It’s no coincidence that many chief executives and top leaders across a wide range of professions have coaching. There is simply no more personalised way of accessing professional support and development as a leader. Yet despite a growing awareness across the education sector of coaching as a valuable professional development process, many head teachers have never benefited from personal coaching support, and are missing out on the boost that coaching can give to their impact and influence as school leaders.
So, what makes coaching uniquely impactful?
- Personalised: Coaching ‘goes where you need it to go’. As it’s one-to-one support, coaching conversations are about yourself, the particular challenges you face, and your unique school context.
- Confidential: Coaching conversations are private, so you can talk about your reality in a safe space with a critical friend. School leadership can become less lonely!
- Reflective: Coaching offers a rare chance for busy school leaders to slow down and reflect on their practice… and role model this for others.
- Flexible: Meeting with a coach exactly when you need it, whether every month, or periodically for short, focused periods, makes the most of your valuable time and ensures every coaching minute counts.
- Immediate: Coaching gives you the opportunity to discuss issues when they arise, agree next steps, and immediately try out new strategies. After debriefing with your coach, you can continue to refine and apply the learning to benefit your school with immediate effect.
Christopher Lamb, Headteacher of Enfield Grammar School in London explains the impact of coaching for him:
“I always come out of my coaching sessions feeling optimistic, confident, capable, buoyant, and reacquainted with my love of teaching, my love of education – because sometimes that disappears with the stresses of the job. My coach helps me clarify my thought processes. He listens so effectively and he can synthesise a lot of emotional outpouring that I come out with, and he can offer some leadership theory that will help me with my issue. Always after a session, I come out feeling optimistic and that I can carry on doing the job I’m doing”.
There is a strong connection between the quality of school leadership and school culture, teacher engagement, collective efficacy and student attainment in schools. If athletes and leaders in the business world are worthy of coaching support, surely it’s time that head teachers also experience the benefits of a personal coach?
Rosie Connor and Denise Barrows
Rosie and Denise are Directors of BTS Spark, a not-for-profit initiative enabling school leaders to access world-class leadership coaching.