Most of my readers here know I am the co-founder of Online Therapy Institute.
I want to tell you a little story about competition and collaboration.
In 2009 I became acquainted with Dr. Ellen Neiley Ritter who runs The Institute for Life Coach Training. I was approached to extend my expertise in online therapy to the field of coaching, becoming a faculty member at ILCT, and teaching “Introduction to Online Coaching.” At the time I was not a certified coach myself, but Ellen felt my expertise about conducting psychotherapy via distance technology could apply to coaches who could benefit and enhance their own practices.
Through my relationship with Ellen, I was encouraged to become a coach and further, Ellen continued to nudge me to incorporate coaching courses into my offerings here. What makes this a unique example of mentorship is that Ellen did not let issues of ego come into play. From the beginning she told me, “I just want both of us to succeed.” She encouraged me to offer coaching programs that seemingly would place us squarely as competitors in the marketplace. Even so I developed a full array of coaching courses and certification tracks that included the use of technology. The main difference between my courses offered here and those offered through ILCT is credentialing options. ILCT courses are approved through the International Coaching Federation (ICF).
We are competitors. And yet at every major turn in our businesses, we consult with each other, discuss possibilities and share what has worked before. More than once she has said, “I think you might .” and she was right. Through our collaboration, we have both not only grown our businesses, but perhaps more importantly, found the support to try out new ideas and the confidence to cut through the minutia to create companies which reflect our passions and values.
Her generosity with her experience and her time is bar none. She is a passionate entrepreneur who promotes the coaching profession at every turn, but mostly she shares and mentors others from that “wise woman” perspective that is so completely collaborative and feminine.
Self-directed Courses at The Institute for Life Coach Training
