Coaching Skills
TRUST – TIME, ATTENTION, & TENDING
Because the work of education is fast, rapid, urgent, and constantly being diverted to the next emergency, how we handle people and the situations they are a part of create the feelings and thinking of culture. As a leader your words and actions are continuously being observed. You create the environment through your choices and…
Read MoreHow Are You Leading for Results?
Some high schools have begun a tradition each spring of posting in a highly visible area of the school’s lawn a straight line of simple signs with the names of colleges and universities where their graduates have been accepted for fall enrollment. So imagine for a moment driving by a school and seeing that row…
Read MoreCourage Under Fire
As a school leader, when was the last time you were challenged and acted with courage under fire? You may wonder what does “courage under fire” look like? Maybe it’s moving forward with intention even when you’re unsure or anxious about what you’ll be doing or how it will be received. Perhaps it’s really facing…
Read MorePutting the Function Back into Dysfunctional Teams
Recently a superintendent friend was complaining about how one school board member harped endlessly about nickel and dime expenses, ignoring the legitimate needs of students and staff. It was driving her crazy! How could she get this school board refocused on what was truly important for education? She had been reading The Five Dysfunctions of…
Read MoreChange = Today’s Normal
This year, 2011, can be characterized many ways, but for the description to be accurate it must address the rapid change we all continually face. There’s no way to avoid it! You can try, but that doesn’t work. As a professional you have to plan for and manage change so your students are prepared to…
Read MorePlanning: Do and Be?
Recently while attending a state conference for school leaders, Hector, a former coaching client and I had an opportunity to chat. During our conversation, Hector was excited to share plans for what he is planning to do differently this year to produce even better results than the great ones his school is known for. He…
Read MoreWitness the Struggle
Death and dying is not a comfortable topic for most. It is often full of sadness and loss. Its presence has been very real for me. During the last few days, I have been with my Dad who is in his final stages. At 99 he has lived a productive, joyful life and is very…
Read MoreHow’s Your Rope?
Even though our weather is still warm, winter is on the way. Imagine yourself in a blizzard where the snow is falling so hard, and the wind blowing so fast, you can’t see a hand in front of your face. It’s conditions like this that cause farmers living in snow-belt areas to string a rope…
Read MoreWatch Yourself! Change Ahead!
Real transformations in life sometimes happens when you least expect it. One of my major transformations happened twelve years ago, when the National Staff Development Council (now Learning Forward) initiated a bodacious project. Dennis Sparks, then Executive Director, thought that every principal and superintendent in high poverty schools should have the benefit of a coach…
Read MoreIf You Are Reading this, Thank You Coach!
I had the opportunity to have a very valuable coaching session as part of our ongoing personal development process within Coaching For Results Global. You might call it “coaches coaching coaches.” I have moved from being a passive observer of my “issue” to taking an active role in the situation. How did my coach help…
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