When I was young, I competed on our small-town swim team. The summer before fifth grade, I was on a glorious winning streak until I developed an unfortunate scissor kick and got disqualified from several races. I was despondent and discouraged. I’ll never forget how our coach, Diane, worked tirelessly with me to regain the correct form. Even more than that, decades later, I still remember her patience and encouragement, both of which made a difference in my confidence.

Coaches play an important role in our lives. Athletes have coaches to assist them in improving all aspects of performance. Increasingly, business leaders are also seeing the value in engaging coaches to enhance their own development or to support their teams. 

Coaching is a relationship that helps individuals achieve their goals. Common areas of professional coaching specialization include executive and leadership coaching, business coaching, and personal development or wellness coaching. These relationships often involve a process of exploring a client’s values, strengths and challenges, setting actionable goals, and developing strategies to overcome obstacles and achieve desired outcomes. Coaches provide guidance, support and accountability, enabling clients to unlock their potential and achieve greater clarity, focus and performance. 

Here in Iowa, there is a growing number of professional coaches, many of whom are involved in the International Coaching Federation (ICF). The ICF, an organization that spans 140 chapters across 80 global territories, seeks to promote the art, science and practice of professional coaching by setting high standards, providing independent certification, and building a worldwide network of trained coaching professionals. The ICF certification credential is one of the most rigorous for the coaching profession.

Annually, ICF Global recognizes high-performing chapters that excel in various areas crucial for the advancement of professional coaching. The Iowa chapter of ICF was recently recognized as a finalist for the international recognition process, cited for upholding the coaching profession across the state of Iowa.

“It has been very exciting to watch our local chapter grow and contribute to the rapidly evolving coaching profession,” said Melissa Worrel-Johnson, 2024 board president of ICF Iowa.

The ICF Iowa Chapter serves the coaching community across the state of Iowa. In its 17th year, the chapter has grown from seven founding members to an active network of 84 members and is now a charter chapter with the ICF Global organization. Guided by ICF’s rigorous ethics and competencies, the chapter advances the personal and professional development of coaches and provides opportunities for growth and connection.

The Iowa ICF also fosters awareness of coaching throughout Iowa and beyond, as professional coaching is still relatively new and not always understood. For example, many leaders ask how coaching differs from consulting in a business setting. Dorene MacVey, 2023 board president of ICF, said, “Whereas a consultant is typically engaged to provide expertise and prescriptive solutions, coaches bring critical thinking to help the individual find solutions to their challenges or issues.”

Many large organizations have internal coaches or provide coaches to their teams. Smaller organizations may look externally. Nonprofits can also benefit from these services as well. Many members of the Iowa Chapter participate in the ICF Global IGNITE program, providing pro bono coaching services to local nonprofits and individuals across an international network. 

“We have a very committed and active Board of Directors and a dedicated membership of coaches that has helped build a strong chapter across our state,” Worrel-Johnson said. MacVey noted, “It was a big win for our chapter to be a finalist out of 140 chapters across the globe. We have worked hard to lay the foundation to be where we are today so that we can provide high-quality coaching here in Iowa.”

My swim team coach, Diane, helped me tremendously when I was a kid, as did other coaches along the way. Could you or your organization benefit from working with a professional coach to achieve your goals? If so, Iowa has a talented and credentialed pool of coaches ready to assist you. 

For more information about ICF Iowa, member coaches and initiatives, visit ICF Iowa’s website at icfiowa.org.