Q2 Membership Meeting and Speaker Event:
June 20, 2025
11:00am - 1:00pm ET
CCEUs - CC 1.0, RD .5
The Trust Advantage: Win More Clients with Authenticity and Integrity
Are you tired of feeling like sales and marketing are necessary evils that drain your energy and make you uncomfortable? You became a coach to help people, not to spend endless hours chasing leads, crafting manipulative marketing messages, or feeling pressured to use dishonest sales tactics.
You know something's wrong when:
What if you could build your business using the same skills that make you an exceptional coach?
What if sales could feel like a natural extension of your ability to listen, connect, and create trust?
The Trust Advantage is about transforming sales from a dreaded task into a meaningful conversation where you can genuinely help people while growing your business, without compromising your integrity or feeling like you're selling your soul. You became a coach to make a difference. It's time to make marketing and sales work for you, not against you, and start winning clients from the very first conversation!
Participant Outcomes:
1. Learn to cultivate trust naturally by applying ICF core competencies like "establishing agreements" and "creating trust and safety" to your sales conversations, making the process feel more like a genuine connection and less like selling.
2. Develop a no-pressure sales approach that focuses on solving client problems and creating mutual value, eliminating the "icky" feeling typically associated with sales and marketing. In our engaged conversation together, we will redefine standard business concepts like "branding, pitching, marketing, and selling" into practices that excite us and make sense to us.
3. Create a personalized and sustainable sales strategy that aligns with your unique strengths, allowing you to generate leads and referrals by being genuinely yourself and demonstrating real value to potential clients. Bonus: Participants will receive a comprehensive guide to implementing the Trust Advantage approach in their professional practice.
Bio:
Colin Ryan is a humorous speaker, award-winning storyteller, and author of 2 books:
The Comedic Guide to Financial Success and The Successful Depressive: Funny, Hopeful Stories about Mental Health.
Named one of America’s top 10 finance speakers, Colin has spoken to over 1 million people in the US and internationally, from Fortune 500 companies and over 100 universities.
Blending stand-up comedy, storytelling, and interactive discussion, Colin’s engaging approach has been featured on NPR, PBS, The Moth Radio Hour, Reader’s Digest, CBS, NBC and more.
Co-Lab: Acknowledging Artfully
June 24, 2025
12:00 - 1:15 pm ET
CCEUs - CC 1.25, RD 0.0
This event is co-hosted with ICF NYC's Competency Co-Lab, a monthly series for coaches to elevate their mastery of the ICF Core Competencies.
Experience structured practice drills, interactive learning, and a supportive community. The Competency Co-Lab bridges theory and practical application, so you can seamlessly integrate your learnings into your coaching practice.
Each session unveils a drill specially designed around a Core Competency. Drill by drill, gain mastery over the full range of Competencies.
The June Co-Lab will be focused on “Acknowledging Artfully.”
We will develop the skill of offering meaningful acknowledgment that supports and celebrates the client on their terms, without relying on cheerleading or excessive praise to enhance trust, safety, and client expression.
Bring your adventurous spirit, your sense of play and fun, and of course, a coaching topic!
Please register for the event here: https://www.icfnycchapter.org/event/june-2025-co-lab-acknowledging-artfully/
Co-Lab: Responding Responsively
July 22, 2025
The July Co-Lab will be focused on Responding Responsively.
We will demonstrate deep listening by adapting responses to reflect the client’s language, tone, and unique expression, fostering a stronger coaching connection.
Please register for the event here: https://www.icfnycchapter.org/event/july-2025-co-lab-responding-responsively/
Accountability: Why is it so hard?
August 15, 2025
11:30am - 1:00pm ET
CCEUs - CC .75 , RD.75
Do your clients struggle with accountability? Do you? Managers and leaders often do, including holding themselves accountable and holding others accountable as well.
When a culture of accountability at work is lacking:
In simpler terms, people don’t trust one another to do what’s expected of them. A lack of accountability can lead to a number of dysfunctions: micro-managing; broken promises; apathy; disengaged teams; and frustrated employees.
