It’s possible, dear reader, that you also identify with the feeling that there are never enough hours in the day for everything you want to accomplish.

Take a moment to reflect: What would you do if you had 4 or 6 extra hours in your daily routine?

Surely, there are various activities you’d like to undertake. But is it really impossible to have a 30-hour day? Surprisingly, the answer is no!
And furthermore, the solution is within your reach!

Studies conducted by experts like Olivero, Bane, and Kopelman in the United States, as well as research carried out by the consulting firm Crecimiento Sustentable in Mexico, reveal that it’s possible to significantly increase our productivity. How? Through training and coaching.
According to these studies, job training can increase productivity by 22%, but when combined with coaching, this percentage skyrockets to 88%! Additionally, it has been proven that happy people are 88% more productive than those who are not.
What does this 88% increase in productivity mean in practical terms? Imagine that with just 8 hours of work, you can achieve the same as you would in 15 hours. That’s equivalent to gaining 7 additional hours of work in a single day! In other words, with just 4 hours of work, you could accomplish what you would normally do in almost 8 hours. Plus, you would be in a better mood to interact more positively with your loved ones and work team.

So, how can you start gaining more time for yourself, your work, and your loved ones? The answer lies in following a coaching process that helps you improve your motivation, happiness, and productivity. Imagine having more hours in your life to dedicate to what you desire most!
If you’re ready, contact me. I am here to help you discover the potential within you and start an exciting journey to transform your time and your life.

Ronald Granthon is an ICC Trainer from Peru, an expert in Executive Coaching, Leadership, Purpose, Happiness, and Productivity. He enjoys working with Leadership and the development of soft skills, Coaching in the training of people, and Belief Transformation. Founder of Gran-Pro Coaching.

The HOWs in Coaching

by Luis Alfredo Pulido, ICC trainer from Colombia

The practice of coaching is becoming increasingly challenging and demanding, pushing us to continually train and update ourselves.

Is our basic knowledge of coaching sufficient to face these challenges?

I confess that when I started my journey as a coach, I wanted to strictly adhere to the methodology I had learned and apply it by the book. Throughout my coaching career, I often found myself facing the dilemma of seeing my client (coachee) blocked when they discovered what to do… but not knowing HOW to do it!

I was really frustrated by the impotence I felt as a coach when I saw my client stuck, eager to resolve the situation but lacking the tools to do so, while I had those tools. I often wondered if, once my client discovered what they wanted to do, giving them a tool to achieve it would interfere with their process. Was it inappropriate? Did it go against the coaching code of ethics?

Some advocate for the purity of coaching and consider the use of complementary tools or methodologies inappropriate, arguing that these tools could be directive and invasive in the process.

It made more noise for me to know, understand, and manage my own toolbox and how useful they had been for my own growth processes.

So, one day I took the plunge and started using some tools within the coaching processes. I immediately verified that providing a tool to my client that allowed them to advance in their process was not only useful and beneficial for them but was also correct and did not interfere with their free will. It was just a means to use in an action previously established or discovered by them.

Nowadays, I use tools such as:
– Lego Serious Play, which allows the client to build a model and express themselves through it, answering the question posed.
– Visual Thinking with Open Cards, which I use, though there are many more options on the market. These cards give the client a wide range of alternatives; by seeing so many concepts and ideas that they might not remember at the moment, they can choose what makes the most sense to them and decide what actions to take.

And others, such as templates, mind maps, graphics, NLP, Agile methodologies, and Facilitation, among others, to speed up the client’s processes and actions.

The results are great: they accelerate the process, facilitate actions, shorten the timeframes, and best of all, the client sees results in a shorter period.

My colleague Sara Bartol from Spain contributes these wise and appropriate words to this article:
“I invest valuable time explaining, in the Coaching Agreement with the client, my way of working. I contextualize what coaching is and the difference with other disciplines. I clarify that we are going to start a coaching process and ask for their approval to use other complementary techniques when I believe they can add to the process.”

Dear colleague, I encourage you to step out of your comfort zone, explore the world, and learn new methods and methodologies that allow you to leverage the coaching process and the growth of your client and yourself.

Luis Alfredo Pulido is an ICC Trainer in Colombia. He is an expert in leadership issues with his brand LIDERHAZLO.

