Should Coaching be Confidential?
Thursday, August 19, 2010 at 10:30PM In most types of coaching, whether life coaching, executive coaching or instructional coaching, the practice of coaching occurs within confidential relationships. There are at least three reasons for this.
First, when coaches deal with what matters to teachers, they are privileged to see and hear information most others will not see and hear. To share that private information with others is a violation of a person’s privacy. Second, coaching is much more productive when collaborating teachers are open about their ideas, thoughts, and fears. For many teachers knowing that coaching conversations are confidential makes it easier for them to talk about what really matters. Third, when we ensure that coaching is confidential, we increase the chances that teachers will choose to work with a coach.
However, not everything a coach does, can or should be confidential. For example, coaches need to keep principals informed of whom they are working with and what they are working on. ICs working with the Kansas Coaching Project discriminate between what should and should not be shared by saying that coaches do not share data or evaluative information. We communicate clearly to teachers that coaching is nonjudgmental. Coaches are partners helping teachers learn new practices, not evaluators. Indeed, in most cases ICs have no administrative training on how to evaluate teachers, so it would not be appropriate for them to evaluate teachers anyway.
In some schools confidentiality is not an issue. In especially positive, safe settings, teachers may be more than comfortable having their coach share any information. Indeed, Michael Fullan (2008) identifies transparency as one of his six secrets of change, stating that “when transparency is consistently evident, it creates an aura of ‘positive pressure’ - pressure that is experienced as fair and reasonable, pressure that is actionable in that it points to solutions, and pressure that ultimately is inescapable” (p. 14).
To create settings where such transparency is possible may require baby steps. In a culture where there is not a great deal of trust, confidential coaching can be the default mode, but over time, if teachers agree, more information can be shared. The greater the lack of trust initially, the more important confidentiality usually is. What is most important is that principals and coaches clearly delineate what they will and will not discuss, communicate that policy across the school, act consistently with the policy. Perceived betrayal of trust can severely damage a coaching relationship. For example, when a teacher says something to a coach that she think will be kept privately by the coach, and then discovers that what she said was shared with others, it may be impossible for the coach to ever win back the teacher’s trust.
This is the first of several weekly excerpts from my new book, Unmistakable Impact: A Partnership Approach for Dramatically Improving Instruction. There will be one post a week up until the book is released in November.
Reader Comments (26)
http://www.redskinsshoponline.com/sean-taylor-jersey Sean Taylor Jersey
http://www.redskinsshoponline.com/art-monk-jersey Art Monk Jersey
http://www.redskinsshoponline.com/brian-orakpo-jersey Brian Orakpo Jersey
http://www.redskinsshoponline.com/ redskins jerseys
http://www.redskinsshoponline.com/albert-haynesworth-jersey Albert Haynesworth Jersey
http://www.redskinsshoponline.com/chris-cooley-jersey Chris Cooley Jersey
http://www.redskinsshoponline.com/clinton-portis-jersey Clinton Portis Jersey
http://www.redskinsshoponline.com/devin-thomas-jersey Devin Thomas Jersey
http://www.redskinsshoponline.com/donovan-mcnabb-jersey Donovan McNabb Jersey
http://www.redskinsshoponline.com/jason-campbell-jersey Jason Campbell Jersey
http://www.redskinsshoponline.com/jason-taylor-jersey Jason Taylor Jersey
http://www.redskinsshoponline.com/joe-theismann-jersey Joe Theismann Jersey
http://www.redskinsshoponline.com/laron-landry-jersey LaRon Landry Jersey
http://www.redskinsshoponline.com/russ-grimm-jersey Russ Grimm Jersey
http://www.redskinsshoponline.com/ryan-torain-jersey Ryan Torain Jersey
http://www.redskinsshoponline.com/santana-moss-jersey Santana Moss Jersey
http://www.redskinsshoponline.com/trent-williams-jersey Trent Williams Jersey
http://www.redskinsshoponline.com/willie-parker-jersey Willie Parker Jersey
<P></P>
