Apex Leadership/Coaching/ICF Method

A globally recognised standard for one-on-one coaching.

Structured, confidential coaching built on the International Coach Federation's core competencies — open to individuals investing in themselves, or employees whose organization sponsors the engagement.

ICF Coaching Methodology XLRI Alumni SHRM-CP Individual or Firm-Sponsored
What Is ICF Coaching

A conversation held to a global standard.

The International Coach Federation sets the world's most widely recognised standard for how a coaching conversation should be run — from the way an agreement is set at the start, to how a coach listens, questions, and holds you accountable for what you decide to do.

It's built for one-on-one work. Whether you've chosen to invest in yourself, or your organization is sponsoring the engagement, the same structure applies: a confidential space, focused entirely on a behaviour or goal you want to change.

Who this is for

  • Individuals investing in their own growth
  • Employees whose organization sponsors coaching
  • Leaders at any level wanting a confidential thinking partner
  • Anyone ready to work on one clear, specific goal
The Process

How an ICF-method engagement runs.

Five stages, repeated across every session — not a one-time technique, but a consistent structure.

  1. Set the agreement

    We agree upfront on what you want from coaching, how confidentiality works, and what a session together looks like.

  2. Build a space you can think in

    A relationship of trust, where you can say what you actually think without being judged or managed.

  3. Listen for what's underneath

    Real listening — for what you're saying, and what you're not saying yet — so we work on the actual issue, not the surface one.

  4. Ask the question that shifts things

    Direct, honest questions designed to create real awareness — not just advice handed to you.

  5. Turn insight into action

    Every session ends with something specific you're committing to — and we check back on it next time.

Why ICF Coaching

What changes when you work this way.

Here's what actually shifts for the people who go through it.

01

See yourself more clearly

Find out how your behaviour actually lands with the people around you, not just how you think it comes across.

02

A confidential thinking partner

A space to think out loud, without office politics or hidden agendas — whether you're paying, or your firm is.

03

Clearer decisions, less reacting

Space to actually think something through, instead of deciding on the fly.

04

Better relationships at work

Small shifts in how you listen and communicate go a long way with your team.

05

Accountability that actually holds

Every session ends with a commitment — and we follow up on it, so intentions turn into habits.

06

A globally recognised standard

You're working within a method used and trusted by coaches worldwide — not something improvised session to session.

Backed by Research

Coaching's return isn't just anecdotal.

Independent studies on coaching's impact consistently point in the same direction — across performance and wellbeing alike.

Increased Productivity

70%Improved work performance
61%Improved business management
57%Improved time management
51%Improved team effectiveness

Positive People

80%Improved self-confidence
73%Improved relationships
72%Improved communication skills
67%Improved life/work balance

Source: International Coaching Federation, Global Coaching Client Study, 2009.

Return on Investment

86% of companies that measured coaching's ROI said they recouped their investment — and many saw returns well beyond that. (ICF, 2009)

Still Holding Up Today

A more recent ICF/PwC study found 87% of clients report a positive return, with organizations typically seeing 5–7x their investment back. (ICF/PwC Global Coaching Client Study, 2024)

Not sure coaching is the right fit yet?

Take the free 5-minute Coachability Quiz first — it's a quick, honest signal of how ready you are to get the most from a coaching engagement.

Take the Coachability Quiz
Get Started

Book a Discovery Session

A free, no-obligation conversation to see whether we're the right fit — for you and for what you're trying to change.

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