My head of department was on a three day performance coaching course. He came back really pleased with what he had learned. (I think he had worried it might be “life coaching”.) He said most people go to their managers with problems or ideas and just want a sounding board, not advice. There were three of us in the office and the other two role played how the coaching could work.
Teacher: “I’m having a problem. So-and-so is second guessing my decisions. What should I do?”
Head of department: “Aha, that sounds frustrating. What is your current thinking?”
T: “Well, what I want to do is… [removed to protect the innocent]… but I know that’s inappropriate.”
HoD: “Yes, so do you have other ideas?”
T: “I was thinking that I should go talk to him and discuss…. [etc]”
HoD: “And what do you think would happen next?”
And then the follow-up questions:
“What are the advantages of that?” “What are some other possibilities?” And so on.
I know that I frequently go to my head of department to get his opinion on my ideas and all I want is for him to agree that I am making a good decision. (Sometimes I really do want his advice, though! So I hope he doesn’t coach me too much.)
Do you like to be coached (or to coach)?