The Mid-Year Mark: What Have We Learned, and What Will We Make True?
By Lisa J Kuruvilla, MCC, CMC
As we reach the midpoint of the year, we arrive at a natural pause point — not a finish line, not a reset button, but a meaningful invitation to notice.
Six months are behind us. Six months are still ahead.
For coaches, this is familiar territory. We spend much of our professional lives helping others slow down long enough to see what is working, what is shifting, what is asking for attention, and what is ready to become possible. Mid-year offers us the same opportunity.
Before rushing into the next goal, event, client engagement, credentialing milestone, business decision, or chapter activity, consider this: What wins have you earned so far this year? Not only the visible ones — the new clients, completed programs, renewed credentials, stronger habits, courageous conversations, or professional breakthroughs — but also the quieter wins. The moments you stayed present. The times you chose alignment over urgency. The moments you led with curiosity instead of ego protection to explore truth. The risks you took. The learning you allowed.
And what have the first six months taught you?
Perhaps you have learned something about your capacity, your boundaries, your voice, your business model, your confidence, your clients, or your evolving identity as a coach. Perhaps something did not go as planned, but, gave you information you needed. That counts too.
Now, with six months remaining, the more powerful question may be this:
What would you love to say is true by the end of the year?
Not simply what do you want to accomplish, but what do you want to be able to say with genuine satisfaction?
“I deepened my connection to the coaching community.”
“I invested in my own development.”
“I became more visible.”
“I honored my values.”
“I served with excellence.”
“I made space for what matters.”
“I contributed.”
As members of ICF North Florida Chapter, we are part of a profession grounded in reflection, growth, ethical practice, and human potential. The next six months are an opportunity to live that out — individually and collectively.
May this midpoint become more than a marker on the calendar. May it become a moment of renewed intention, meaningful connection, and purposeful momentum.
In service,
Lisa Kuruvilla, MCC, CMC
Navigating Leadership Tensions in Real Time: It’s not Working Harder. It’s Making the System Stronger.
Each month, we’ll explore the tensions that sit at the heart of leadership and human behavior—the moments where clients feel stretched, uncertain, or caught between competing demands. These reflections are drawn from my work in leadership and executive coaching across private, non-profit, federal and military sectors, where these tensions surface consistently in complex, high-stakes environments.
At the same time, I invite you to make this your own. Whether you coach leaders, teams, students, or individuals in transition, these tensions are human—not role-specific. Adapt them to your context, your clients, and your coaching style—so they become not just concepts, but tools that deepen your presence and expand your impact.
By Lisa J. Kuruvilla, ICF MCC, CMC, CEC
It’s not Working Harder. It’s Making the System Stronger.
Insight:
High-performing clients often default to effort. They step in, solve problems, and keep things moving. But over time, this creates dependency—and masks deeper system issues.
Coaching at this level shifts the focus from effort to design.
Sample Question:
Where might your effort be compensating for a system that needs to change?
Application:
When clients describe overwork, ask: “What is this effort trying to fix?” Then gently redirect from personal output to structural thinking.
