Coaching Conversations: Transforming Your School One Conversation at a Time

by Linda M. Gross Cheliotes, Marceta Fleming Reilly (Editor)

An effective, inexpensive approach for facilitating transformation through the entire school community! Different from supervisory and mentoring conversations, coaching conversations shift responsibility for instructional improvement from the school leader to the entire school community. With these proven, practical coaching-conversation techniques, school leaders can engage their school communities to work collaboratively toward total transformation. This research-based handbook helps school

Genres: Professional Development, Education, Teaching, Nonfiction

128 pages, Paperback

First published March 1, 2010

Reviews

[Kev Willoughby · Rating 3 out of 5]

Very practical book, but the title is a misnomer. Although the examples and vignettes in the book take place in a school setting, this book is adaptable and fully transferable to any supervisor in any workplace setting. I enjoyed Chapters 3 (Committed Listening) & 4 (Powerful Speaking) the most. Committed Listening is the application of the Stephen Covey principle of seeking first to understand and then to be understood, and thus, if practiced, would prevent many misunderstandings early in the process before they have opportunity to become major problems.

Committed Listening provides "opportunities for building trust with others and creates space for new solutions" (solutions you otherwise would have forfeited even being introduced to).

Powerful Speaking will remind you of the best things you liked about the best boss you ever had, because it fosters respect and invites others to actively participate in pursuing a solution. To borrow from Stephen Covey again, it gives you the best chance to enjoy a win-win scenario. This book teaches you how and when to ask which questions.

[Ky James · Rating 4 out of 5]

This would be an especially helpful read for any teachers or educational leaders new to coaching.

It makes a very clear delineation between mentoring and coaching, and outlines the pitfalls of leaders doling out advice to anyone and everyone like you’re Oprah during the 12 days of Christmas. The chapter on active and committed listening is particularly helpful for leaders, both new and old, as a it reminds the reader of the various reasons people come to coaches, and very rarely is it actually to listen to us speak.

The handbook is a quick and helpful tool with useful strategies and tips. Again, helpful for new coaches or ed leaders looking to move away from supervisory or mentor leadership and toward coaching conversations.

[Rose Daugherty-rudd · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was assigned for a grad class, but I genuinely enjoyed it and found it applicable to both my personal and professional lives. It highlighted some communication skills that - although at times seem obvious - help frame conversations positively, encourage active listening, and intentionally speaking. Those all happen to be things I could get better at, so I’m glad I read it.

[Gabrielle · Rating 3 out of 5]

I honestly forgot I finished this book because it is blending together with all of my coursework. I’m definitely beginning to see the negative patterns in my conversations that I need to overcome in order to be a more effective coach and person though. Whether I learned this from this book of “Better Conversations,” I’m not sure.

[Nia Epperson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great read for novice coaches

As a teacher entering into coaching, this book was insightful and showed me the importance of active listening.I look forward to implementing these tools in the coming school year.

[Angela Thomson · Rating 4 out of 5]

I plan to type up the appendices to use the questions / prompts in my coaching conversations.

[Kathleen]

Read as a book study.

[Katie Broughton · Rating 5 out of 5]

I liked this! Good discussion strategies, creative examples and stories, great models.

[Cam · Rating 3 out of 5]

Read for masters program/ work. Short and sweet. Good takeaways for teacher observations and coaching!

[Kay · Rating 5 out of 5]

Was assigned for a leadership class but realized how valuable this book is for all leaders and education professionals. Really good book and helpful if you dive in and practice coaching leadership.

[Pat Larson]

Great professional read to transform how you work with others!

[Diane · Rating 4 out of 5]

Small but mighty. This book is a good resource. It's a quick read and I refer to it before a coaching session.

[JoAnn Henning · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fantastic!

[Bryan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Soo good. Changed the way I think and enter into conversation immediately in most of my life settings, not just work purposes.