Menu
Log in

ICF Virginia Member Blog

ICF Virginia professional coaches blog dynamics:

Welcome to the ICF Virginia Member Blog Portal!

At ICF Virginia, we're passionate about fostering a vibrant community of professional coaches. Our blog is a dynamic space where voices from within our community - coaches, coaching enthusiasts, prospective clients, and organizations interested in coaching - can share insights, experiences, and ideas.

How to Contribute to Our Blog

Submissions & Review Process:

Interested in sharing your insights? Send your blog entries to admin@icfvirginia.org.

Approval Criteria: Your submission will undergo a thorough review by our board. We assess blogs based on adherence to ICF Brand guidelines, relevance to coaching, readability, and originality. We strive to publish content that upholds the standards and ethos of our community.

Noteworthy: While we appreciate every submission, we can't guarantee that all blogs will be published.

Content Guidelines:

Relevance: Your blog should resonate with our diverse community - whether they are practicing coaches, individuals exploring coaching, or organizations seeking coaching solutions.

Inspirational Call-to-Action: We encourage a compelling call to action in each blog. It should not only guide the reader but also inspire them to engage actively.

Length Variability: We welcome both concise microblogs and more detailed pieces, with a length ranging between 250 to 1000 words.

Originality & SEO:

To enhance SEO, we require that blogs be original. You can modify and repurpose content from your own platforms, ensuring it differs significantly in title, meta description, and up to 25% of the content.

Style and Branding:

Catchy Titles & Structured Content: Each blog should have an engaging title and be well-structured with sub-sections for easy reading.

Brand Consistency: Adherence to ICF Brand guidelines is crucial for a cohesive look and design.

Author Bio: Include a concise bio (50 words max) to accompany your blog.

Media Use: Ensure that all images, videos, or illustrations are either your own, purchased (with proof of purchase), or sourced from open-use platforms like Pixabay, Pexels, Unsplash, etc. ICFVA reserves the right to request changes to align with our aesthetic standards. The ICF Digital Resource Center is also at your disposal for media needs.

No Marketing: Please refrain from marketing private services or products in your blog posts.

We eagerly await your contributions and are excited to see how your perspectives and insights will enrich our community. Let's together create a space that celebrates and elevates the world of coaching!


  • 02/17/2023 1:08 PM | Felix Figuereo (Administrator)

    The Dreaded “What do you think?” Question

    Sometime in our coaching practice, invariably a client will turn to us and ask, “What do you think?” We know how to turn the question back to them to help them find the answer within themselves. On one occasion the client responded, “I hate it when you do that.” Another time, the client shot back, “I know what you’re doing. Why can’t you just give me your opinion?”

    No matter our training, experience, or certification, when I have asked other coaches how they have handled this or similar situations, they admit they must dig deep and rely on their training because they are often tempted to reply to the question. One such coach told me she used the client’s questions to them to consider why they might want her opinion. Another coach, when asked what her opinion was, asked her client, “What do you hope my opinion is.”

    Because every client and situation are unique, there is no right or wrong response. Whether the client is asking for validation or approval, out of curiosity or fear, it is important to remember it is their process and their growth and “not about us.”

    We can do this best when we manage our response and stay focused on the client’s expectations and the outcome they wish to experience.

    So, what do you think?

International Coaching Federation

© 2023 ICF Virginia Charter Chapter

Powered by Wild Apricot Membership Software