In this heartfelt final episode of 2024, we pay tribute to Thomas J. Leonard, often called the "Father of Coaching." Thomas was a pioneer in the field of life coaching and made significant contributions that shaped the profession as we know it today. He founded Coach U in 1992, one of the world's first coach training schools, and was instrumental in establishing the International Coach Federation (ICF), which has become the global standard for coaching credentials.
This year, we launched the special series Coaching with Mastery and Elegance with Tijen Genco, exploring the essence of mastery with masterful coaches worldwide. We began the journey with a discussion on mastery with Marion Franklin, a highly influential mentor during my coach training. To close the year, I reunite with Marion to reflect on Thomas Leonard's profound influence on her approach to coaching.
Join us for this very special episode as I speak with Marion Franklin, founder of the Laser-Focused Coaching program. Marion shares her fond memories of Thomas, reflects on his lasting influence on the coaching profession, and discusses how his approach to coaching and teaching has impacted her and her work. She also highlights the success of his original group, which included notable names such as Jay Perry, Cheryl Richardson, and Laura Berman Fortgang.
Tune in to discover more about Thomas's legacy, his emphasis on continuous growth, self-care, and the importance of relationships in coaching. This episode celebrates his dedication to helping others unlock their true potential.
You can also read Marion's two tribute posts in the show notes after his passing and find links to additional helpful resources, as well as our initial episode aired in January 2024.
Join us to honor and celebrate the life and contributions of a true pioneer in coaching.
Marion's Posts in Honor of Thomas Leonard
“If we ever stopped sharing Thomas stories, thoughts, ponders, pictures, etc., it would be a sad day! Thomas helped every one of us - whether we knew him or not - become who we are today. His influence is ever present in every coaching conversation, every training, every book about coaching, etc.
My biggest fear for many years was that Thomas would die and so would coaching. I so loved how he propelled coaching forward, gave it so much life, and how he carried such a big vision that included all of us. Every conversation, interaction, meeting, tele class, conference was a blessing for me in that I ALWAYS learned something useful and helpful. Even meeting him at a conference by the elevator. I made a quick comment and he said "I basically hate being with people." I was surprised, but it showed me how despite that feeling, there he was amongst hundreds of people and I tried to imagine what that must have been like for him. It opened up my thinking around things we don't like or are uncomfortable around… so what? It was those quick encounters or the times when he opened his phone for personal conversations that I loved. Asking him a question that seemed so fraught with ambivalence and not knowing and having him respond with a simple word or question or statement that changed everything was absolutely amazing. “
“Thomas was not only an out-of-the box thinker, he took action steps and/or got people to stand behind him. When he talked about 'arranging confidence' I was most intrigued. Whenever he felt that he was onto something but wasn't sure if it would fly, he would connect with his trusted R&D team. The best part was that he really listened to what we had to say. When I complained about the Personal Foundations course needing some help - especially in how it was taught for coaches to use, he immediately summoned a group and we got right to work on how to change it for the better.
More importantly, Thomas once said to me "If you are inspired, you don't need motivation." For me, Thomas was that inspiration. He was fiercely afraid of and disliked talking with groups of people so he created the Millennium Tour where he would have to do that non-stop. I'll never forget when I first met him in person how shocked I was that he wasn't about 90 years old because he had produced so much material. He got a real chuckle out of that.
When Thomas was alive, there was always something to look forward to - a new program, a new way to market, a new idea around coaching skill, a new form for something, etc. He so lived from abundance because he just kept on giving. Sure, we can get into some of the things he did/ didn't do that didn't go over well, but overall, he was a true inspiration that kept on believing and never giving up on what he saw as possible. I loved how he shared some really personal things about himself, showed us personal photos - he kept himself off of the pedestal despite so many wanting to put him there.
Now that coaching is more mainstream (vs. What sport? as we used to hear), Thomas left in place exactly what he needed to and likely what he had hoped for and had a vision of…. I can't imagine anyone creating as much as he did in such a brief time with an office that never looked used!
In my mind, he leaves a huge void/ vacuum because he can't continue to create, and on the other hand, he is always with us because of all that he did create.”- Marion Franklin
Goal Getter Group Coaching Program – started on December 18, 2024. Interested parties can still enroll.
Philosophical Concepts to Coaching with Mastery – beginning on January 22, 2025
Master the ICF Exam with our Expert-Led Course – starting on February 2, 2025
Group Mentor Coaching – beginning on February 6, 2025
Tijen’s Coaching Book About Coaching with Precision and Mastery
The Heart of Laser Focused Coaching by Marion Franklin
What Would a Wise Person Do by Marion Franklin
Laser Focused Coaching Training Program by Marion Franklin
Thomas Leonard, Lineages of Mentors and Mastery Episode
