The Power of Storytelling

Coaching, positive psychology & Dean Clayden

The conversation delved into the world of coaching, leadership, and creating a safe space for vulnerability. Dean Clayden shared insights on coaching, positive psychology, and the impact of male teachers on underachieving boys. The discussion also explored the idea of coaching stance, creating safety in conversations, coaching for change, and connecting vulnerability with trust. Takeaways * Coaching and leadership * Creating a safe space for vulnerability Chapters * 00:00 Introduction and Weather Chit-Chat * 10:01 Impact of Male Teachers on Underachieving Boys * 17:56 Coaching Stance and its Interweaving with Positive Psychology * 28:02 Coaching for Change and Shared Craft Knowledge * 32:57 Connecting Vulnerability with Trust

Coaching for awareness | Dr Kim Richardson & Dr Daryl Michel

The conversation begins with an introduction and casual weather chit-chat, followed by the introduction of guests Kim and Daryl. The discussion then delves into beliefs about coaching done well, followed by a conversation about blog posts and dead birds. Daryl shares highlights from his chapter on student-focused coaching, and the conversation concludes with reflections on the stories shared and the overall conversation. Takeaways * Coaching is a human-centered and continuous learning process. * Leadership is a primary enabler for effective coaching, and coaching is not a uniform treatment. * Coaching is about creating awareness and supporting the human aspect of the work. Chapters * 00:00 Introduction and Weather Chit-Chat * 08:01 Beliefs About Coaching Done Well * 13:01 Discussion on Blog Posts and Dead Birds * 20:25 Reflections on the Conversation and Stories Shared

The Power of Storytelling

The conversation with Orla Dempsey covers topics such as coaching, interview preparation, storytelling, and the use of AI in coaching. Orla shares insights on her coaching approach, the importance of storytelling, and the potential risks of AI in coaching. Takeaways * Coaching Done Well * The Power of Storytelling Chapters * 00:00 Introduction and Setting the Scene * 07:24 Coaching and Interview Preparation * 30:31 The Role of AI in Coaching

It's Not About You. It's About Them.

Steve Barkley and Bill Sommers are back on Coaching Done Well. A year after their first conversation with Shane Leaning and Jim Thompson, two of the most experienced voices in instructional coaching and educational leadership return for a LinkedIn Live episode that goes deep on what actually makes coaching work in schools. Steve breaks down his coaching continuum, running from open-ended coaching questions through scaffolding to explicit, supervisory feedback. His take is clear: start open. You can always add scaffold. Taking it away once it's in place is much harder. He also makes the case for replacing feedback with feed forward, arguing that the only reason a coach is in a classroom today is because they're interested in tomorrow. Bill introduces his concept of "arc builders" and asks a pointed question: if it's raining in education right now, who is actually building? He names his own arc builders, including Art Costa, John Saphier, Marshall Goldsmith, and Richard Sheridan, and pushes coaches and school leaders to think about who they surround themselves with and whether those people give energy or drain it. Both guests keep coming back to the same principle: effective coaching is driven by the coachee, not the coach. Steve references Michael Bungay Stanier's phrase "caring enough not to care" as shorthand for what this looks like in practice. Bill connects it to Marshall Goldsmith's stakeholder centred coaching and the feed forward process. The conversation also covers putting staff first so they can put students first, why stories matter more than policy binders, hope as a real strategy for school improvement, and how leaders create the conditions for a learning culture where coaching can actually land. Whether you're an instructional coach, school leader, head of school, or anyone working in teacher development and professional learning, this episode is packed with practical wisdom from two people who've spent decades in the work. Timestamps: 00:00 - Welcome and introductions 03:07 - Steve and Bill reintroduce themselves 04:10 - Steve on coaching driven by the coachee 08:46 - What do you now believe to be true about coaching done well? 10:50 - The modelling approach: watch the kids first, not the coach 12:13 - Michael Bungay Stanier: caring enough not to care 12:43 - Steve on the feedback continuum: from telling to thinking 16:44 - The scaffolding continuum: open, scaffolded, and explicit 22:06 - Bill on arc builders and feed forward 27:10 - Shane reflects: coaching as forward-looking and invitational 30:23 - Audience Q&A: standardisation vs personalisation 32:37 - Steve: personalisation in coaching means the coachee drives it 34:36 - Putting staff first so they can put students first 38:05 - Five years from now: hope, stories, and mattering 43:55 - Closing reflections People and resources mentioned: Steve Barkley - barkleypd.com [http://barkleypd.com] | Bill Sommers - learningomnivores.com [http://learningomnivores.com] | Michael Bungay Stanier | Marshall Goldsmith - What Got You Here Won't Get You There | Art Costa & Bena Kallick - Habits of Mind | John Saphier - High Expectations Teaching | Amy Edmondson - The Right Kind of Wrong | Richard Sheridan - Joy, Inc. and Chief Joy Officer | Zach Muriel - The Power of Mattering | Tom Schimmer - The Agile Classroom | Dan Meyer | Peter Drucker | Peter Block | Parker Palmer | Edgar Schein | Andy Hargreaves | Johnny Uttley & John Thomson - Putting Staff First | Shannon Moran - Evocative Coaching | Heath Brothers - The Power of Moments | Jim Knight | Kate Murphy - Why We Click

Jim gets coached by Shane

The conversation begins with a warm welcome and expressions of gratitude, setting the tone for a reflective and insightful discussion on coaching. The hosts share their experiences, reflect on coaching progress, and discuss strategies for coaching conversations. They emphasize the importance of building relationships, trust, and the impact of reflection on future intentions. The episode concludes with a call to action and a teaser for future guests. Takeaways * Gratitude and warmth set the tone for reflective coaching discussions. * Reflection on coaching progress is essential for identifying goals and strategies. * Building relationships and trust are crucial for effective coaching conversations. Chapters * 00:00 Welcoming and Gratitude * 10:00 Preparing for a Coaching Conversation * 17:08 Reflecting on Coaching Progress * 25:39 Impact of Reflection on Future Intentions * 31:56 Closing Reflection and Gratitude