Welcome. What is The Coaching Commons? We launched on January 15, 2008 and we are currently building The Commons to spec, based on your feedback. (Click ‘read more’ to learn about the goals of the early launch phase, how you can help, and why you should care.)
That being said, for now, here is what we conceive The Coaching Commons to be. The original vision, as it were:
- A non-partisan ‘big tent’ under which coaches can freely create the future together in a non-commercial setting on the world-wide-web.
Why Build it? Our vision is that it will provide:
- future-oriented information and trends
- advanced dialog
- a social focus
Some of the benefits of knowing about and participating in The Commons will be:
- having a non-commercial place to rest your weary virtual head
- pride in the tribe
- a bigger game to play
- intellectual stimulation and entertainment
- growth of the field through group global dialog
- access to and grounding in research
- the reminder to look beyond our differences
Other ways to describe or see The Commons:
- As a gathering place. Like on a university campus, the commons is encircled by buildings inside which lots of great work gets done. In the commons itself, some people walk their dogs, some pursue big ideas, some make friends and connections.
- As a philanthropic venture. Make no bones about it, The Coaching Commons is backed by leading visionaries in coaching philanthropy. This funding makes it possible for the Commons to exist, and for the projects that spring from it to do their work. (e.g. #1: Significant amounts of research on the efficacy of coaching done by The Foundation of Coaching. e.g. #2: The pro-bono coach matching service called The Gift of Coaching. e.g. #3: The Global Visionary Coaching Fellowship to financially support bold action by a coaching leader. etc.)
- As Coaching’s Think Tank with Project Management capabilities. Our industry has had think-tanks before, but not with project management connected to it. This means we get to explore things we as coaches WANT to see happen and *pursue* the best ideas to fruition. (Not just talk, though there’s nothing wrong with talk. Call it ‘talk with teeth.’)
- Neutral and Nonprofit. Which means that this is an apolitical organization - or at least as apolitical as a group of diverse people gathered together can be. It is, to use one of my favorite anologies, like a gorgeous silken slice of tofu, waiting to take on the flavor of those that convene here. Because it’s neutral, I believe it’s a place all conversations can happen.
And that’s where you come in. What do you think The Coaching Commons is? Is building it a good use of time, energy, effort? If you could see it be or do anything, what would that be? Click here to respond.
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