The Power of Coaching

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OBJECTIVES1. To understand what coaching is and isn’t2. To understand how coaching can be used as a

powerful leadership tool3. To understand how coaching can be used with

colleagues and with students4. To have practiced using the GROW model of

coaching

The Power of Coaching

Coaching has origins in sports psychology.

“ The opponent within one’s own head is more formidable than the one on the other side of the net”

Tim Gallwey – The Inner game of Tennis

Where did the idea of coaching come from?

• People should be empowered to come up with their own solutions

• People have greater commitment to something they have shaped themselves

• People need both support and challenge

• Coaching fits well with a shared leadership approach

Some Principles of Coaching

How do you eat an elephant?

Definition of Insanity

“Doing the same thing over and over and expecting a different result.”

“Coaching is the art of facilitating the performance, learning and development of another”

Myles Downey

Effective Coaching

Coaching definition 1

Coaching definition 2

“A relationship and process by which a coach facilitates the success of others through a belief in that person’s/team’s ability to find their own solutions and to enhance performance. Coaching seeks to maintain a positive, strength-focused state of mind”

Thomas and Smith 2004

“unlocking a person’s potential to maximise their performance. It is about helping them learn rather than teaching them”

John Whitmore 1992

Coaching definition 3

“Inherent in coaching is the intrinsic belief that the answers lie within each and every one of us and that everyone has the potential to be brilliant”

Suggett (2008)

Coaching definition 4

• Do you see in these statements anything that may be different from what may go on in schools in general?

• What are some of the key principles of coaching that are apparent from the statements?

Activity 1

Summarising Coaching?

Coaching is a process of helping another individual realize their inner potential, delivering fulfillment to both the individual and the related organization.

• Motivation • Excellence• Achievement• Intrinsic learning• Intense satisfaction

Coaching is NOT…

• Leading• Managing• Instructing• Giving advice• Offering opinions

A Coach Does Not Need…

• To be the expert• To know the “right” answer• To be in control• To “fix” it• To heal it or make it better

• Non directive

• Non judgemental

• Person centred

The Key Elements of Coaching

MENTORING is one person advising and informing another person about what they know.

COACHING is one person working with another to enable this person to arrive at the solutions that come from within themselves and that suit them.

Coaching vs Mentoring

Solving someone’s

problems for them

Telling – directing (coercive)

Counselling and coaching

Teaching

Helping someone to solve their

own problems

Directive

Non-Directiv

e

The support spectrum

Mentoring

The 3 BIG Coaching Skills

1. Listening 2. Questioning

3. Reviewing

• Developing trust• Fairness• Encouragement • Building rapport• Giving and receiving feedback

Additional Coaching Skills

Listening – Some dangers• Hear only what we want to

hear• Fail to put ourselves in other

peoples’ shoes• Think we know what other

people are talking about• Listen to the words but miss

the ‘music’ (ie: emotions)• ‘Already heard’ – Made up

our minds

Listening - Aims

1. Talk less and listen more2. Be comfortable with silence (thinking time)3. Let go of your solution (inner voice)4. Maintain full attention and show interest

(listen to words, pick up emotions)5. Reflect back what you think is being said

(testing understanding and summarising)6. Be aware of what isn’t being said7. Listen with the curiosity of a fascinated

stranger

Chinese Symbol for ‘listening’This is the Chinese

character which means LISTEN

The section on the left denotes the ear

There are four sections on the right:

the top one says youbeneath that comes the

eyesnext is undivided

attentionat the bottom is heart

Poor listening

Activity 2

Great listening

Activity 3

Questioning

Use:• What• When• Where• Who • How

Don’t use:• Why

The GROW Model

Goal

Reality

Options

Will Do

ROW

G

Activity 4Teachers TV – Primary NQT

Triads

Observer

Coach Coachee

Activity 5

Plenary

What action will you now take to use the skills of coaching both in your own school and in the CC

project?