Each year, International Coaching Week offers a natural pause point for coaches.
International Coaching Week is a time when many of us step back from full calendars and client notes just long enough to reflect on the work we do and how we are growing within it.
Coaching is not a static profession. It asks us to stay present, reflective, ethical, and responsive in complex human situations. Over time, our skills deepen, our perspective widens, and our confidence grows.
And yet, even experienced coaches often find themselves asking quiet questions.
- Am I really working with the competencies as clearly as I think I am?
- Can I articulate what I do in a way that aligns with ICF expectations?
- Am I preparing for credentialing in a way that supports learning rather than stress?
These are not signs of uncertainty or weakness. They are signs of a thoughtful practitioner who cares about their craft.
Credentialing is part of professional growth
Whether you are working toward your first ICF credential, preparing for renewal, or supporting clients while planning your next step, credentialing is more than a requirement to be completed. It is part of how coaches slow down, examine their work, and strengthen their foundation.
In mentor coaching, I often see coaches doing solid, effective coaching while still doubting whether they are meeting the standard. The gap is rarely about skill. More often, it is about clarity, language, and confidence.
Understanding how the competencies show up in real conversations takes time. Translating that understanding into recordings, reflections, or exam responses takes practice. When those pieces come together, credentialing feels far less heavy.
When additional support is most useful
Over the years, I have noticed a few common moments when coaches benefit most from structured learning support.
You may recognize yourself here if you are planning to apply for or renew your ACC or PCC in the next six to twelve months and want to spread the learning out rather than cram. Or if you already have coaching hours and recordings but are not fully confident how the competencies are showing up in your sessions.
Some coaches know the ICF language well on paper, yet still find it challenging to apply it under exam conditions or in accordance with assessor expectations. Others are focused on earning Core Competency CCE units, but want that learning to strengthen their coaching rather than simply checking a box.
These are thoughtful questions. They deserve thoughtful answers.
Learning that integrates with authentic coaching
One of the most important things I have learned is that coaches rarely benefit from trying to do everything at once. The most sustainable learning tends to happen alongside real client work.
- A short reflection after a session.
- A deeper look at one competency at a time.
- A more precise understanding of how assessors listen.
- Targeted preparation closer to exam time.
This kind of steady integration allows learning to settle in naturally. It also reduces the pressure many coaches feel when credentialing timelines begin to loom.
International Coaching Week as a reminder, not a deadline
International Coaching Week does not need to be a moment of urgency. Instead, it can serve as a reminder of why ongoing learning matters in the first place.
It reminds us that coaching is a profession grounded in growth, not perfection. That confidence comes from understanding, not shortcuts. And that asking for support is part of professional maturity.
Each year, I am encouraged by the care coaches bring to their development. The questions you ask, the time you invest, and the intention you bring to your learning all contribute to the strength of our profession.
When one coach grows, it truly does ripple outward.
If International Coaching Week prompts you to reflect on where you are and where you are headed next, that reflection alone is valuable. Growth in coaching rarely happens all at once. It happens through steady attention, thoughtful learning, and a willingness to keep refining the work.
And that, in itself, is something worth honouring.
A note for International Coaching Week
Each year during International Coaching Week, I open up special pricing on my coaching resources as a way to support coaches in their ongoing development.
This annual offering includes my full suite of learning tools, from short micro-resources to in-depth programs that focus on understanding and applying the ICF Core Competencies. Many of these resources also provide Core Competency CCE units for credential renewal.
If you are reading this during International Coaching Week, you can explore the full collection and take advantage of this once-a-year pricing on my Teachable site.
Cathy Shaughnessy, MCC, is an active ICF Assessor and ICF Mentor Coach Specialist for ACC, PCC and MCC. A graduate of the Royal Roads University Graduate Certificate in Executive Coaching, Cathy has been coaching since 2008 and brings extensive experience as an executive coach, mentor coach, coach educator and assessor to her work with coaches.
Through Perspective In Action, Cathy provides mentor coaching and creates practical resources for coaches preparing for ICF credentials, credentialing exams, renewal and ongoing professional development. Her courses, exam preparation resources and learning tools help coaches deepen their understanding of the ICF Core Competencies, PCC Markers, Code of Ethics and Core Values, and apply that knowledge thoughtfully in their coaching.
Explore Cathy’s mentor coaching, ICF learning and credentialing resources, or subscribe to Cathy’s emails for practical coaching insights, resources and updates.