Development of Senior Leaders
The capacity in senior leaders to create a shift in culture is developed through the use of cognitive coaching. This approach allows the building of greater short-term effectiveness as well as providing the means of building longer-term culture change. This is done in two main steps, a focus on the individual and a focus on the team.
Individual Module
Capacity at the individual level is built in three, parallel streams:
Building cognitive coaching capacity is achieved through a one day workshop and then by bringing attention to the key elements and practices of coaching on a regular basis through the other two streams.
The holding of coaching conversations with middle leaders is a necessary part of building capacity in senior leaders as well as preparing middle leaders for their role in shifting the culture.
External coaching is provided through a highly structured process (Coach In A Box) that provides individual coaching to each senior leader.
Team Module
A second one-day workshop (4-6 months after the first) is used to focus on team development through
This completes the initial development of the senior leadership. One senior leader continues to be coached over the following six months to assist them in “holding the team accountable” to new behaviours and to achieving their goal.
The capacity in senior leaders to create a shift in culture is developed through the use of cognitive coaching. This approach allows the building of greater short-term effectiveness as well as providing the means of building longer-term culture change. This is done in two main steps, a focus on the individual and a focus on the team.
Individual Module
Capacity at the individual level is built in three, parallel streams:
- development of coaching practice and key attitudes and behaviours within a context of changing school culture
- senior leaders engaging with middle leaders in the context of a coaching conversation
- senior leaders being coached by external coaches in a structured way
Building cognitive coaching capacity is achieved through a one day workshop and then by bringing attention to the key elements and practices of coaching on a regular basis through the other two streams.
The holding of coaching conversations with middle leaders is a necessary part of building capacity in senior leaders as well as preparing middle leaders for their role in shifting the culture.
External coaching is provided through a highly structured process (Coach In A Box) that provides individual coaching to each senior leader.
Team Module
A second one-day workshop (4-6 months after the first) is used to focus on team development through
- reflection on current reality using general feedback from the external coaching program, Teacher Voice (an evaluation of the working environment by staff) and Student Voice (an evaluation of the learning environment by students) as well as other reports or inputs available to the school
- building a vision for the leadership team and for the school and an outline plan to be able to achieve both goals, building a high performance team being a precursor to the second.
This completes the initial development of the senior leadership. One senior leader continues to be coached over the following six months to assist them in “holding the team accountable” to new behaviours and to achieving their goal.