(Guest blog by Jasen Booton)   After I responded to a post that Jasen Booton placed on LinkedIn, we connected for a zoom conversation around “curiosity and wonder” in coaching. I am delighted that he agreed to share his insights in this guest blog. Jasen currently serves as a consultant in the Kingdom of Tonga, […]

It’s rather clear to most people that to be an effective coach one needs an appropriate mindset for investing in the growth of others and a set of listening and verbal skills for coaching conferencing. Less often considered are the mindsets and skills needed to gain from coaching input. We might label it as one’s […]

How often has this happened to you? You’re listening to a teacher describe her frustration with a group of students. Halfway through, you recognize the situation. You’ve seen it before. You solved it when you were teaching. You know what will help. Even if you don’t interrupt, you’re no longer fully listening — you’re thinking […]

Several years ago, I explored a question that still surfaces frequently in conversations with instructional coaches: Should coaches describe their role as helping teachers? Does the phrase, “How can I help you?” fit in coaching conversations? At first glance, the answer feels obvious. Of course, coaches help. Supporting teachers is central to the work. But […]

“Coachability is a crucial mindset that builds individual and teacher efficacy and thus student success. Coaching conversations should have a human connectedness built on hope, trust, gratitude, strength, and purpose.” (Jennifer Fraser, 2025, Leading with Hope and Kindness) Listen for human connections in a sample coaching pre-conference. Read the article, “Leading With Hope and Kindness: […]

Reading the blog, “The Art of Soulful Listening” by Greg Thomas, introduced me to a musical concept that immediately resonated—what jazz musicians call Big Ears. Thomas describes his deepening appreciation of jazz through immersive listening… “The more I listened, the more I recognized patterns and devices of the music. The more I listened, the more […]