International Authority for Professional Coaching & Mentoring – Sri Lanka debuts

 Niroshan Silva in a panel discussion with Dilan Seneviratne, Govi Lokanathan, Imalka Kumarapeli and Rajeewa Kahandage

IAMCasia Founding Director Dr. Charuni Senanayake being interviewed by Hatam & Nouri LLC Co-founder Sara Nouri. Sara was born in Kabul, Afghanistan, but raised in the Netherlands where she completed her degrees in International and European Law (L.L.M) and Slavic Languages and Culture (BA) in the University of Groningen. She had worked for the Dutch Ministry of Economic Affairs as a policy advisor on EU matters/laws in The Hague and Brussels. During the interview Sara explained how being brought up in a developed country, exposed to coaching and mentoring throughout her life junctures helped her to reach where she is today. She illustrated through many examples how she used coaches and mentors at different stages in her life

• ‘Coaching and Mentoring for Human Capital Development’ 2019 and beyond

The first-ever International Authority for Professional Coaching & Mentoring – Sri Lanka (IAPC&M-SL) was inaugurated recently. 

A distinguished crowd of sportsmen, corporate heads, HR managers, heads of public institutions and private organisations participated. 

This important event was organised by IAMCasia. Expert coaches and mentors, from five different disciplines, showcased how coaching and mentoring have demonstrated a major impact on areas such as performance and ROI in their respective fields.

IAPC&M is the only approved accreditation body by the International Regulator of Coaching and Mentoring (IRCM), the British Coaching and Mentoring Industry Ombudsman. Established in 2004 (as ECI, now IAPC&M to reflect its international growth), remain the only independent authority focusing on accrediting properly trained coaches, mentors and training providers. 

The aim of the organisation is as important as ever since the number of people calling themselves coaches and or mentors without proper validation is increasing. 

COO David Monro-Jones said: “Our sole aim is to support best in class practitioners around the world. To achieve this, we have to maintain the highest possible industry standards. Therefore, everyone who is successfully awarded their accreditation (which is higher than certification) can be proud of their achievement; their training has been validated, their qualifications and testimonials have been authenticated, and their experience has been tested in a live scenario. It is these practitioners who care about protecting the well-being of the end-user just as we do.”

Coaching has a long and proven history in the field of sports for improving performance. More recently, the same impressive results are being realised across various sectors such as the corporate world, in the field of education, and with the many professionals who simply want to improve their performance; their relationships, their career and generally deal with any issue that is holding them back from reaching their full potential.

Mentoring on the other hand supports mentees by sharing his or her own experiences and life insights as a way of guiding and then challenging mentees to help them select the most appropriate options to move them forward in their career or life situations.

During this exciting launch event sports coaching, executive coaching, life coaching, wellness coaching and mindfulness and mentoring demonstrated the value-added benefits to human capital development. The event brought together expert panellists, advisors and a carefully selected genuinely experienced set of individuals who had made a mark in their respected fields. These esteemed speakers shared with the audience how their experiences in coaching and mentoring had helped them and others to grow and achieve their full potential. 

Bandula Warnapura opened the session by sharing his thoughts on ‘Sports Coaching and the role of a Coach’. He noted coaching needs and methodologies have changed drastically overtime, where cricket is concerned. 

Roshan Mahanama spoke about the ‘Importance of Honesty, Integrity, Values, Loyalty, Friendship & Discipline’. He was of the opinion that the coaches/mentors should instil these in the youngsters and always ‘walk the talk’, as leaders of our country do not lead by example. Further, he mentioned that it is “our duty to leave a better place for future generations.”

During the Rugby panel discussion, Duminda Silva, professional rugby coach, selector and a fitness trainer, mentioned that personality development and soft skill development have to be integral parts of coaching. 

Mahesh Senanayake, former Rugby player, lecturer and a media person, shared outcome of effective coaching and mentoring should be creating a better individual, above all helping someone to achieve a great character. He further stated that personally for him coaching and mentoring had helped him to a greater extent, to achieve success in his engagements in sports and career today. 

Dr. Chamu De Silva, former rugby player, Kingswood College Rugby Union President and Tinglishtea Chairman, who is involved mainly in school-level rugby, mentioned how important to select the correct methods of coaching according to their age in school children.

Niroshan Silva, Past President of the HR Association of Sri Lanka, Executive Coach and Accredited Master Coach, explained the importance of executive coaching in organisational development, impact of it on future leaders in different industries, the dynamics and pitfalls. He used story telling as a method to illustrate 20 years of his coaching careers with a myriad number of professionals that benefited through executive coaching. 

“Investing in and developing human capital has become one of the most vital functions for an organisation to innovate, stay relevant and be sustainable. When potential is tapped, the intrinsic benefits of that value is truly remarkable. Empowering individuals to overcome self-limiting beliefs and set conscious goals and to be stimulated for higher performance produces a more healthy and connected workforce, society and economy,” was the message by Women Empowered Global CEO Senela Jayasuriya to the audience. 

For a workforce to be productive and performing well, they need to be a happy and fulfilled. Coaching offers participants many benefits and helps them achieve in many areas of their personal and professional life from a sense of purpose, igniting their passion, growing their confidence to move out of their comfort zone and to creating a more productive work life balance to achieve greater life and business/career goals. 

Sukanya Wignaraja, solution-focused coach, counsellor and a Director at IAMCasia, shared her extensive experience with the audience. She reiterated: “Wellness is a combination of our physical and psychological health and that these two elements are closely intertwined and is not possible to have one without the other. Research shows that the benefits of a healthy working environment are many and include increased employee motivation and morale, fewer sick leave days, greater productivity and overall improved company image. It, therefore, makes absolute sense for organisations to have carefully thought-out wellness programs for their workforce.”

Dr. Chamila Ariyananda, Chief Operating Officer and a Director of ayubo.life, with her 22 years of healthcare expertise, explained to the public that workplace wellness has never been more important with alarming statistics in the NCD space. ayubo.life fundamentally addresses the cultural shift in the workplace and behavioural changes that is required as a healthy workforce in 21st century. 

The event ended with a heightened tone where Deepal Sooriyaarachchi, Master Coach and mentor, management consultant, author and speaker, shared with the audience, the difference of coaching and mentoring concepts, the importance of presence, identifying potential, and taking efforts to harness it. He explained Mentor stands for Mission, Engagement, Network, Trust, Opportunity, Review and Renewal. 

IAPCM-SL is committed to creating a national level of awareness of the benefits of coaching and mentoring within the public sector and the private sector. Further, IAPCM-SL will be selecting 50 accredited coaches and mentors to act as ‘Pioneers’ or ‘Champions’ to take this initiative forward into different fields. Those who are interested in becoming accredited coaches or mentors or want to hire their own accredited practitioner can contact Dr. Charuni Senanayake for more information. You can also download a free e-guide on how to do this here https://coach-accreditation.services/directories/

Contact – Dr. Charuni Senanayake, Director IAMCasia, [email protected].