Week 30 of 36
Capstone Design
ICF competency anchor: Embodies a Coaching Mindset — Marker 2.6 at MCC depth · Demonstrates Ethical Practice — Marker 1.1 at MCC depth
90 min
This week
The capstone is the integrated demonstration of master practice. Each Level 3 student designs and implements a capstone project that brings the lineage into the world in a specific way. The capstone can be: a multi-month coaching engagement at MCC depth, a teaching offering (workshop, course, retreat), a research project, a written work, an organizational intervention. This week designs the capstone in detail.
Contemplative practice of the week
The Capstone Sit
Twenty-five minutes daily. Sit. Bring the capstone design into mind. Hold it. Ask: where does this design feel alive, and where does it feel forced? What is the capstone really about, beyond its deliverables? What is being asked of me that I am not yet equipped for? What is the practice that needs to deepen for the capstone to land? Master coaches who deliver substantial capstones do this practice throughout the implementation, not just in the design phase. The capstone is held in practice.
Learning objectives
- Design your capstone in detail — scope, timeline, deliverables, measurement.
- Articulate how the capstone integrates the lineage's frameworks.
- Identify the support, mentorship, and resources required.
- Receive cohort and faculty feedback on the design.
- Begin the capstone implementation.
Session architecture
- Hour 1 — Capstone categories. Lead Instructor presents the categories and exemplary capstones from past Level 3 cohorts. Categories: extended client engagement, teaching offering, research project, written work, organizational intervention, hybrid.
- Hour 2 — Personal capstone design. Each student designs their capstone in detail — written document with scope, timeline (typically 6-12 months), deliverables, measurement, support needed.
- Hour 3 — Capstone presentation. Each student presents their capstone in 6 minutes. Cohort and faculty offer detailed feedback.
- Hour 4 — Continuing presentations. Synthesis. The cohort's collective capstone work mapped.
Reading
- The Transpersonal Leader — chapters on the master capstone
- Sample capstone projects from past Level 3 cohorts — anonymized examples
Lineages at work
Transpersonal (anchor) — capstone as integrated master demonstration · All four lineages — capstone draws from the integration · ICEF — capstone includes measurement architecture
Milestone
Capstone design completed in detail with scope, timeline, deliverables, measurement plan. Cohort and faculty feedback received. First implementation actions taken. The Capstone Sit daily practice initiated. Capstone mentor (faculty or external) identified.
Reflection prompt
Is the capstone I have designed mine, or is it something I think the program wants? What is the difference? What is the part of the design that I am most excited about? What is the part I am most uncertain about? What support do I need?
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