Practice Labs are designed to give students opportunities to demonstrate their coaching skills, obtain feedback from their peers, and receive insights and suggestions from their instructors.

TODAY'S TAKEAWAYS

• demonstrate coaching proficiencies
• Learn to self-reflect & correct
• Try new coaching approaches
• Learn to manage time & emotions

About ICF and Coaching
The International Coaching Federation (ICF) is the world’s largest professional association for coaches, setting the global gold standard for coaching ethics, education, and practice. ICF defines coaching as partnering with clients in a thought-provoking and creative process that inspires them to maximize their personal and professional potential. Unlike consulting or mentoring, coaching is not about giving advice—it’s about creating the conditions where clients discover their own insights, clarify their goals, and move into meaningful action. Through this process, coaching helps clients become more focused and productive, while also staying aligned with their core values, strengths, and aspirations. The result is lasting growth, greater resilience, and more authentic success—both in work and in life.

Description: Coaches uphold professional standards, values, and integrity by applying the ICF Code of Ethics in all interactions.

Key Indicators:

• Maintains confidentiality.
• Recognizes and manages personal biases.
• Avoids conflicts of interest.
• Models honesty and respect.

Action Steps:

• Regularly review the ICF Code of Ethics and reflect on recent coaching conversations.
• Establish clear agreements about confidentiality at the start of relationships.
• Seek supervision or mentoring when ethical dilemmas arise.
• Do periodic “bias audits” to catch assumptions you may bring into sessions.

Description: Coaches develop and maintain a mindset that is open, curious, flexible, and client-centered.

Key Indicators:

• Practices ongoing learning and reflection.
• Regulates emotions and stays present.
• Seeks support through supervision or mentoring.
• Embraces cultural and contextual sensitivity.

Action Steps:

• Keep a reflective journal after coaching sessions.
• Engage in ongoing professional development (courses, books, workshops).
• Use mindfulness or grounding techniques before each session.
• Schedule regular peer-coaching or mentor-coaching to sharpen perspective.

Description: Coaches partner with clients to create clear coaching agreements about the relationship, process, plans, and goals.

Key Indicators:

• Clarifies roles, responsibilities, and expectations.
• Defines success measures for sessions and the overall engagement.
• Revisits and adjusts agreements as needed.

Action Steps:

• Begin engagements with a written agreement or contract.
• At the start of each session, ask, “What would make this time most valuable for you today?”
• End sessions by revisiting agreed outcomes: “Did we achieve what you wanted?”
• Periodically reassess the coaching relationship for alignment.

Description: Coaches create a safe, supportive space that fosters respect, openness, and mutual trust.

Key Indicators:

• Shows respect for client’s identity, style, and language.
• Creates a safe space for risk-taking and vulnerability.
• Consistently demonstrates support and empathy.

Action Steps:

• Use the client’s language and metaphors instead of your own.
• Listen without judgment or quick fixes.
• Explicitly affirm client strengths and progress.
• Practice confidentiality in both word and behavior to build reliability.

Description: Coaches remain fully conscious, focused, and responsive, adapting in the moment without attachment to an outcome.

Key Indicators:
Remains calm and confident under pressure.
Demonstrates curiosity instead of control.
Notices and explores shifts in client’s emotions or energy.
Uses silence and space effectively.
Action Steps:
Pause before responding—practice “listening until the end.”
Notice nonverbal cues and check in with curiosity: “I noticed your tone shift—what’s happening for you right now?”
Release any prepared agenda and follow the client’s lead.
Use centering exercises before each session.

Description: Coaches focus on what the client says—and does not say—to fully understand meaning and context, supporting client self-expression.

Key Indicators:
Reflects back what is said with accuracy and nuance.
Detects values, beliefs, emotions, and patterns in client communication.
Asks clarifying questions that go deeper.

Action Steps:

• Paraphrase and mirror back: “What I hear you saying is…”
• Listen for both content (facts) and context (emotions, assumptions).
• Capture keywords the client repeats and explore them further.
• Notice body language and energy shifts, then inquire.

Description: Coaches facilitate client insight and learning through powerful questioning, reflection, reframing, and other tools.

Key Indicators:

• Uses open-ended, thought-provoking questions.
• Shares observations without judgment.
• Helps clients see perspectives, patterns, or possibilities.
• Supports deeper exploration and learning.

Action Steps:

• Ask questions that invite reflection: “What else could be true here?”
• Offer observations gently: “I notice you light up when you talk about this…”
• Use metaphors or visualizations to spark new thinking.
• Summarize themes you hear over multiple sessions.

Description: Coaches partner with clients to turn awareness into action, supporting goal-setting, accountability, and sustainable progress.

Key Indicators:

• Partners with clients to design actions and strategies.
• Encourages autonomy in decision-making.
• Helps clients define measures of success.
• Provides accountability structures without judgment.

Action Steps:

• Ask, “What’s one step you can take this week toward this goal?”
• Explore resources and supports the client already has.
• Create accountability by asking, “How will you follow through?”
• Revisit progress regularly and celebrate milestones.

REVIEW COACHING NOTEBOOK
Select topic to be coached on
Select skill you wish to improve
Review Core Competency Indicators

90 MINUTE MEETING ROOM SESSION
Coach - Share  what you want observers to look for
Coachee - Share what you found helpful
List  skills uses, questions asked, pivot points

CONVENE @ 2:40 | 20 MINUTE DEBRIEF
Share primary learnings
Share questions about coaching process
Share what you'd do differently