Policies and Procedures

Read and review the following Laser Coaching Course Policies and Procedures carefully before completing the form below. You must agree to the Laser Coaching Course Policies and Procedures prior to being accepted in this course. You will automatically receive a copy via email after you sign and submit this form. We suggest keeping that copy for reference. If you have any questions, contact David Franklin or Marion Franklin.

**This is an accelerated learning program.** It is important to allocate enough time each week to attend all class and practice calls as well as to complete additional homework which may include reading, listening to audio recordings, completing specific exercises to be discussed in class, and working with your pro bono client. The amount of time needed to complete these additional tasks will vary slightly for everyone, and some weeks will be more demanding than others.

1. The actual skill classes will meet two times per week for twelve (12) consecutive weeks. (see #2 for additional hours described). All but three (3) meetings will be conducted on a telephone bridge line (through Zoom – no video). The dates we will meet on Zoom with video will be announced ahead of time .
2. During the first week of the program, there will be one practice call (~120 minutes) that will not be supervised. Following the first week of the program, an additional two (2) hours is set aside once per week for participants to practice the skills learned up to that point in a supervised practice call. NOTE: This is in addition to the regular classes for a total of 3 meetings per week.
3. Classes and practice calls are scheduled for two hours in length, except for 90-minute Mentor Practicum calls in weeks 5-12 (see #5 below).
4. Weeks 1-4 (8 classes) are devoted entirely to skills and training.
5. Weeks 5–12 will change, with one two-hour class devoted to skills and training (Mondays) and one 90-minute class (Wednesdays) devoted to experiential practice coaching known as “The Mentor Practicum.” You will join one of two existing mentor groups consisting of participants at every level (from 12 weeks ahead of you to Master). These 90-minute Mentor calls (1-2:30PM or 8-9:30PM Eastern) will replace the Friday class call. (You may occasionally attend the other time slot if needed.) More information will be provided closer to week 5. The 3rd meeting is supervised practice with peers.
6. Starting Week 5, the supervised practice will have two separate groups of four with students taking turns acting as client, coach, and observers according to a pre-arranged schedule. This means that you will provide and receive coaching several times throughout the course.
7. Relevant materials are available after payment is received and our initial meeting. Additional material may be e-mailed as appropriate throughout the course. Expect to listen to several recordings that illustrate a skill or technique.
8. Each participant is responsible for ‘contributing’ a friend or relative who is willing to receive pro bono coaching for eight (8) weeks from another participant in the class. The calls will be 30-45 minutes maximum (separate details to follow). We suggest that you choose someone who isn’t close to you.
9. During Week 5, the pro bono client relationship begins and continues until the course is complete. Once the course is complete, you may terminate the relationship or make other arrangements with your client. You may convert the person into a paying client. According to ICF, even $1 is considered a paying client. You will need 100 coaching hours for the initial credential, of which 30 can be pro bono. Bartering coaching with another coach counts as a paying client.
10. Each participant is responsible for calling into the Zoom line on time and notifying the instructors by e-mail or telephone if you will be late or absent. Instructor’s contact information is on the class sheet to be distributed right after our introductory meeting.
11. Attendance is recorded at each class plus practice call. Participants must be present for at least 90 minutes on a call to receive full attendance credit. Participants can miss up to five meetings. Total number of credits is adjusted for each participant if full attendance requirements are not met. NOTE: Recorded calls (and outside reading) are part of the 75 credit hours granted. As assigned, reading or listening must take place in order to get credit. If it appears that this hasn’t occurred, it will count toward the five missed sessions.
12. All calls will be recorded, and it is the participant’s responsibility to listen to a missed call prior to the next class. **NOTE: Receiving a recording of each call is a privilege that comes as a participant. These recordings and class materials are for YOU and you only. They are never to be shared or distributed in any manner.
13. Aside from the group mentoring, three (3) individual hours of mentoring are required. Each student will be assigned to a mentor for one hour each time, and scheduling will be determined between you and your mentor. ICF requires that mentoring must take place for a minimum of 90 days. Therefore, there will be at least one mentoring session beyond the twelve weeks.
14. Completion requirements include submitting one recorded coaching session (~30 minutes) for review along with an accurate transcript in MS Word. You will receive individual in-depth comments from one of your instructors. Recordings must be in MP3 format (all necessary details will be supplied). The recording must be at a minimum ACC (basic) level to receive full Level 1 certification.
15. Recordings must be submitted when class ends and no later than six (6) months after class completes to receive full credit for the course. Otherwise, ICF offers a portfolio path that can be followed to receive full credit toward a credential.
16. If all requirements or minimum attendance (see #11) are not met, partial credit will be issued at the end of the class.
17. One reviewed recording is included. If it does not meet minimum ACC standards and further recordings (and transcripts) are needed, each recording will have an additional charge of $275.
18. Every participant is required to download, read, and adhere to the ICF Ethical Guidelines and Professional Standards (https://coachingfederation.org/ethics/code-of-ethics). In addition, there is an Ethical Guidelines PDF that is included with class material and must be read.
19. Prior to Week 5, every participant is required to download and read the 8 ICF Core Competencies. They will be used as a reference at the end of the group mentor calls when assessing which Competencies were used in the coaching and which one was most emphasized (https://coachingfederation.org/core-competencies). Keep the competencies handy from Week 5 going forward.
20. Participants are required to read or listen to all of the past issues of Life’s Little Lessons (a monthly newsletter that started in 2004). The PDF version is downloadable for easy reading. The audio version can be downloaded in MP3 format for listening. The lessons will be discussed during practice calls. It’s always good to get a head start.
21. Course materials will be available just prior to the start of the course and most are in PDF format (some in Word). Any additional materials will be distributed through e-mail as appropriate. There are no additional fees beyond purchasing a copy of the course textbook, The HeART of Laser-Focused Coaching: A Revolutionary Approach to Masterful Coaching.
22. Before we officially begin, a minimum payment amount of $1,725 is due. After Week 1, there are no refunds. Because of the structure of the program, it is important to be committed to completing the entire class. However, if withdrawal is necessary after Week 1 due to emergency or extreme circumstance (per the Director’s discretion), payments to date may be credited towards a future program pending availability and certain requirements have been met. Alternatively, payment may be applied to monthly mentor group and/or private mentoring sessions with our instructors. Full payment for the entire course may be made up front or in 3 installments (or 5) or a pre-arranged plan. All monies must be completely paid before the end of the 10th week. Payments may be made by credit card through PayPal on the website: (www.lifecoachinggroup.com/training/lasercoach.php)

Zoom link and phone call-in information can be found on the Course Calendar page. You will have access to this page upon acceptance into this course and final account registration.

EVERY time we meet, we will use the same meeting information. PLEASE save the Zoom information and put it in a few places so that you don’t have to go searching for it! NOTE: Last practice call of each month will use the same Zoom meeting but with video.

All meetings will be conducted via Zoom but with audio only (except three designated dates when we will use video as well). No special equipment is needed; just a standard telephone or cell phone. All callers dial into the same number at the class time and you will be admitted to the meeting. When you want to speak, at least initially until we recognize everyone’s voice, please identify yourself i.e. This is Marion and I have a question…