Why Your Voice is Essential
You ARE the Coaching Commons

I remember when I left home for the first time and went away to college, my parents' belief and value system was firmly embedded in my being. To my naive surprise, I discovered not everyone at college believed, behaved, or shared my value system! So I began to question what I thought was true and real. Only after a time of questioning, sharing provocative conversations with others and testing what was true for me, did I discover values that were truly my own. For me, it was the process of advancing to the next level of maturity.

Is coaching in a similar place now?

On the Commons, coaches are questioning and comparing, sharing their beliefs and disbeliefs, and testing what works. At the CC, we believe that through these conversations, coaches are becoming a more unified and focused force that will advance the field of coaching to the next level of maturity.

It’s remarkable to think what can happen as more and more voices are added!

We know coaching changes the future for individuals. Provocative conversation helps coaches affect change on a broader, faster, more effective AND global scale.

At the Coaching Commons, we talk about what YOU tell us is important. We invite you to write posts on your topic, or encourage you to find a post that addresses your interest and invite you to dive deep into the conversation with your honest comments.

We are happy when you like our posts; we are ECSTATIC when you question, explore, and turn the posts inside out! That’s where the remarkable happens. And YOUR voice is essential to accomplish that.

I hope you enjoy this second issue of the Coaching Commons Newsletter and that it inspires you to bookmark the site, www.CoachingCommons.org  and visit often.

Meet you @ the Commons,

Linda Ballew
Editor on behalf of the Coaching Commons team
team@coachingcommons.org

Everything You Wanted to Know About the History of Coaching, but Were Afraid to Ask

It is finally done and available for your reading pleasure. After three years and 170+ interviews, I have completed my Ph.D. dissertation titled “Grounded Theory of the Roots and Emergence of Coaching.”

The 693 page document (this includes appendices and references) is available at The Foundation of Coaching’s Research Repository. For those who prefer an executive summary, the abstract follows my signature.

As one of the pioneers of the coaching field myself, I know the insides of great coaching and mentoring, and how it has evolved over the years. I understand from some colleagues that I am now a recognized expert on the history of the professional coaching field. Imagine that!

Click to read Vikki’s entire post.

Coming Soon: The Harnisch Foundation is delighted to collaborate with Vikki to bring her dissertation into book format for publication in January 2009. At the time of publication of this newsletter, the ghostwriting and editing process has begun. Announcements of progress will be made through future issues of this newsletter.

Join an Uncommon Conversation via Telephone!

These Voices Will Be Heard Soon

August 21, Book It: words for the soul with host Lynn Kindler and guest Saundra Pelletier – Topic: Saddle Up your own White Horse!

September 4, New Wave of Coaching with host Gordon Clark and guest Shirley Anderson

September 4, Book It: Words for the Soul with host Lynn Kindler and guest author Richard Bandler

September 10, 10 Poems for 10 Coaches -- What does poetry have to do with coaching? Everything!

September 12, Guest Donna Zajonc – Series Topic: Bring the Coaching Process to Political Leaders
1st in a Series: What's Working and What's Not Working: Sharing Donna's Experience and Insights

 
Click to view and/or register for an Uncommon Conversation.

Uncommon Conversations are open calls. The only cost to attend is your own long distance call charges.

Take This Home!

Books, books, books...

Curious about what other coaches are reading? Now you can browse bookshelves in the homes of other coaches. Here’s your virtual peek:

“The Evidence-Based Coaching Handbook” (Dianne Stober & Anthony Grant)

“Measuring Hidden Dimensions: The Art and Science of Fully Engaging Adults” (Otto E. Laske)

“Handbook of Coaching Psychology” (Stephen Palmer & Alison Whybrow)

“Positive Psychological Assessment” (Shane J. Lopez & C.R. Snyder.)

“How the Way We Talk Can Change the Way We Work” (Kegan & Lahey)

“Anatomy of Peace” (from the Arbinger Institute)

“Executive Coaching for Results: The Definitive Guide to Developing Organizational Leaders” (Brian O. Underhill, Kimcee McAnally, & John J. Koriath)

AND don’t forget journals –

The in-print kind:

Consulting Psychology: Practice and Research

International Journal of Coaching in Organization

The on-line kind:

International Journal of Evidence-Based Coaching

International Coaching Psychology Review

Click to sneak some more peeks at bookshelves around the world, don’t be shy.

This month’s quote:

“Coaching is a profession of love. You can't coach people unless you love them.”

• Eddie Robinson

Who is Eddie Robinson?

Practical Research That’s Useful TODAY!

These researcher interviews hosted monthly by Francine Campone are to build bridges between the in-the-trenches coach and grounded research. In a word, research that’s useful!

Her title is a mouthful: Docent of The Foundation of Coaching Research Repository, however we promise Francine is both approachable and enjoyable as facilitator of these original interviews - and they are not available elsewhere. And she asks the practical questions we would ask!

Click to Listen or Download: An Interview with Janet Baldwin Anderson - How Do Coaches Learn to be Effective Coaches?

Click to Listen or Download: An Interview with Tom Krapu about Client Life Satisfaction Surveys

Got requests for research interviews that could support your endeavors in the real coaching world? Try us by submitting your request or question. Email team@coachingcommons.org

FYI: The Foundation of Coaching, a project of The Harnisch Foundation, promotes scholarly research on coaching-related topics, research, methods and ideas, and is building a global community of coaching-related researchers. The Foundation of Coaching offers $100,000 each year in grants and support for coaching-related research.

 Be Heard Now: Contribute Globally @ the Commons

What are the unspoken coaching questions that need to be asked out loud? What opinions are stuck in your throat? Tell us what you want to talk, whisper and/or shout about!

Our guest contributors are volunteer conversation-leaders and spend up to two hours (or more, should you wish!) writing short articles, commenting, and generally stirring the coaching conversation. It’s your brain on display.

Every guest contributor is a critical part of The Coaching Commons. Our mission is to explore and pursue radical opportunities for coaching, so we ask our guest contributors to pose questions, make key suggestions, and generally lead the way – walk the talk, so to speak.

For more information about posting a topic near and dear to your coaching-heart, now is the time to email team@coachingcommons.org. Either Linda or Elizabeth will be pleased to get right back to you.
 

What’s in a Comment?

July 19, 2008
From Anita Stadler

“I can offer a view from a couple of perspectives that may be helpful. I manage executive coaching for a Fortune 100 company and I am trained as a coach myself (CTI).

When hiring external executive coaches, I steer clear of those whose training appeared to focus only on how to “do” coaching (step 1, 2, 3 with only one model) as opposed to focusing on how to “be” as a coach.

In addition to coaching ability, I look for life experience that demonstrates they have triumphed over adversity, learned important lessons, led large endeavors, or made an impact that matters. The wisdom they bring provides personal grounding that cannot be purchased from a training provider.”

Click to read what she’s talking about…

Meet U @ the Commons!

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