In the past most online coaching magazines or portal sites had coaches – whether paid or volunteer – produce the content and news. Hiring a journalist from outside the coaching industry, especially one of Mark’s caliber, is bold for two reasons:
1. journalists aren’t afraid to tell the truth, and
2. he’ll see the industry from a different perspective.

It’s so easy to get caught up in the ‘right way’ to do things and the status quo when you’re in a profession or industry. In order to grow and improve you need to hear the truth about what’s working and not working. Sometimes the person who can see the truth most clearly is someone from outside the industry.

To grow you also need to learn what works in an unrelated profession or industry and apply it to your own. If I recall correctly, that’s how Coachville was born. The late Thomas Leonard took the concept of membership sites from the internet marketing industry and applied it in the coaching industry. When Coachville launched as a paid membership site in June 2001 it was leading-edge. Coaches wanted to follow Thomas and joined Coachville in droves.

It seems to me that Ruth Ann Harnish and her Coaching Commons team are onto something leading edge with the hiring of Mark. It bodes well for the future of coaching.

To read more about Mark Joyella visit: Mark Joyella Joins the Coaching Commons

Coaching Commons is a new online community where
“coaches can freely create the future together.” The tagline is “Where Radical
Possibilities are Explored & Pursued.” The site is funded by the Harnisch
Family Foundation and led by Andrea J Lee.

Ruth Ann Harnisch shared that
she believes that “coaching conversations can transform the world” which
conjures up visions of the late Thomas Leonard when he started Coachville. His
belief was that everyone is a coach. If you didn’t have a chance to experience
Coachville during the early days, keep an eye on the Coaching Commons. Andrea
was part of Thomas’ core Coachville team.

Where did coaching come
from? The Roots and the Players.

Wondering where coaching came from?  Vicki Brock found 175 Key Influences when
researching the history and evolution of coaching for her dissertation. They
come from the fields of psychology, linguistics, sports and performing arts as
well as what she terms ‘large group awareness training.’ She created a diagram
to show how these influencers link together.   When you’re at the site check out
the enlarged version of the diagram!

An audio recording of a call on ‘The Roots of Coaching’ has been posted on the site.  For more information visit:  The
Roots of Coaching Dialog

www.coachingcommons.org