Reporting from Dublin: Global Convention on Coaching

I’ve had an opportunity to talk with three people who attended the GCC, and I’ve read the post-GCC messages that have appeared in the Coaching Commons. Everyone involved seems very enthusiastic about what they experienced in Dublin and very supportive of the process, interaction, and production.

Statements about the number of participants at the conference range from a low of 40 to a high of 70+ (a much smaller amount than the hoped for 200 attendees — although many of this group participated in the pre-event production activities).

Unfortunately, the available post-conference reports, while enthusiastic, lack anything innovative, creative, or new. While complete documentation necessarily will take some time since the conference process requires considerable checking back and forth before final approval, what has appeared so far reveals why I, at least, thought this conference was going to be a waste of time.

Several other events prior to this conference were equally, if not more, productive. In essence, the GCC is an example of the old saying about an elephant giving birth to a mouse. The GCC was over-promoted as being significant, different and innovative. They even tried to promote the process as being unique, eventhough it has been used in events around the world for years. And it appears that they fortunately abandoned plans for using one of the process-oriented interventions as it was totally inappropriate for the conference and the participants.

What I’m saying here will probably enrage most, if not all, the participants and organizers. They will have the hardest time admitting that all the time and money they spent did not result in the outcomes or intentions stated early on by the GCC leaders. I challenge anyone to state that any outcomes from the conference were better formulated, stated, articulated or even significantly different than what has been available in the coaching literature, previous coaching conferences, or coaching listserves.

I am so disappointed that we’ve not heard comments from anyone who attended the GCC in Dublin.

I anticipated much news and information spilling out of the conference. I had high hopes of continuing the global dialogue here at the Coaching Commons.

GCC Steering Committee, Chairs, Facilitators and Participants — please give us news about the Dublin experience and the outcome!

Linda, your disappointment is noted.

The news will spill out. We are being careful to ensure that all the material that will be forthcoming has been agreed to by those present and those in the wider GCC. So watch out for a Dublin Declaration, a series of calls to action as well as support materials, video from the event, personal reflections on the event, etc. These all exist and are moving around the GCC community for sign up.

It is frustrating but we do need to stay with our process of ensuring the community is fully informed and their consent obtained.

Our thanks to all for your anticipation and good wishes. We hope that you will feel able to support the declaration when it appears and also sign up to its action steps. We propose even wider consultation than that achieved so far.

Regards,

David Lane

To all who see this

It is difficult for me to post here for I have been rebuked and my reputation has been called into question on this site. It has taken me a while to heal. I did see your diappointment and this is not my intention.

Your involvement in GCC in no small way helped to get it to where it is today. Without what you did, there would be nothing. That involvement will not end. GCC now means Global Community of Coaches and the call has been for an organism rather than an organisation.

The silence that you hear is not inactivity – it is the sound of people at work in deep refection on what transpired in Dublin and how we can enable it to continue.

I do not underestimate the work that needs to be done or the challenges that we face, but much has been done since July. We will issue the Dublin Declaration and its Annexes on September 1st for sign up by coaches and associations alike.

We will issue a Roots Map, A Signposting Document and History and Future Map as soon as they are approved. We will then be working on the GCC Strategy White Paper to ensure that we do what the delegates have asked for. It will be no mean feat.

We will also have to figure out a way to show the video content that we took and expand the virtual collaboration platform. Not only that, but we have been asked to develop some additional tools for the community that will take time and money.

In addition, we have called for stories to be written and some have come forward. We are working on our technology strategy where they will be hosted.

What we have been asked to do is not something that happens immediately, but we hope that it will feel quick to those who take part in the community that has been called for.

regards to all, even the dissenters

Paul

I realize it can be a tough call about whether to focus on the final product, however long it takes to produce, or to divert effort and time to interim products.

That said, I would welcome more regular communication from any of the organizers and believe that it would serve the greater community.

