Coaching For A Better Culture! On 11th, 12th September, forty CPD leaders from all regions of FOBISIA came together at Kellett School Hong Kong to participate in a series of workshops on the topic ‘School Coaching and Mentoring in Education’ which was facilitated by Mr Neil Suggett CBE.!
! !
Coaching is fast becoming a key leadership approach and is about ‘’Unlocking a person’s potential to maximise their own performance. It is helping them to learn rather than teaching them (John Whitmore, 2003).”! After numerous rounds of practicing our coaching skills we found that listening and questioning is the key to great coaching. If you are a great coach you should be consuming about 20% of the conversation. You are listening for understanding, questioning for clarity, promoting action and providing interpersonal support and professional challenge. Talking only 20% of the time proved to be difficult as the urge to transform into a mentoring role and start giving solutions came naturally to some of us!!
! !
In order for our coaching to be a success we followed the GROW Method.! GOAL - What is the goal for this coaching session and/or your project?! REALITY - What is the current reality?! OPTIONS - Possible course for action.! WILL - Level of commitment to action. What action will you do?!
!
The main aim being; the coachee is to identify their own options, deepen their thinking about the options and commit to an action. They become responsible for their own professional development and because of this they are enthusiastic about making the changes required. They take control of their own learning!!
!
Many at the conference were coached as to how they would implement a coaching culture into our schools. It’s important to know your school community before implementing coaching. For example, it could be used between adult to adult, adult to team, adult to child, parent to child, child to child. Research from Neil Suggett suggests that coaching works best when a development plan is put in place. !
!
!! !!
The significant impacts that you will see when a coaching culture is embedded are:! • • • •
!
Enhanced social and emotional atmosphere of the school.! Help people to find their own decisions! Help individuals to develop themselves and their departments and move the school forward! Reduces confrontation!
As we explore this method of leadership it is important to understand that coaching cannot be used in every circumstance. Knowing your staff and community will help you to decide when coaching as a style will benefit your staff and your community as a whole.!
! !
Possible reading materials recommended by Neil Suggett:! • • • •
!
Time for Coaching - Neil Suggett, 2006! The Score Takes Care of Itself - Bill Walsh! Building the Happiness Centred Business - Paddie Lund! Learned Optimism - Martin Seligman!
Jaime Thistleton, Assistant Principal - Development! The Alice Smith School CPD Update
Issue 9 6 November 2015
11
