Creating Space for Growth Through Coaching
Marsed Harizi shares his reflections on the CEF Expert Coaching and Mentoring Skills Development Program, a coaching and mentoring skills training program recognized and certified by International Coaching Federation (ICF) and European Mentoring and Coaching Council (EMCC). His experience captures the program’s professional value while also reflecting the personal transformation it sparked. It offers an encouraging perspective for others considering a similar journey of learning and growth..
"This journey has been both professionally valuable and personally transformative, and I genuinely appreciate the thoughtful design of the program and the support throughout the process. I hope my experience can encourage others to take a similar step toward learning and growth.
When I first joined the program, I saw coaching mainly as a professional skill I needed to develop. What I didn’t expect was how deeply it would reshape the way I listen, ask questions, and connect with others. The program was not only about learning techniques—it became a process of slowing down, noticing my habits, and discovering more effective ways to build trust and clarity in conversations.
Before the program, I often felt responsible for having the right answers. Now, I focus on asking the right questions. Through approaches such as the GROW model and solution-focused coaching, I’ve learned how to create a space where colleagues can think out loud, reflect, and find their own path forward. That shift has made my conversations richer, more meaningful, and more empowering—both professionally and personally.
At the beginning, applying the new techniques felt unnatural, especially staying silent when my instinct was to fill any pause. Over time, I became more aware of these patterns and started using structured reflection—such as DRON—after meetings. Each conversation became a small practice ground for presence, curiosity, and trust. Gradually, what once felt forced became natural.
The most powerful insight I gained is that clarity and change emerge when people are truly heard. Today, I use coaching frameworks not as rigid tools, but as flexible guides to structure discussions, foster accountability, and help others uncover their own potential. This has strengthened the way I facilitate meetings, mentor colleagues, and approach complex reforms, turning conversations into spaces of shared thinking rather than one-way communication.
Overall, the program has transformed how I engage with others. I feel more grounded, more intentional, and more equipped to support the people around me in meaningful ways."