Evocative Coaching : Transforming Schools One Conversation at a Time

by Bob Tschannen-Moran; Megan Tschannen-Moran (The College of William and Mary)

• ISBN13: 9780470630914
• ISBN10: 0470630914
• Format: eBook
• Copyright: 2010-06-01
• Publisher: Jossey-Bass

Summary

There's a lot of conversation about how to make schools better. Unfortunately, the nature of those conversations often makes things worse. Evocative Coaching: Transforming Schools One Conversation at a Time maps out a way to change that. By taking a teacher-centered, no-fault, strengths-based approach to performance improvement, the Evocative Coaching model generates the motivation and movement that enables teachers and schools to achieve desired outcomes and enhance quality of life. Viewed as a dynamic dance, the model is choreographed in four steps - Story, Empathy, Inquiry, Design - which are each laid out in its own chapter with powerful illustrative materials and end-of-chapter discussion questions to prompt further reflection.Bringing together the best research and wisdom in educational leadership and professional coaching, authors Bob and Megan Tschannen-Moran have developed a simple yet profound way of facilitating new conversations in schools through Story Listening, Expressing Empathy, Appreciative Inquiry, and Design Thinking. It's an iterative process that moves beyond old ways of thinking, doing, and being. It's an inspirational process that reinvigorates the passion for making schools better, one conversation at a time.This happens when coaches: give teachers our full, undivided attention; accept and meet teachers where they are right now, without making them wrong; ask and trust teachers to take charge of their own learning and growth; make sure teachers are talking more than we are; enable teachers to appreciate the positive value of their own experiences; harness the strengths teachers have to meet challenges and overcome obstacles; reframe difficulties and challenges as opportunities to learn and grow; invite teachers to discover possibilities and find answers for themselves; dialogue with teachers regarding their higher purpose for teaching; uncover teachers' natural impulse to engage with colleagues and students; assist teachers to draw up a personal blueprint for professional mastery; support teachers in brainstorming and trying new ways of doing things; maintain an upbeat, energetic, and positive attitude at all times; collaborate with teachers to design and conduct appropriate learning experiments; enable teachers to build supportive environments and teams; use humor to lighten the load; and inspire and challenge teachers to go beyond what they would do alone.Each chapter provides a research-based theory to support the strategies presented, and includes specific suggestions and anecdotes. The Evocative Coaching model makes coaching enjoyable by getting people to focus on what they do best, and it invites larger, more integral conversations so that people talk about their work in the context of other things they care about. Resting on strong, evidence-based practices, the Evocative Coaching model offers educators the help they need to meet the challenges of increased accountability and expectations. This model can also be used effectively by coaches and leaders in other organizational contexts.Table of Contents: Chapter 1: What Is Evocative Coaching? Chapter 2: Coaching Presence Loop I: The No-Fault Turn Chapter 3: Story Listening Chapter 4: Expressing Empathy Loop II: The Strengths-Building Turn Chapter 5: Appreciative Inquiry Chapter 6: Design Thinking Chapter 7: Aligning Environments Chapter 8: Coaching Conversations Chapter 9: The Reflective CoachTo learn more about Evocative Coaching and to sign up for the Evocative Coach Training Program, visit www.EvocativeCoaching.com .

Table of Contents

List of Figures and Tables

Gratitudes

Preface

Introduction to Evocative Coaching

What Is Evocative Coaching?

The Promise and Practice of Coaching

Evocative Coaching Defined

Why Evocative Coaching Works

What Makes Coaching Evocative?

The Dynamic Dance of Evocative Coaching

Summary

Questions for Reflection and Discussion

Coaching Presence

A New Metaphor for Coaching

Evocative Coaching as a Way of Being

Lessons from a Horse Whisperer

Fostering Trust and Rapport

Holding the Coaching Space

Conveying Coaching Presence

Coaching Presence in the Context of Hierarchy

Summary

Questions for Reflection and Discussion

The Four Steps of Evocative Coaching 53

Interlude Loop I: The No-Fault Turn

Story Listening

The Power of Story

Evoking Coachable Stories

Mindful Listening

Quiet Listening

Reflective Listening

Imaginative Listening

Summary

Questions for Reflection and Discussion

Expressing Empathy

Understanding Empathy

Embodying Empathy

Access Points for Empathy

Distinctive Empathy Reflections

Elevating Readiness to Change

Celebrating Effort and Progress

The Golden Sigh

Summary

Questions for Reflection and Discussion

Interlude Loop II: The Strengths-Building Turn

Appreciative Inquiry

Appreciative Inquiry

Initiating the Learning Conversation

Illuminating the Best of What Is

Imagining the Best of What Might Be

Coaching with Strengths, Observations, Aspirations, and Possibilities

Summary

Questions for Reflection and Discussion

Design Thinking

Calling Forth Motivation and Movement

Coaching Tools for Design Thinking

Around and Around the Möbius Strip: Back to Story

Summary

Questions for Reflection and Discussion

Evocative Coaching in Practice

Aligning Environments

Understanding Environments

Flow

Navigating the River of Change

Managing Clouds, Wind, and Thunder

Ripples in a Pond

Stories as Catalysts for Transformation

Summary

Questions for Reflection and Discussion

Coaching Conversations

The Great 8: Choreographing the Coaching Dance

Story Listening

Initiate 2. Elaborate Expressing Empathy

Validate Appreciative Inquiry

Appreciate 5. Extrapolate Design Thinking

Innovate 7. Deliberate 8. Activate

Summary

Questions for Reflection and Discussion

The Reflective Coach

Coaching the Self

Hearing Our Own Stories

Self-Empathy

Inquiring into Our Own Professional Practice

Design Action-Learning Experiments

Professional Coach Code of Ethics

Conclusion

Questions for Reflection and Discussion

Evocative Coaching Principles, Questions, and Reflections

Practice Exercises

Content Review Questions

The IAC Coaching Masteries ® Overview

References

Recommended Readings and Resources

About the Authors

Index

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