This is the first cohort-based educational program initiated by Organizational Dynamics. Instead of participants selecting courses one at a time according to what is available and their personal schedule, this program occurs over a specific period of time, has specific educational goals and is designed to prepare its participants to be certified as professional executive coaches. This disciplined and highly focused program can be tailored to individual interests. The twelve to sixteen participants selected for this program will have a one-of-a-kind educational experience.

The Advantages

The benefits to such an integrated program of learning include:

• Participants build a close, shared learning experience with a group of diverse, but like-minded peers committed to common goals.
• There is continuity in all intellectual content from the beginning to the end of the classroom experiences.
• Similarly, experiential aspects of learning build upon one other over time.
• A small core of faculty is committed to the goals of the program; they work as a team to insure the integration of both content and process aspects of learning.
• Participants are known by faculty so that they can be supported and coached in their own learning endeavors.
• Fundamental to cohort education is the cooperation and shared learning and special projects among other cohort members.
• The structured nature of the program increases participant opportunities for being involved in meaningful practicum and internship experiences. Participants can systematically organize their work lives around a time-limited educational experience over a specific span of time.

The Challenges

An essential predictor of success will be a strong commitment to the various elements of the program, its goals and its scheduled deadlines. The challenges include:

• Attending each of the regularly-scheduled, monthly two-day sessions at Penn.
• As assignments often influence partners and other members of the cohort, procrastination is not an option and cooperation and collaboration are essential.
• The initial five-day intensive in September provides a strong foundation for all that follows. Having a clear understanding of the expectations will be important. Half of the course meetings are supported by "real" experiences in the field.
• Participants will be working with various teams and clients--some of whom they must obtain--throughout the program. While one can read about various aspects of the coaching process, it can be taught only through practice and hands-on work.
• Learning by doing is, by its very nature, exciting and challenging.