What is The Coaching Commons?
January 15th, 2008 • Related • Filed Under
What do we conceive ‘The Coaching Commons’ to be? Before your input, refinements and requests, that is? The Coaching Commons is:
- 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? It will provide:
- future-oriented information and trends
- advanced dialog
- a social focus
Some of the benefits will be:
- a non-commercial place to rest a weary head
- pride in the tribe
- a bigger game to play
- intellectual stimulation and entertainment
- growth of the field
- access to and grounding in research
- looking 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 analogies, 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?
Popularity: 68% [?]
Comment by hartmut hacke on 16 April 2008:
hallo!
ich habe ja schon geschrieben ,das ich nur die deutschesprache verstehe und auch lesen kann ,ja das ist so ,denn ich bin auch schon 52 jahre alt und ich glaube nicht das ich noch die englischesprache lernen kann !!
also ist es für mich nicht möglich mich bei ihnen zu betätigen ,denn ich kann das was sie so schreiben ,nicht lesen ,okdanke für ihre bemühungen ud ich muß gleich aus dem internet denn es wird mir zu teuer!
also tschau und nochmal danke
Hartmut Hacke
___________________________________________________________________________
Hello!
I have already written that I just understand German, and also can read, and indeed this is so, because I am already 52 years old and I do not believe that I can learn English!
So for me it is not possible to easily respond to the comments. I can write what they are, not read them, ok?! I thank them for their efforts and I must leave immediately from the internet because it is too expensive!
So again thanks and good bye
Hartmut Hacke
Comment by Katherine Gotshall English on 26 February 2008:
Somewhere I recently read :
“Cathedrals were built progressively over decades even centuries without architects without blueprints. The final design was visible only in the end.”
As part of this unfolding conversation I’d like to add a stone or two.
This conversation started by asking three questions:
1: What do you think of The Coaching Commons?
2: Is building it a good use of time, energy, effort?
3: If you could see it be or do anything what would that be?
What is The Coaching Commons? We will look back and know. Yes. It is a good use of time, energy and effort. Last night was the 80th Annual Academy Awards. One of the reporters on the red carpet said this event started as an intimate dinner party. Would these founding
members have ever guessed that 80 years later the world would be showing up for this party? What I do know is many big events start small.
Thank you Ruth Ann Harnisch for launching this party. I am wondering how this site can contribute to the cornerstone of your philanthrophy ( see post 10 ) “unleashing untapped capacity.” This begins to touch on question number three, posed by Andree Lee. I can’t step over that not only has Andrea designed an elegant enviroment for exploring radical possibilities but she took the time to open the door for a beginner with gracious hospitality. (she is helping me get this posted )
I’d like this site to help unleash. How do things get unleashed? How do people get unleashed? What I know for sure is people are afraid. People are afraid of looking stupid publicly and this is one place where you wouldn’t want to - especially in front of your peers.
So to begin to unleash the space has to be safe. I’m not a writer. I am a talker. So the first step is to invite all talkers in to play. Start with a word. One word. A sentence will follow. I highly recommend a book: The way of the small by Michael Gellert. To begin to unleash start small. What is untapped is incredible and extraordinary but the way in is with a micro-movement. Offer a blog/post ambassador. Trust me the first time someone tries something even if it is easy they want hand holding. Not everyone needs this but it would be invaluable to offer a real person who can
help.
I hope this space can celebrate the common ie: coaching commons and create a dialogue that allows all of us to say a word or two at this table. Out of the blue one word leads to another. Thank you fo helping me unleash an untapped capacity.
This is the beginning and I’m encouraging someone who has never written a word for public view to add one stone to this unfolding conversation.
Quote yourself and unleash a word of your own.
Katherine Gotshall English
Comment by Sue Bond on 14 February 2008:
If I could see it (Coaching Commons) be or do anything what would it be?
Ruth Ann said she believes that ‘coaching conversations can transform the world’ and that ‘perhaps we can collectively create The Free College of Coaching Knowledge… to develop coaching skills that will transform conversations in homes, businesses, schools, places of worship, and governments.’
That is a brilliant idea! Imagine going one step further and transforming conversations BETWEEN those who belong to places of worship and governments who have conflicting beliefs! We know where that often leads.
When the Dalai Lama was in Vancouver a couple of years ago he said at first he thought that Buddhism was the way. But then he met people from different religions and then realized that there is no one right way, there are many.
I think that conflict often occurs (whether on a grand scale such as war or on a smaller ‘personal argument’ scale) when those involved think their way or opinion is the only way and the right way. A defending and attacking occurs instead of an opening to new ways or ideas.
So teaching people coaching skills for a variety of situations or places would support the person using the coaching skills to create a safe environment for any conversation to be an opening vs a defending. Plus showing and calling out a person’s greatness sure can help!
If I recall correctly, Thomas Leonard’s main premise when starting Coachville was that ‘everyone is a coach’ so lets give them skills to be one in their life. So this would be bringing that alive again.
P.S. Ruth Ann - I love the philosophy of your philanthropy - ‘unleashing untapped capacity.’ Wow!
Comment by Ruth Ann Harnisch on 10 February 2008:
Dear Gail,
“Where the heart of coaching beats freely.”
That beautiful phrase affirms the intentions and work of those who helped to create everything you see: Andrea Lee, Mary Wayne Bush, David Goldsmith, Vikki Brock, Francine Campone, John Bennett, Linda Ballew, Robyn Logan, Jenny Raymond, Vanessa Koury, Renee Freedman, Deborah Brown-Volkman, and so many more.
By the way, when I clicked your name I went to your website. You stand for transformation. No wonder you feel at home here at The Coaching Commons!
Comment by Gail Blesch on 10 February 2008:
Ruth Ann Harnisch, thank you for jumping in. It is refreshing and a relief to discover a place where the heart of coaching beats freely. You have eloquently summarized the point and potential of coaching as a way of being and a means of ‘unleashing untapped capacity.’ Although coaching has evolved professionally, it is the call to heal the world that most coaches initially answer. Thank you for creating a site that may act as an anchor for our original intent.