Coaching Skills
Creating a Coaching Culture
Michelle is a seventh-grade science department chair in her middle school. This is her second year in this position. She has taught in the same school for 10 years, and it is her only school experience. Michelle has a new principal this year. Kelly was named as principal in April of last year. Michelle is…
Read MoreKeeping The Torch Lit
How does one create a positive coaching culture that is sustainable throughout the toughest of times as well as the best of times? In our work with school leaders, certain patterns and themes emerge that build and sustain this positive, engaging school culture. Begin with yourself. Leaders who fully embrace the mindset of a coach leader identity…
Read MoreKeep Calm and Carry On!
Jennifer came to our coaching call with this question: “How can I maintain my composure when I am feeling emotionally drained and I seem to always be putting out fires—both figuratively and literally? I actually had to deal with a fire in the boys restroom this week!” After some exploration of her topic, she decided…
Read MoreKeep Calm. I’m a Coach (Not a fixer)
During the ICF conference held in London, England a few years ago I took some time to explore the city. In the Churchill Museum gift shop I was intrigued by the post cards, “Keep Calm and Carry On”. It seemed to be the mantra of the Londoners during the bombings of World War II. Wanting…
Read MoreTrending Results
There appears to be a trend from leaders being coached to leaders being coaches as reported in studies both conducted and replicated in 2007 by Metrix Global entitled, “Coaching in Organizations Benchmark Study.” There were several findings from METRIX that have implications for what we are finding out from our own past and present evaluation studies…
Read MoreWhy Relationships Matter In Our Personal and Professional Lives
What causes some relationships to work well and others to break down and at times fall apart? Based on current findings from the study of the brain and positive psychology, healthy relationships begin with an understanding of who we are and how we are made. This month we will focus on a few key points…
Read MoreBeing a Coach Leader
“Many people think we can think for other people, yet when it comes to the way we process information, our brains are dramatically different. What we think another person should be doing is what OUR brain might do, which is very unlikely to be the right idea for another person.” (David Rock, Quiet Leadership, 2006)…
Read MoreI Can’t Help It. It’s Just the Way I Am.
I overheard a conversation recently between a respected school leader and her colleague, Sharon. Sheila seemed frustrated that she felt unable to control all that was swirling about her on campus and also at home. She was lamenting her need to be in control of EVERYTHING. Sharon began to sing “Let It Go”, to which…
Read MoreImagine . . . Teachers Craving Your Feedback
Imagine teachers saying . . . “give me more” . . . “your feedback is critical to my ongoing growth as a professional.” Well, that is a reality in more and more schools – schools that are making the shift to a coaching culture with a growth mindset that presumes positive intent. And, they are…
Read MoreReflective Feedback: From Gotcha to Growth
The most successful leaders of the 21st century will be those who can simultaneously, say what needs to be said while maintaining a trusting relationship. The options of Reflective Feedback taught in our seminars address these two aspects allowing coach leaders to transform their conversations from “gotcha” to “growth”. Here are the three options for…
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