In this session we will explore some of the basic constituents of accountability, including making clear requests and agreements; effective communication; aligned collaboration; and clear consequences. Learning outcomes:
Participants outcomes Include:
Mark Crouter, PCC, is a leadership and career coach. Mark provides leadership development and performance coaching to employees and teams in support of their professional and career development goals. He has developed and led training programs for emerging and experienced leaders and managers. He is certified in the Six Domains of Leadership Model and is a Gallup- certified Strengths Coach.
September 5, 2025 11:30am - 1:00pm ET
CCEs - Core Competencies 0.0, Resource Development 1.5
Great connections start with a great introduction!
Join ICF Raleigh for a high-energy Referral-Ready Mixer where you’ll not only connect with fellow coaches but also walk away with a personalized referral message you can use to get better opportunities—faster.
Why join us? Expand your network in a room full of growth-minded coaches Learn how to follow up after networking without the awkward overthinking Use a free expert tool to create your custom Referral Intro paragraph Leave with a plug-and-play message that makes it easy for others to refer you
Led by former Disney storyteller, bestselling author, and brand strategist of 11+ years, Annie Franceschi, this interactive session is your chance to gain clarity in how others talk about what you do and confidently follow up fast—so more of the right opportunities come your way.
Come for the networking, leave referral-ready
RSVP now—space is limited!
Annie Franceschi is a former Disney storyteller-turned-branding strategist and host of the Establish Yourself® podcast. In 2013, she quit a dream job telling stories at The Walt Disney Studios to start her practice, Greatest Story Creative®. Since then, Annie has helped over 400 coaches clarify their brand message, package their offers, and grow their businesses with confidence. Along the way, she has advised hundreds, spoken for thousands, and been featured in Forbes. Annie's also the bestselling author of three books: The Service Business Roadmap, Establish Yourself, the guide to quitting your job to start a business, Permission to Try, and the children’s book, Small Biz for Kids.
The Art of the Coaching Agreement: Building Trust with Grace, Respect, and Efficiency
September 26, 2025 11:30am - 1:00pm ET
CCEs - Core Competencies 1.5, Resource Development 0.0
A well-crafted coaching agreement is the foundation of a successful coaching relationship, yet many coaches struggle to establish and maintain it with clarity and ease.
In this interactive 90-minute workshop, we’ll explore key ICF Core Competencies related to the coaching agreement and how to approach it with grace, respect, and efficiency. Through discussion, real-world scenarios, and practical exercises, participants will learn strategies for co-creating agreements that foster trust, set clear expectations, and create a framework for meaningful coaching engagements. Whether you’re a new coach refining your approach or an experienced coach looking to deepen your practice, this session will provide valuable insights to strengthen your ability to navigate agreements with confidence and professionalism.
By the end of this session, participants will:
1. Understand the essential role of the coaching agreement in fostering trust and effectiveness.
2. Learn strategies for establishing agreements with clarity, efficiency, and respect.
3. Gain tools for adjusting agreements flexibly while staying aligned with client needs.
Kathleen O'Grady MCC, CALC, founder of the Authentic Intelligence™ Framework and Coaching Model, has nearly 20 years of experience in coaching. She has guided top executives, nonprofit leaders, and entrepreneurs to embrace authentic leadership and express their distinctive strengths.
Known for her confident humility and tailored “tough love” approach, Kathleen helps individuals overcome personal and professional barriers.
Co-Lab: Focusing on the "Who"
September 30, 2025
The September Co-Lab will be focused on Focusing on the “Who.”
We will move beyond the client’s story for deeper transformation and sustainable change by exploring their thinking, feelings, values, wants, beliefs, and behaviors.
Please register for the event here: https://www.icfnycchapter.org/event/september-2025-co-lab-focusing-on-the-who/
© ICF-Raleigh Area Chapter Established 2012
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