Everyone is curious, capable, creative and complete

Working in schools, I have seen first-hand how coaching skills have a significant impact on a teacher's practice and professional development.

You tell me that you want your students to be more engaged in their learning.

You want them to take more responsibility

You want them to succeed.

Yet, the harder you work to make this happen, the more stressed you become when it doesn't.

The problem is that you have not been taught how to coach.

There are many websites and books that will teach you the seemingly magical open-ended questions to ask.

But the questions on their own, are not enough.

If you coach someone, but have not accepted the foundational beliefs of coaching - everyone is curious, capable, creative and complete - you will fail.

If you have not held that belief before, try it on for size.

Notice where it fits.

Notice where it does not fit.

Those are your areas of improvement as a coach.

When I was being taught how to coach I knew the correct answer was "everyone is curious, capable, creative and complete".

It was not until I met a client who clearly was not capable that my belief was tested.

As soon as I allowed the thought that he was not capable to become a convincing voice in my head, he knew it.

His eyes narrowed on my disbelief.

My ears pricked for evidence that he was not capable.

The trusting connection we had built during the first moments of coaching vanished.

Disaster.

Thank goodness this was a practice session.

His feedback?

You don't believe in me!

I denied it of course.

But he was right.

It takes many practice sessions to develop the "I believe in you" muscle.

I was coached too.

By someone who didn't believe in me.

It was awful.

I felt belittled, dirty, a waste of time and effort.

I felt like shit.

Thank goodness that was a practice session too.

Giving feedback to my coach, I asked for her to believe in me - regardless.

I did not want her to look for evidence that I was capable

I did not want her to look for signs I was complete

I wanted her to believe in me in advance,

so that I could believe in myself, even more.

Being coached by someone who holds those foundational beliefs is wonderful.

I am seen

I am heard

I am believed

Dark doubts rush to the surface and fade away in the brilliant light of my coach.

I feel empowered

I feel powerful

I feel clarity in my mind and in my heart

I know what I want and I know I have permission to do it.

Euphoria.

No wonder coaching produces transformations!

Practice

As you grow your coaching skills, you will need to practice.

Practice holding the belief that "everyone is curious, capable, creative and complete".

It is a skill that develops over time.

Listening is easy

Asking open-ended questions is easy.

Being the shining light that brings out the magnificence in your coaching partner is hard. Until it isn't.

What would it be like to shine the light of coaching in your classroom?

Want to find out?

Get in touch.

UPDATE - Feb 2023

For the past year or so, I have had the honour of being part of an online teacher-teacher coaching practice group. With just a few hours of training in the basic coaching conversation structures and questions, teachers are practicing their skills of listening, giving no advice, not judging and... holding the belief that their partner is curious, capable, creative and complete.

Would you like to start such a group in your area?

Contact me and I will do what I can to support you.

INTERESTED? Speak with Martin, book your personal meeting here (free).

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