In my coaching with Z, it’s interesting for me to notice the interplay between the three layers; our coaching conversations, the meetings she leads for teams of teachers in her school, and the teaching and learning in their classrooms. The eight cultural forces are at play in all three layers and these reflective questions might influence both culture and way of being, as a coach, a leader or a teacher…
Language
What sorts of questions will encourage and invite thinking? How will our choice of language clarify, provoke and lead to action?
Interactions
How might the tone of our interactions influence the outcomes? How will we build relationships on the basis of trust, empathy and non judgment?
Routines
How might we build in routines that encourage creative and critical thinking and support different perspectives? How might tools and protocols be used to scaffold thinking?
Time
How might we ensure time for thinking? How might we use time productively based on what we notice?
Expectations
How might we create clarity around future outcomes and goals? How might we establish clear beliefs that influence our efforts towards desired goals?
Modelling
What kinds of values might we model, consciously and unconsciously, through our actions and words? How might we model techniques, processes and strategies that might be transferred to other contexts?
Opportunities
How might we create the conditions for thinking, learning and change? How might we notice opportunities for growth?
Environment
How might we create an emotionally safe space where authenticity, honesty, vulnerability and courage can live?
Contemplations on coaching #3
What Ed Said 