Self Development Plan

Writing a Self-Development Plan (SDP) for COMENSA and ICF involves demonstrating your commitment to continuous growth as a professional coach. Both bodies value intentional, structured learning that improves your skills, ethics, and impact. Here’s a clear step-by-step guide tailored for 2026.

1. Start With a Purpose Statement

Your purpose statement answers why you are committing to self-development this year. Keep it concise and coach-focused. For example:

“To enhance my effectiveness as a professional coach by deepening my listening, questioning, and presence skills, expanding my knowledge of coaching frameworks, and improving my impact on clients and organizations.”

2. Reflect on Current Competencies

Identify your strengths and areas for growth using the ICF Core Competencies and COMENSA Core Competencies as a framework.

ICF Core Competencies (2021 update):

• Setting the Foundation
  
  

• Co-Creating the Relationship
  
  

• Communicating Effectively
  
  

• Facilitating Learning and Results
  
  

COMENSA Core Competencies:

• Contracting and Ethics
  
  

• Coaching Process and Methodology
  
  

• Reflective Practice and Professional Growth
  
  

Ask yourself:

• Where do I excel?
  
  

• Which skills need focus?
  
  

• How do clients perceive my coaching?
  
  

3. Define SMART Goals

Use SMART goals (Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant, Time-bound). Examples:

Area

Goal

Measurement

Timeline

Active Listening

Attend an advanced listening workshop

Certificate of completion; integrate 2 new techniques into sessions

Q2 2026

Coaching Presence

Practice mindfulness before each session to improve presence

Self-reflection journal & client feedback

Weekly

Ethics & Boundaries

Review ICF & COMENSA codes monthly

Document reflections and scenarios

Monthly

Business Development

Conduct 10 coaching sessions with corporate clients

Session logs

By December 2026

Reflection

Maintain coaching journal

Document key insights and lessons

Weekly

4. Identify Learning Activities

List structured and informal activities that help achieve your goals:

Formal Learning:

• Accredited workshops or webinars
  
  

• ICF-approved courses for CCE units
  
  

• COMENSA-approved coaching modules
  
  

Informal Learning:

• Peer coaching sessions
  
  

• Reading books on coaching, leadership, psychology
  
  

• Listening to coaching podcasts or case studies
  
  

Practice & Reflection:

• Self-reflection journals
  
  

• Feedback from clients and peers
  
  

• Supervision and mentoring sessions
  
  

5. Include Ethics & Professional Standards

Both COMENSA and ICF require ongoing adherence to ethical standards. Include activities like:

• Monthly review of ICF & COMENSA Codes of Ethics
  
  

• Documenting ethical dilemmas and resolutions
  
  

• Attending a session with a mentor or supervisor
  
  

6. Monitoring and Evaluation

Show that your plan is measurable:

• Schedule quarterly reviews of progress
  
  

• Collect client feedback or supervisor feedback
  
  

• Adjust goals if necessary
  
  

Example:

“I will review my SDP quarterly, track progress in a coaching journal, and adjust objectives based on feedback from my mentor and clients.”

7. Format Example

You can submit your SDP as a table or narrative. Example (narrative style):

“In 2026, I aim to deepen my coaching skills by focusing on active listening, powerful questioning, and presence. I will complete two accredited workshops, maintain a weekly reflection journal, and conduct at least 30 coaching sessions. I will adhere to ICF and COMENSA ethical standards by reviewing codes monthly and documenting ethical decisions. Progress will be evaluated quarterly with my mentor’s guidance.”

 Key Tips

1. Keep it realistic — don’t overload with too many goals.
   
   

2. Make it evidence-based — include ways to measure learning.
   
   

3. Focus on impact — how your growth benefits clients.
   
   

4. Include supervision/mentoring — both ICF and COMENSA emphasize reflective practice.
   
   

5. Update it throughout the year — your SDP is a living document.
   
   

Self-Development Plan 2026 – Gavin

2025 was a year of reflection and recalibration for me as a professional coach. Having spent years in high-stakes project management, I realized that the most fulfilling part of my work came from helping people grow, problem-solve, and gain clarity in complex situations. Coaching has given me the platform to do this at scale, but I also recognize that being effective requires continuous growth, intentional practice, and self-awareness.

My purpose for 2026 is to deepen my coaching presence, sharpen my listening and questioning skills, and enhance my ability to create transformative experiences for clients. While I am confident in my ability to build rapport and hold space for clients, I know I can improve in areas such as sustaining deep listening without interruption, refining powerful questioning, and embodying a presence that allows clients to fully explore and unlock their potential. This plan reflects my commitment to both the ICF Core Competencies and COMENSA Core Competencies, guiding my professional development this year.

I will achieve these goals through a combination of formal learning, practical experience, and reflective practice. My first goal is to deliver at least two peer coaching workshops in advanced listening and coaching techniques by mid-2026. These workshops will provide structured frameworks and tools that I can immediately apply in sessions. I will track my progress by incorporating new techniques into my coaching, reflecting in my journal after each session, and seeking feedback from clients and peers.

Enhancing my coaching presence is another priority. I will introduce a pre-session mindfulness routine to ensure I am fully present for each client. I have learned that my effectiveness is directly linked to my ability to be aware of my thoughts, emotions, and biases in real-time, which also aligns with ICF’s emphasis on coaching presence and COMENSA’s reflective practice. By journaling weekly and reviewing these reflections monthly, I will monitor how this practice impacts my sessions and my clients’ experiences.

Ethics and professional standards are central to my development. I commit to reviewing both ICF and COMENSA Codes of Ethics monthly, reflecting on their application in real-life scenarios, and documenting any ethical challenges I encounter. Where necessary, I will discuss these with my mentor or supervisor or coaching peers, ensuring that my practice remains aligned with the highest professional standards and contributes to safe, trustworthy coaching environments.

In addition, I will expand my coaching experience by conducting at least thirty sessions this year, including corporate clients. These sessions will allow me to practice new techniques, experiment with approaches, and observe the impact of my coaching in different contexts. I will complement this with peer coaching, reading coaching literature, and engaging with podcasts and other learning resources. Quarterly reviews with my mentor will help me assess progress, recalibrate goals if needed, and maintain accountability.

I also continue to volunteer for a call centre helping people overcome life challenges, which provides at least 4 hours of live coaching and referral weekly.

Reflecting on my journey, I see coaching not just as a career but as a way to live my values of impact, empowerment, and continuous learning. My self-development plan for 2026 is a roadmap for growth, ensuring that I continue to evolve as a coach who can guide clients to clarity, action, and meaningful results. By committing to structured learning, reflective practice, and ethical excellence, I aim to be the kind of coach who not only delivers results but inspires lasting change.