There are pros and cons of putting anything out that might be deemed less than polished, but there are also risks in delaying too long. It has already been a month since the GCC finished.

In the meantime, I guess we will have to wait and see what is finally released.

I’ve seen a preview of the “Declaration from Dublin,” and there is nothing significant or different about it that distinguishes it from dozens of statements made by organizations and individuals actively involved in coaching. My guess is that Linda’s disappointment will be even greater when she sees the output from Dublin.

I attended the GCC in Dublin as the ICF President and wrote a brief article that was in the August edition of the International Coach Federation’s Coaching World. I’ve pasted the article in this message and included an additional member’s reflection that I received since the publication.

The Privilege of Participating in the GCC
By Diane Brennan, MCC, MBA ICF President
Excerpt from ICF Coaching World August 8, 2008

From July 7 to 11, 2008, over 60 coaches from 16 countries gathered in Dublin, Ireland to participate in the Global Convention on Coaching (GCC, http://www.coachingconvention.org), a non-partisan, non-profit forum inspired by Dr. Michael Cavenaugh (Australia) and Dr. David Lane (UK). There were many other key individuals involved with various stages of the GCC’s work to arrive at this event. Individuals from various areas of interest around coaching engaged in online discussions over a year-long time frame about what is possible for coaching related to workgroup topics including ethics, competencies, professional status, research, education, knowledge base, mapping the field, coach selection, evaluation of coaching and social responsibility.

The online process was challenging at times though in the end produced worthwhile information that served as a foundation for deeper discussion. The convention attendees included members from the ICF, European Mentoring and Coaching Council, Association for Professional Executive Coaching and Supervision, Coaches and Mentors of South Africa, Worldwide Association of Business Coaches, European Coaching Institute, Irish Coaching and Development Network, Executive Coaching Summit, Australian Psychological Society and others. Several held dual roles also representing coach training programs and university coaching programs. Paul Mooney, Director of the GCC Ireland and the Irish Organizing Team, did an amazing job preparing for and managing the logistics and process throughout the convention.

The attendees engaged in an intense weeklong process and in conclusion created a declaration for coaching along with summaries for each workgroup topic. The declaration aligns with ICF’s strategic mission and our effort to outreach to other organizations as we work toward advancing coaching as a profession. It was a privilege to participate in the GCC as a workgroup facilitator and especially to be engaged in the discussion and dialogue in Dublin. The ICF membership will be informed when the declaration and summary documents are available. Included here are reflections from five of our ICF members who were also in Dublin:

Gerry Ryan, PCC, Director Irish Coaching Development Network, Ireland and Past President of ICF Ireland Chapter: To have been part of such a gathering, with such diversity, such a sense of community and common purpose was a privilege and an honour ‚Äö√Ñ√¨ in fact a little magical. It was all I expected it to be and a lot more. It served as a great affirmation of coaching in Ireland and how we are trying to guide its development here. More importantly, it has renewed our faith in the power of coaching and raised our hopes for the future we can create together ‚Äö√Ñ√¨ both for the coaching ‘profession’ and our wider world.

Elisabeth Legrain, ACC, Singapore, and Michael Fox, former ICF Australia Queensland Chapter President: The GCC has been a very special event…it has been possible to push ourselves and our coaching skills in the creation of a weeklong coaching ‚Äö√Ñ√∫space to work.‚Äö√Ñ√π In particular, to observe and experience, the power of being ‚Äö√Ñ√∫non-judgmental‚Äö√Ñ√π‚Äö√Ñ√¨as it freed our individual authenticity, the creativity flowed easily, naturally and efficiently. Personally, the experience of connecting at this level of sensitivity and intensity with a group of more than 60 passionate coaches, in order to initiate a momentum of genuineness and empowerment of our coaching practice is a unique experience and rare exercise. Witnessing the sensitive and strong engagement of the ICF, represented by ICF President Diane, seeing the integrity of its actions in regards to coaching related activities, and sharing those special moments gave a sense of happiness, hope and pride in being associated with this global organization.

