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How does the field of coaching advance from fad to field to profession? When will coaching gain credibility? Where is the ethical mind, heart and soul of coaching? What are the questions that need to be asked and that must be answered to move coaching to the next level of maturity?
Due to the gracious generosity and vision of the Coaching and Positive Psychology Initiative of Harvard Medical School, McLean Hospital, and The Foundation of Coaching, forty internationally recognized and well respected coaching researchers and professionals tackled this topic for two inspiring days at Harvard on September 28 and 29. NOTE: Whoever has a preconceived assumption that research and/or reserachers are a bit stodgy and perhaps boring – well – think again – I was there, and personally witnessed the energy, passion, humor and pure delight that erupted as they talked about coaching and met with colleagues who shared (and challenged) their concepts and ideas!
Each brave and brilliant participant began with a three-minute presentation, video-taped live. This presentation was intended to pose timely, thoughtful questions that research must answer to advance coaching in the world. The variety of fresh perspectives and passion from the speakers made my heart race! Made me want to dance, actually.
For two days, with masterful facilitation from Sunny Stout Rostron, the group shared in pairs, sparred in groups, refined their questions, changed and rearranged positions, created a constant flurry of dialogue and flying post-it notes. They took their lively conversations to lunch, around the dinner table and on walks to and from the hotel…well, you get the picture. It was very exciting.
So what?
Here’s the “so what” from my “Breaking News” and “Coaching Commons” perspective…
In 48 hours, 40 researchers created 100 (give or take a few) new proposals for coaching research projects, designed thoughtfully and strategically to advance coaching.
Colleagues were pleasantly surprised to find colleagues who shared their coaching research interests; they tapped into new professional networks; they discovered and explored various visions, missions, values of coaching.
We agreed to create inventive multi-media ways of distributing research findings for wider discussion with the coaching community and the media – in practical language – that will benefit practitioners, clients, and the widest media audience. So we will ALL be well informed and pushing ahead – together – globally.
Deepest gratitude to Ruth Ann Harnisch, David Goldsmith, The Foundation of Coaching and The Coaching and Positive Psychology Initiative from Harvard Medical School for sponsoring the ICRF. Hats off to the Harvard Faculty Club for graciously hosting the forum.
Thanks and applause to Co-Chairs Carol Kauffman and Mary Wayne Bush, to Facilitator Sunny Stout-Rostron, and to Grace Russell for her work on the website and directory.
And a standing ovation to this unique group who joyfully shared their vision for coaching and began “questioning” the next thrilling chapter in the future of coaching.
Let’s hear more…..comments enthusiastically invited….
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These two days will be rippling indefinitely into the future. As participants, we have all acknowledged our deep gratitude to the Harnisch Foundation for helping this happen. Imagine taking the occasional conversation you might have with a coaching colleague about research in coaching and expanding that conversation to two days, with an international cast of characters who all share a deep passion for the coaching profession and coaching research!
The people involved worked with an incredible spirit of cooperation and encouragement. Many future researchers will be helped by the suggested studies that emerged and could help define a program for coaching research for the future.
WOW, it was absolutely incredible.
Sincerely,
Tom Krapu, PhD, ACC
St. Louis, MO USA
As Co-Chair of this historical event, I was pleased that we reached our goal of identifying the studies needed to advance the profession, as well as continuing the “coaching research” conversations that have been growing in interest and intensity over the past seven years that I have been involved! As the interest in coaching grows, so does the interest in – and enthusiasm for – coaching-related research, and it was a delight and honor to be with this group for the two days of productive and provocative conversations! The event left me wondering “What’s Next?”
Hello all –
This meeting far surpassed even my wildest expectations. It evolved from a telephone call Ruth Ann and I had just this past Spring – and what a wonderful whirlwind it has been!
There were many highlights for me – and I am looking forward to seeing the video montage from the event – that may take a while to make it the Coaching Commons – but it’s in the works.
As Co-editor in Chief of Coaching: An International Journal of Theory, Research & Practice, (www.informaworld.com/coaching) I knew most of the researchers — but did not realize how many did not know one another. A favorite moment for me was when fellow Aussies Susan David and Gordon Spence realized at the meeting that they were studying some of the same issues, using similar methods and didn’t know it. They were delighted and can now coordinate efforts.
As for me, I am writing a book on the coaching relationship with David Peterson from PDI (Personnel Decisions International) and I found a whole bunch of people who are involved in research in this area. While I knew some of them I had no clue they were providing some of the academic basis for what David and I want to write about.
Perhaps greatest of all was to see how most of these so-called “eggheads” are also excellent practicing coaches themselves, and as a result are picking research topics that will be of incredible use to those of us in the field. As someone with 15+ coaching and coaching supervision clients a week I am more of a research consumer than producer.
Thanks to everyone who participated — our 100 studies will be up on the web soon!
Best,
Carol Kauffman, PhD PCC
Coaching & Positive Psychology Initiative
Harvard Medical School – HarvardCoaching.org
There is a chance history might show this to be the most far-reaching and influential investment of philanthropic dollars I ever made.
The field of coaching is ripe for serious academic investigation worldwide, which is the only route to acceptance as a legitimate profession with a basis in evidence.
If you can’t prove what works, why, how, with and for whom, it’s doesn’t gain the credibility required to call a discipline “a profession.”
As a fellow donor activist put it, “The ‘Sigmund Freud’ of Coaching hasn’t been identified yet.”
If such a person exists, chances are they were at the Harvard Faculty Club for the first International Coaching Research Forum. And the community of researchers that was created will continue to grow in strength, numbers, credibility, and support for the emerging future household names in coaching studies.
This was one of the most rewarding philanthropic investments I’ve ever made, with great thanks to all who participated and all who organized and facilitated and helped.
Dr. Carol Kauffman, Dr. Mary Wayne Bush, Sunny Stout Rostron, Linda Ballew, Vikki Brock, David Goldsmith, Vanessa Koury, Elaine Hui, Laurence, Grace, et al, and everyone who came…thanks for making history.
What a great conference! A particularly good outcome was our meeting each other and establishing connections for future collaborations.I too feel this meeting has started something big–a great big conversation among coaches globally.
I took a quick peek at the 100 questions and would be pleased to have my name associated with the coaching competency based questions that group 7 created. And I would be happy to discuss with other researchers ways to develop these ideas into fuller scale research studies!
Janet
Janet Baldwin Anderson, Ph.D.
JBA Coaching Services, LLC