Practical Neuroscience applied to Coaching

by Virginia Pardo Camacho, ICC trainer from Colombia

Thanks to technology, a new professional discipline has emerged: neuroscience, which is contributing a lot to the academic world, to practical life and even better to Coaching, with Joseph O’Connor being my mentor and pioneer in the application of Applied Neuroscience. to Coaching, whose objective is to increase credibility and respect for the coaching profession and better results by having the science behind the processes.

It is understanding the being but also the wonderful mind of it. If we know how the brain works, we know and understand ourselves better and, consequently, our coachees or clients depending on the profession. We work with objectives, beliefs and values, the three pillars of coaching and we have a successful methodology, but we can go further. Our brain is a powerful tool that can work in our favor if we learn to direct it properly, it is continually transforming itself, a process known as neuroplasticity, since new neuronal connections are formed through through experiences and learning. The greatest driver of neuronal change is behavior, however, we are not aware of it and therefore we do not direct the transformation.

We know that everything is formed in the brain and that is where changes must be made consciously. Since the powerful question is the best coaching tool, have you ever wondered how habits are formed and changed? How are decisions made? How do we remove power from fears? Which neurotransmitters are released according to our thoughts and emotions? predominant?, how our behavior is transforming our brain and why is it not always in our favor?, what triggers our creativity and What blocks it and therefore affects problem solving? How does the reward system work for achieving objectives?… among others.

In order to know ourselves at another level, at a deeper level, a need arises to delve into that being from science, without having to become experts but simply understand ourselves. The answer to this need is the fusion of two professional disciplines: Coaching and Neurosciences. In the same way that we nourish our being and take care of our body, it is also important to know and nourish our brain, which is not an entity isolated from our body.

The success of coaching is based on achieving objectives through conscious processes, expressing it in a very simple way; It is taking the Coachee from the present state to the desired state. However, these processes could be even more profound, conscious, effective and productive, if they involve neuroscience. From my personal and professional experience in the application of science to my professional processes of individual, executive or team coaching; or my training programs, I observe that the responsibility, commitment, action, flow and empowerment of that client or Coachee or team become more conscious, tangible, agile, effective and sustainable.

I am certain that having the science behind our professional processes generates a quantum leap in the world of coaching, it makes a great difference of which as ICC we would be proud, since it is a great contribution to the world of coaching, More prepared coaches, deeper and more effective coaching processes, more satisfied and expanded coachees.

We can dare more!

Virginia Pardo Camacho is an ICC trainer from Colombia, Neuro Trainer and Lambent Strategic Partner for LatAm.

Do you know what is the most important skill in your life?

by Guillermo Mendoza, ICC trainer from the USA

It is one that you have practiced since you were born and maybe throughout the years has become easier or harder. It does not matter if you are an entrepreneur, manager, artist or teacher. No matter what is your profession and your professional or personal skills no other is going to be as important as this one.

The most important skill in your life is your ability to TRANSFORM YOURSELF and help others to TRANSFORM. And no matter what your activity is, this skill is the one that will give you the best performance results.

Heraclitus said it more than 2,500 years ago, “no one ever steps in the same river twice”, “the only constant in life is change”. And it is true, throughout your life you have confirmed that your body changes, your ideas change, your relationships change. But the important question is how much of your change happens IN SPITE of you? And how much of your change happens BECAUSE OF you?

Are you exercising your ability to change creating the emotional skills that propel you as flexibility, adaptability and resilience? Or are you resisting change and suffering it?

Are you creating your realities with clear goals, effective plans and responsible execution? Or are you stuck letting live to change direction as it pleases without your intervention?

Coaching is the methodology that gives you one of the best transformation skills. It helps you move from what you are to what you want to be. And it gives you the tools to help others do it.

If you already have coaching skills, join our new local communities to refresh and practice your tools. And if you don’t have them yet, our trainer’s network all around the world offers you the International Coaching Certification and several specialties to make your life the happy transformation you want.

Guillermo Mendoza, mindset disruptor, global speaker and executive coach, is an ICC trainer in the USA and Mexico. Offers a unique approach to leadership development, by helping leaders getting the insights about their communication styles and emotional skills, embracing a leader-coach approach and getting outstanding results on engagement, teamwork and people development.