Leni Wildflower, PhD, PCC, Director, Evidence Based Coaching, Fielding Graduate University, USA:
The GCC convention in Dublin helped confirm my sense that there are many diverse, creative and talented coaches who share my concerns around standards and ethics and developing a quality profession. The meeting also confirmed my sense of urgency around the need for all of us to let go of mistrust and feelings of territoriality, and begin to seriously work together toward this end.

Akiko Maeker, ACC, USA and Japan: GCC was an incredible forum for dialogue. I was personally and professionally inspired by the level of knowledge and commitment all participants brought together from around the world. There is much to learn from and contribute to the world through coaching, locally in our respective communities and globally outside our comfort zones. I ask myself and would like to invite all fellow coaches to ask themselves: As a coach and as a person, what do I have to offer to the world? And what do I have yet to learn from the world? I felt the overwhelmingly crucial role the ICF can play in the global coaching community building such as GCC. I would like to see ICF continuing to grow strong as a professional organization, and at the same time, playing an active role in creating continuing forum for global dialogue among coaching stakeholders.

Other ICF members I want to acknowledge for their participation at GCC: Mats Ogren, ICF Nordic Board Member and Chapter Leader, Sweden; Carollyne Conlinn, MCC, Canada; Sherry Harsch-Porter, USA; Stephen Brock, PhD, USA; Lorna McDowell, GCC organizing team member, Ireland; and Sara Nelson, Australia.

As an aside, I also had an opportunity to connect with Monica Ross, ACC, ICF Ireland Chapter Leader while I was in Dublin. There is a lot of outstanding work being undertaken in Ireland to advance the art, science and practice of professional coaching!

Thanks Diane, I’ve also received a copy of the Dublin Declaration which I share in part here, with a link to the entire document for our readers to review.

THE DUBLIN DECLARATION ON COACHING
July 11, 2008
We are coaches from many backgrounds who have gathered in Dublin to dialogue on the state of our emerging profession. Recognizing the value of creating global cohesion and clarity while honouring diversity, we are drawn together by a sense of urgency to capture the essence of the power of coaching in a world where people everywhere are encountering a time of critical change.

Grounded in a profound belief in the value of what we do, we are sixty-three individuals from sixteen countries, defined by our commitment to the profession that energises us, our concern to see it through this pivotal moment in its development, and our desire to discover, dream, design, and deliver our shared vision for its future.

Through twelve months of international dialogue, over two hundred and fifty people contributed to ten working groups to address key areas for development of the coaching field. This led to the Global Coaching Convention, the first meeting of its kind. We have found ourselves inspired by the diversity of the participants, both cultural and professional. We have discovered also an exciting degree of common ground, beginning with a belief in the power of coaching to unlock the potential of people, organisations,
and society.

Additionally we have encountered a yearning for the kind of cooperation for which this dialogue process might serve as a model, and a desire to play a part in nurturing the growth of our profession in this dynamic stage of its development.

We acknowledge with gratitude the ongoing interactions of individuals and groups that are leading to the emergence of a high degree of coherence and significance of this young profession. We affirm our commitment to the Global Coaching Community that includes practitioners, academics, business people, administrators, and professional organizations to continue pursuing this dialogue.

At the same time we recognize the challenges that face our emerging profession, the conflicting approaches that might diffuse its energy, as well as the moves to control it from within and without that threaten to limit its ability to make its full contribution to individuals, organizations and society. We affirm the immediate imperative for the coaching community to come together to define and regulate itself.

V. 1.3 GCC August 22nd 2008
[FINAL EDIT OF DUBLIN DECLARATION AND APPENDICES]
Global Community of Coaches
Therefore, we, the delegates of the Global Coaching Convention, hereby declare that the individuals and organizations that comprise the Global Coaching Community need to:
1. Establish a common understanding of the profession through creation of a shared core code of ethics, standards of practice, and educational guidelines that ensure the quality and integrity of the competencies that lie at the heart of our practice.

