In partnership with Know You More

Over the two-year partnership between Know You More and Education Scotland, I’ve often found myself on the receiving end of the question “why should I take up coaching as an education practitioner?”. To answer this query effectively, it is essential to take the time to bust some myths around coaching - what it is and what is not - creating a clearer picture for practitioners on what to expect from their coaching experience.

What coaching is, what coaching is not

If the sentence “I didn’t really know what to expect prior to my coaching” sounds familiar, you are not alone.

At Know You More we define coaching as a conversation where your coach holds a space to allow you to do your best thinking. It's a thought-provoking and creative thinking partnership designed to enable you to develop greater clarity to achieve your personal and professional goals. Increased self-awareness and understanding, in turn, create greater resilience and new ways to approach challenges.

In more practical terms, a skilled coach uses a combination of observation, incisive questioning, listening and feedback to create an insightful and stimulating conversation. A coaching relationship focuses on moving forward and identifying solutions by thinking about challenges in a different way. By establishing a safe, non-judgmental space, a professional coach helps you question assumptions and constructively challenge thinking patterns that aren't serving you well.

We find that for education professionals, the coaching partnership offers a supportive space to build resilience in navigating change, leading others effectively and proactively approaching the challenges and opportunities of your role.

Each coaching relationship is uniquely designed around the individual's agenda, but in my experience, many education professionals choose to focus on one or more of these development areas:

• Nurturing wellbeing and work-life balance – their own, their team's, and that of the young people in their care.
• Developing authentic leadership and emotional intelligence to support, lead and motivate others in a time of disruptive change
• Setting career or development goals and devising action plans to achieve them, based on the individual's strengths and abilities
• Gaining clarity, confidence and direction when navigating transitions between roles or starting a new position

In opposition, coaching is not a remedial intervention to fix poor performers, nor is it a substitute for managing. It is also different from working with a mentor, who will provide you with the answers, whereas your coach will help you discover answers for yourself.

Group or one-to-one coaching?

Know You More and Education Scotland offer coaching in two different formats – group and one-to-one – both delivered digitally.

Group coaching brings together peers facing similar challenges, albeit as part of different roles or teams. With the support of an accredited coach, small groups can connect and work together in this safe and confidential space, combating the sense of isolation and benefiting from the insight and learning of their peers. 

On the other hand, one-to-one coaching is a more personalised experience that focuses on the individual. In a one-to-one programme, you will work towards a unique set of goals with the support of an experienced and accredited coach.

Both formats are useful in different circumstances - some people choose to join both group and one on one coaching to address different aspects of their development. We recently published a blog to help you choose the best format for you.

Education Scotland and Know You More

Know You More's partnership with Education Scotland has been ongoing for over two years - we have designed the coaching offering in close collaboration, initially with the aim of supporting the wellbeing of education staff during the pandemic.

Since then, the 800+ hours of coaching we delivered have equipped education practitioners with the skills required to better navigate the challenges of their field, resulting in an extension of our coaching offer to address more proactive development areas, such as leadership development.

Our approach to coaching

What makes coaching stand out from other types of personal and professional development is its ability to work in synergy with an organisation’s culture. As opposed to being an isolated intervention, coaching aims at developing skills and behaviours that leaders can embed as a model of practice.

'Coaching has become second nature to me. Now, when I’m in the classroom, I go into that mode and can see the children doing it too.'

Many coachees share their experiences of applying these newly acquired skills – coaching staff, pupils, parents in a way that becomes ingrained into their leadership, so that every conversation has the potential to become a coaching conversation.

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One to One and Group Coaching are part of Education Scotland’s Supporting Workforce Wellbeing offering for 22-23. Find out more about the full Supporting Workforce Wellbeing package.