The New Leadership Paradigm: Transforming beliefs of Authority and Power

by Manolo Sarmiento, ICC trainer from Colombia

In the corporate sphere, leadership has traditionally been linked to two fundamental aspects: authority and power. For a couple of decades in my professional activity as a Coach and Organizational Consultant, I have observed that these elements have been considered essential pillars to successfully lead teams and organizations. However, the landscape is changing. Today, effective leadership demands an evolution toward a more empathetic and human approach, which poses a significant challenge: How can a leader strengthen his or her emotional skills without losing the traditional attributes of authority and power?

The Fear of Losing Power

For many leaders, the transition to a more empathetic style raises concerns. There is a fear that showing vulnerability and understanding could be interpreted as a sign of weakness, which could erode your authority and ability to influence. This fear is not unfounded; In highly competitive environments, the perception of power is crucial to maintaining team respect and trust.

The Challenge: Balancing Empathy and Authority

The real challenge lies in finding a balance. Empathy should not be seen as opposed to authority, but as a complement that can enrich leadership. A leader who is able to understand and connect with the emotions and needs of his/her team can inspire greater loyalty and commitment, which in turn strengthens her position of authority.

A Tool for Transformation

Throughout these almost 20 years accompanying managers, directors and, in general, high-level leaders, I have observed the change in the leadership paradigm of authority and power to empathetic leadership, where a closer and friendly relationship between these leaders and their teams prevails.

Coaching has become the most powerful tool that has allowed me to accompany dozens of leaders in their transformation processes towards more empathetic leadership, in which they understand that they do not have to sacrifice their authority or power. Through coaching, leaders have been able to develop the necessary emotional competencies, learning to integrate these skills with their own leadership styles.

Benefits of Coaching for Leadership Transformation

Although coaching is the instrument of transformation, providing clarity about emotional intelligence and bringing it to the field of action has been my most efficient strategy in my experience accompanying so many leaders in their challenges of change towards the new paradigm. In this sense, I want to point out four fundamental concepts that have been successful in my coaching processes for organizations:

– Self-awareness: Coaching has helped me in my guidance to encourage leaders to explore their own emotions, strengths, and areas for improvement, promoting greater self-awareness.
– Development of Communication Skills: Through coaching I have accompanied leaders to improve their ability to communicate effectively and empathetically at all levels. I have even seen this transformation in their personal environments such as home and family. This has been wonderful because I can see that the human sense prevails even in leaders with the highest positions.
– Promotion of Active Listening: Coaching has made it much easier for me to guide leaders in adopting active listening techniques, which are essential for understanding and adequately responding to the needs of their teams.
– Adaptability and Resilience: Coaching has allowed me to help leaders develop the flexibility necessary to adapt to different situations and role, position and personal challenges in surprising ways.

Maintaining Authority and Power

The power to decide and transform, and the authority to lead and drive the organization towards results strategically, do not need to change. What must change is the paradigm, thus redefining these two attributes.

In my role as a coach, I have identified three key principles for shifting the leadership paradigm:

1. Establish Clear Boundaries: Being empathetic does not mean allowing inappropriate behavior. Clear boundaries are necessary to maintain order and productivity.
2. Make Firm Decisions: Empathy must be accompanied by the ability to make difficult decisions when necessary. Firmness in decision-making strengthens the perception of leadership.
3. Demonstrate Consistency: Leaders must be consistent in their behavior and in the application of rules. Consistency generates trust and predictability.

My Learnings

Leadership in the new millennium requires a combination of empathy, authority, and the strategic use of tools like coaching. Leaders who manage to integrate these aspects not only maintain their power but also strengthen it by creating more committed and resilient teams. The challenge lies in embracing the new paradigm without abandoning the attributes that have defined effective leadership over time.

Two Challenges:

One for my colleagues: Reflect on how you are supporting leaders in their coaching processes to strengthen these dimensions in their leadership styles.

Another for the leaders who have kindly read this article: Reflect on how you are incorporating socio-emotional skills into your interactions and leadership styles.

Manuel Sarmiento is an ICC trainer from Colombia, a Lambent UK international trainer for ICC certifications in Colombia, Panama and Canada, and an organizational consultant and facilitator at REMA Consultores.