2. Acknowledge and affirm the multidisciplinary roots and nature of coaching as a unique synthesis of a range of disciplines that creates a new and distinctive value to individuals, organizations and society. To accomplish this we need to add to the body of coaching knowledge by conducting rigorous research into the processes, practices, and outcomes of coaching, in order to strengthen its practical impact and theoretical underpinnings.

3. Respond to a world beset by challenges for which there are no predetermined answers by using coaching to create a space wherein new solutions can emerge. In doing so we are stepping into the power of coaching as coaches and inviting our clients to do the same.

4. Move beyond self-interest and join with us and other members of the Global Coaching
Community in an ongoing dialogue to address the critical issues facing our field, beginning with those that were identified by the ten working groups [see the appendices from the groups appended to this Declaration].

Signed by coaches present at the Global Convention on Coaching,
Dublin, July 11 2008
Anna Booy, Diane Brennan, Stephen Brock, Noel Brosnan, Rosetta Broy, Gabriele Buzatu, Michael Cavanagh, Caroline Conlinn, Lloyd Denton, Martin Down, Darren Eger, Josh Ehrlich, Paul Ellis, Alex Engel, Annette Fillery Travis, Maeve Finch, Ronan Flood, Johanna Fullerton, Lawrence Green, John Groom, Sherry Harsch-Porter, Peter Hill, Caroline Horner, Thomas Kottner, David Lane, Elisabeth Legrain, Lise Lewis, Ann
Lohan, Akiko Maeker, Henry Marsden, Lorna McDowell, Aaron McEwan, David Megginson, Rafael Mies, Paul Mooney, Sera Nelson, Aletta Odendaal, Gerard O’Donovan, Mats Ogren, Paddy Paisley, John Paisley, Justin G. Reynolds, Bernadette Riley- Murray, Suzanne Begin, Gerry Ryan, Kate Shaw Roy Sherry, Simone Sietsma, Gordon Spence, Reinhard Stelter, Lew Stern, Hannes Swart, Sunny Stout-Rostron, Marti Van Rensberg, Svenja Wachter, Anne Whyte, Leni Wildflower, Pauline Willis Natalie Witthun, Peter Zarris

Read the entire 2008 Dublin Declaration at the link below.
http://www.coachingcommons.org/wp-content/uploads/Dublin%20Declaration%20on%20Coaching%20with%20Appendices%20final.pdf

From the details provided in the Dublin Declaration, it’s clear that the document is woefully inadequate and out-of-date. Accomplishing No. 1 might have been possible and useful 15 years ago when there were a handful of coach training organizations and a single professional association. Today, however, with more than a dozen professional associations and almost 300 coach training schools, coaching has gained in richness because of its diversity, alternatives, and differing perspectives. To create a “shared core” is not only impossible, it completely ignores the factors that led to the current status of coaching.

No. 2 adds nothing to what almost everyone associated with coaching already knows: “multi-disciplinary roots” and supports: “rigorous research.” The dissertation by Vikki Brock, as detailed elsewhere on the Coaching Commons is a great example of both.

No. 3. Coaching as a solution to the world’s problems? Get real and get limits!

No. 4. Hundreds of other have already done this, and I can’t help but sense arrogance on the part of the GCC to have people “join with us…” What about the ECC in Geneva, and the dozens of other conferences and events that have already taken place and will be taking place. The GCC is probably the smallest group to have convened; and while size doesn’t really matter, it seems more like it’s the tail trying to wag the dog. Wake up GCC!

Personal experiences of attending the Global Coaching Convention Dublin July 2008 – Lise Lewis

Well, was the anticipation worth it?

My introduction to GCC was that people from the coaching (including mentoring) industry were invited to join ten working groups covering coaching related topics. The aim was to produce outputs for a week’s convention in Dublin in July 2008.

