Our ICF-North Texas Chapter has recently surpassed 200 members! To help us know more about the type of coaching they perform, their expertise, and the impressive caliber of our DFW coaches, we want to share a snapshot of a member in each newsletter and on social media starting in 2021.
Meet Teresa Dabney
This month we meet Teresa, one of our new ICF North Texas Board Members for 2021. We are grateful she is beautifully ‘wired’ to manage data and technology and is willing to share this strength with our chapter as Director of Online Platforms. Teresa’s husband Dennis served in the Air Force for 26 years and she and their children, Derrick and Maya, have had the opportunity to live in several places before making Texas their home. Over the years Teresa has led, taught, encouraged, and worked with women at military installations across the U.S. which inspired her to become a coach. We hope you enjoy this glimpse into the coaching part of her life.
Organization –
Strive 4ward Coaching & Consulting
What type of coaching do you offer?
As a Life Coach, I help solopreneurs and microbusiness owners in the startup and idea phase of development. Clients gain and maintain clarity and focus, and lay a solid foundation for business success.
Do you hold a credential? I'm in the process of getting my ACC.
What training have you had?
I received my coaching certification through the Northern Virginia Community College and I'm a John Maxwell Team Certified Coach.
Client story?
This isn't my favorite client story, but it is definitely my most memorable, post-COVID lesson learned. I donate pro bono client hours to an organization that helps people who cannot ordinarily afford a coach. I received a new client notification and set up the first meeting via Zoom. First client meetings for this organization are always the get-to-know-you/exploratory session. As I asked questions and listened to her responses, the client seemed to be a good match and was enthusiastic about the opportunity for coaching. Following the call, however, I received an email from the client who seemed to have had the exact opposite experience, and in fact, I questioned whether we were on the same call.
I had never had an experience like this. After processing, which included dealing with my own personal feelings, and going back to the organization for guidance. I contacted the client, by phone and asked if we could discuss the comments. Through that conversation, I recognized and remembered how important it is to set the environment specifically for your client. In this case, video created a sensory overload that kept my client from being able to focus on the conversation. The visual cues that help me as a coach were not perceived or internalized in the same manner by this client. As a coach, I had gotten too comfortable with "my" process. I had been successfully using video prior to COVID and did not even offer this client the choice of coaching by phone. And, while I had no way of knowing the impact of this, it is a reminder in this brave new post-COVID world that preferences may have changed with existing clients, too. Ultimately, we agreed to try again, by phone, and have since gone on to develop a good coach/coachee relationship.
Roles or volunteering for ICF?
When I moved to Texas in summer 2019 joining the local ICF chapter was at the top of my list to help me plug in and grow as a coach. I volunteered as a Coach during International Coaching Week with NTFB. And currently, I am serving as the Director of Online Platforms for the chapter. I also participate in ICF Peer Coaching. I currently a participant in the ICF 2020 Business Development Series which is supports me tremendously through any threats and risks the pandemic brings.
Travel / education / mentoring opportunities you’ve enjoyed through ICF?
So far all of my ICF travel has been virtual. I participated in the 2018 ICF Advance, 2020 ICF Business Development Series.
Why you are a member ICF North Texas?
I enjoy opportunities to add skills and stay sharp so ICF North Texas is a great fit for me. In addition to being a Board Member and attending as many chapter events as I can, I participate in a variety of training events from several resources. For me, connecting with our local chapter, our regional and international ICF opportunities makes it easy to meet fellow coaches, grow personally and professionally, build tools and resources across a variety of platforms, attend events and activities that feed my need to learn and grow.