My Coaching Story- Scott Frickenstein

​Hope you've been enjoying your Spring so far! This week, we are continuing to feature the coaching stories we’ve collected from some of our favorite coaches. 

Meet Scott. Scott served as an Air Force officer for over 25 years and was privileged to hold multiple key senior leadership, higher education, and analytical roles. Members of the units he commanded lauded him as a leader who comprehensively developed and deeply cared for his people. Scott has a PhD in operations research, a master’s degrees in several disciplines, and a bachelor’s in applied mathematics. 

He is a distinguished graduate from the National War College, Naval Postgraduate School, Air Command and Staff College, and the U.S. Air Force Academy. He holds a certificate in non-profit management.
 
Scott uses the CliftonStrengths® assessment to develop leaders from numerous corporate, government, and non-profit organizations.  He is passionate about helping leaders grow in their capacity to lead well and bring amazing design to their leadership contexts.  Scott enjoys running, cycling, hiking, skiing, and personal fitness.

He is married to Kristi, has two adult sons, and resides in Mesa, AZ.

We hope you enjoy Scott’s coaching story!

My Coaching Story
by: Scott Frickenstein

1. Who were you when you came to coaching?  What drew you to the coaching world? 

Scott: I was a recently retired senior Air Force officer when I officially came to coaching.  As a senior leader, I'd taken at least a partial “coach approach” for many years, and some of the best mentors in my professional life used some coaching skills in helping me develop.  But my primary tendency was to be much more of a teacher, mentor, and consultant to those that I invested in. I was drawn to coaching shortly after I launched a leader development organization. A friend who had just established a coaching firm invited me to join him and a handful of others as they learned how to coach.  He knew I needed a “tribe,” and he was right; we were all aiming to learn how to coach and to mutually support one another in the process.
 
2. How was coach training more than you had imagined? 

Scott: The bulk of my academic work had been in mathematics, which is heavily "left-brained." Coaching is much more right-brained.  I've been taking courses and webinars non-stop since 2017.  Coaching training continues to make me more fully alive and is definitely deepening my impact in my work with leaders.
 
3. What transformations have you gone through? 

Scott:  In the last five years, I’ve gone from barely being able to spell “coaching” to serving as an instructor for an ICF-endorsed coach training institute.  So there have been many transformations!  Taking classes helped me learn the “alphabet, grammar & syntax” of coaching. Enrolling in practicum-type learning opportunities has helped me start to form some “complete sentences,” to continue with this metaphor.  Journeying with other coaches in various learning organizations continues to add depth to my coaching; serving as a coaching instructor has sharpened my understanding and my skills.   
 
4. How is coaching going now?  

Scott:  I think I'm continuing to "grow into" what it means to be an ICF Professionally Certified Coach.  In many ways, I feel my journey is still very much in the early stages.  I'm encouraged that God is using me, through my coaching partnerships, to help leaders experience transformation and this development is "rippling" into their personal life, their families, and their organizations.
 
5. How satisfied are you with the work you are doing? 

Scott:  I’m very satisfied! It's a real privilege for me to come alongside leaders on a regular basis and partner with them on their development.  To do that in different settings, with people of like heart and mind, is a real treasure for me.
 
6. What does coaching add to your life? 

Scott:  I think coaching is making me a better human being, frankly; I'm more fully present when I'm with people. I'm listening for what's being said (and what's not being said). I'm engaging in more life-giving ways (including asking powerful questions, etc.).

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