The run up to the event provided an opportunity to create a dialogue on the net and ‘virtually’ meet people representing a diverse group in terms of, for example, geographical location, professional background, gender and contributions. Getting to know who was involved, how individuals contributed their comments, views, challenges and questions seemed a mysterious approach initially ‚Äö√Ñ√¨ a discussion apparently without focus gradually gave way to an emerging dialogue focused on our aim for Dublin.

Arriving at Dublin I was warmly greeted by one of the professional coaches volunteering their time and efforts to be our amazing Irish hosts. What a team! The venue provided a welcoming environment for the event, manuals were available, technology arranged – in total, an inspiring platform for the week ahead.

The week was packed with exchanges of thoughts, opinions, hypotheses and projections for the given topics of dialogue. People spoke from their intellect, their hearts, their tensions and embraced the spirit of the event. What was evident was that the dynamics of those attending Dublin created a space in which everyone could speak their truth. People unable to join the dialogue personally were invited to contribute virtually. An obvious willingness and desire was recognisable for conveying to the wider population what coaching is, what it can achieve and how it can be enhanced for the benefit of society.

The dialogue was engaging, challenging, stretching and extended well beyond individual interests into investing energy from a dedicated group of people wanting to make a difference. The synergy of shared understanding, experience and researched information produced a unique source of knowledge for the coaching industry.

Whether or not we all agreed with the outcomes of our dialogue, by the end of the week we had a clearer picture of our collective position on progressing the work, what questions were outstanding and a view on coaching as an emerging profession. We also had a more informed idea of, for example, how we wanted to continue the dialogue, what can be achieved through research, cooperating on standards and education and producing a shared code of ethics.

It wasn’t about regulating the industry it was about understanding the essence of coaching and what it offers and what we can and want to achieve as a ‘community.’ The energy for contributing to Dublin was sustained and grew as the week unfolded.

Well, the anticipation was so worth it and exceeded expectations ‚Äö√Ñ√¨ GCC was an amazing life as well as professional experience ‚Äö√Ñ√¨ and it doesn’t stop here:
- the Declaration and supporting annexes produced from Dublin will be published on 1 September 2008 with an invitation for endorsement from individuals and professional bodies
- full information and video coverage from the week will be available on the web
- individuals and organisations are invited to apply the outputs from the GCC in whatever way works best for them – sharing the learning with a societal perspective.
- there are opportunities for further dialogue as well as for the work to continue in whatever direction motivated people wish to take it
- reacting to feedback, arrangements will be made for the next convention to be held in South Africa in 2010.

I came away from Dublin exhilarated and energised from the experience of participating in the convention with representatives from all continents – 70 individuals in number – legion in terms of strength of intention to maintain the momentum and sustain a community of coaches.

So what were the GCC highlights for me? Many and various – a few are:
• Being immersed in the passion of a genuine desire to shelve individual and organisational perspectives towards a common aim
• Experiencing the creation of an environment rich in shared knowledge, dreams and aspirations for nurturing a greater goal of working together with common understanding and respect for diversity of perspective.
‚Äö√Ѭ¢ Listening to and absorbing the sincerity of people’s beliefs, values, sense of purpose, differing views, acknowledgement of tensions
• Encouraged that recognised and respected contributors in the coaching industry supported, engaged in and shared this interest in GCC.
‚Äö√Ѭ¢ Acknowledging how far we’ve come as an industry, accepting there’s more do and encouraged we have a way forward.

I feel privileged to have been part of and to continue contributing to what was undoubtedly a groundbreaking event in the development of the coaching profession.

We’ve reached the inevitable hiatus between physically leaving and not losing the experience of Dublin and sustaining the energy to take the work achieved into the future ‚Äö√Ñ√¨ regular updates will be available about what has emerged as the Global Community of Coaches and a recent London event ‚Äö√Ñ√¨ keep in touch and engage in shaping the future of coaching.

Lise Lewis