LEADERSHIP BY EXAMPLE
CONSIDERING COACHING
Unlocking the Value of Coaching You’re an experienced SBP. You’ve got your qualifications, and you know what you’re doing. How can you develop further? CONNY BRANDT explains how coaching might be the way forward
M
y school first introduced coaching to support the SLT during a period of change. However, we found it so beneficial that we have continued with it. Typically, I go to a coaching meeting with a good idea of where I am and what I want to do, and I have my responses ready to any queries or tasks from the last session. What does my coach do? He comes up with questions or issues I hadn’t even considered yet, which then leads to me being able to plan more effectively, anticipate issues etc. If that sounds challenging, I guess it is but in a good way! He always makes me
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Spring Term 2025: Issue 2
feel at ease and the sessions are completely confidential, so I know that I can speak freely and it’s okay if I don’t have an answer, or something hasn’t gone right. COACHING FOR SLT MEMBERS At my school, we decided to engage the same coach for our SLT members. Whilst each session is individual, and he never shares comments made by our colleagues, this approach really helps him build up an overall picture of how we work together, and how we may respond differently to issues, which means that he can support each one of us more effectively.