The Ladder of Inference

The Ladder of Inference is widely used in multiple fields. Skillful use of the ladder expands a story. Expanding a story is always helpful when dealing with resistance, because resistance can be frustrating. And an expanded story helps us shift into curiosity and compassion – critical dispositions for a Transformational Coach. […]

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Episode 166: Can I Coach Here?

“What do you do if you’re coaching in a place where your values are misaligned?”

In this episode of our Hot Topics in Coaching for Equity mini-series, Elena takes a coaching stance to help unpack this question and support you in thinking through potential options for taking action. […]

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Episode 165: When Someone Is “Too Far Gone” for Coaching

“Is there ever a time when we should consider that someone shouldn’t be working with kids…and should we advise supervisors to let them go versus continuing to coach them?” 

Elena unpacks this question and provides four potential steps to take when you encounter this challenging reality in this episode of our new mini-series: Hot Topics in Coaching for Equity. […]

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Episode 164: When “Equity” is Prohibited

This is the first of a four-episode Hot Topics in Coaching for Equity mini-series. In this episode, Elena is joined by Bright Morning teammate, Nick Cains. The two discuss how you coach for equity, when even using the word “equity” is prohibited. Elena shares six steps you can take today. […]

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Episode 158: What do we mean by “every conversation is an equity conversation?”

At Bright Morning, we believe every conversation is an equity conversation (or at least it should be). But what does that mean? In this episode, Elena shares the three things you can do to make this a reality. […]

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Release urgency and focus on impact

“Change needed to happen for kids yesterday. There’s no time for this.”  I’ve heard many iterations of this argument when talking to educators about the need to build relationships at the outset of a coaching relationship.  In all of these instances, my response is the same:  I hear your anger and sadness, and yes, kids […]

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Episode 86: Coaching Conversation: Addressing Race-Based Opportunity Gaps

On today’s episode Elena coaches an instructional coach who works at a school that is the top performing high school in the state where despite their considerable success, students of color are being underserved. While this reality is known and discussed at the district and school-wide level, disparities are not being addressed at the individual classroom level. Elena’s coachee wants to change that and asked to be coached to figure out what is holding her back and how to consistently coach with an equity lens. Together the two discuss 7 foundational steps to take to begin building her foundation for coaching for equity.  […]

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