<P>The initial <a title="Denver Broncos Jersey outlet" href="http://www.broncosteamproshop.com/">Denver Broncos Jersey outlet</a> rankings are compiled before the release of the NFL's early injury report and are updated Thursday <a title="Terrell Suggs Jersey Authentic " href="http://www.officialravensonline.com/baltimore-ravens-jerseys/terrell-suggs-jersey-c-9_16.html">Terrell Suggs Jersey Authentic </a> to reflect the status of each player We just want to make sure he's totally where he needs to be before we put him out there But youcan bet that it will come up if the two teams meet again in thewild-card round The Cowboys had 14 first downs; Tampa Bay had one to keep my heart pumping,” Jones said about the horrific June 25, 2010 accident</P>
<P></P>
<P>---AP <a title="Rob Gronkowski Jersey" href="http://www.officialpatriotsonline.com/rob-gronkowski-jersey">Rob Gronkowski Jersey</a> Pro Football Writer Arnie Stapleton can be reached at astapleton(at)ap Pro Football Focus ranks Sullivan theleague's Nom''The bottom line is: You have to be able to put food on the table</P>
<P></P>
<P>He said the injuries are "similar," but gave no specifics, insisting, "I feel great, I honestly do TE Jimmy Graham leads NFC with 80 receptions, RB Darren Sproles third with74 catches">> Emmanuel Sanders is hoping to play Monday night, butDec But we'll list them the way they are, however they are, that's how we list themIf the Broncos win, the Jets' <a title="Authentic Jeremy Shockey Jersey" href="http://www.saintsteamproshop.com/jeremyshockeyjerseysale">Authentic Jeremy Shockey Jersey</a> last hope is the Chargerswinning</P>
<P></P>
<P>He worked his way into the starting lineup, and in his senior year the left tackle was named the Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference Offensive Lineman of the Year"If you want to be a consistent team or a consistent winner, youhave to play <a title="Authentic Lance Moore Jersey" href="http://www.officialsaintsonline.com/lancemoorejerseysale">Authentic Lance Moore Jersey</a> consistent footballpng');background-repeat:no-repeat;background-position:right;padding:0px <a title="NFL 49ers Jerseys" href="http://www.49ersteamproshop.com/">NFL 49ers Jerseys</a> 15px 0px 1px;margin:1px 0px 1px 1px;cursor:hand;height:14px;display:block;line-height:14px;} They've got a lot of great players The Redskins scored 27 against the Patriots and 23 against the Giants, their best two-game points output since September</P>
<P></P>
<P>"You feel like they're all against you individually," he saidAnd Pittsburgh will certainly <a title="Lance Moore Jersey" href="http://www.officialsaintsonline.com/lancemoorejerseysale">Lance Moore Jersey</a> look to run more if quarterback BenRoethlisberger doesn't play or is limited because of an ankle injury that forcedhim <a title="Jeremy Shockey Jersey" href="http://www.saintsteamproshop.com/jeremyshockeyjerseysale">Jeremy Shockey Jersey</a> to wear a walking boot during the week Buccaneers place Talib on IAnd both have the same approach to moving toward those goalsThe Vikings snapped their NFL record ofnine consecutive games without an interception when rookie safetyMistral Raymond picked off Redskins quarterback Rex Grossman in thefourth <a title="Broncos Jersey Kids" href="http://www.broncosteamproshop.com/">Broncos Jersey Kids</a> quarter Saturday, setting up a 23-yard Ryan Longwell fieldgoal</P>
<P></P>
<P>''We are at our best when we are at (home) and our fans are rocking RamsAnthony Armstrong, Redskins vsWillis, who did some stretching before Sunday's game, did not practice all last week because of a right hamstring injury ''It's an honor to play with them He also was knocked down three <a title="Authentic Rob Gronkowski Jersey" href="http://www.officialpatriotsonline.com/rob-gronkowski-jersey">Authentic Rob Gronkowski Jersey</a> times and hurried twice</P>
<P></P>
<P>"Many an athlete has used his <a title="premier Replica Pittsburgh Steelers Jerseys" href="http://www.officialsteelersonline.com/">premier Replica Pittsburgh Steelers Jerseys</a> platform as a pulpit"While <a title="Mewelde Moore Jersey" href="http://www.officialsteelersonline.com/meweldemoorejerseysale">Mewelde Moore Jersey</a> quarterback Eli Manning is similar to Coughlin in hisdemeanor, he said he would probably be the same whether Coughlin orRyan was coaching the Giants" Bruschi on Tap: One hat/T-shirt set isn't enough BostonBrady Reflects On Tebow, BroncosTom Brady joins 'The Dennis and Callahan Morning Show' to discuss <a title="San Francisco 49ers Jersey outlet" href="http://www.49ersteamproshop.com/">San Francisco 49ers Jersey outlet</a> the Patriots' win over the Broncos and the play of Tim TebowTags: tom brady, tim tebow, patriots, broncosBrady Reflects On Tebow, BroncosVIDEO PLAYLIST Brady Reflects On Tebow, BroncosBrady Reflects On Tebow, BroncosTom Brady joins 'The Dennis and Callahan Morning Show' to discuss the Patriots' win over the Broncos and the play of Tim TebowTags: tom brady, tim tebow, patriots, broncosCountdown Daily: AFC West RaceCountdown Daily: AFC West RaceTim <a title="Giants Justin Tuck Jersey" href="http://www.giantsteamproshop.com/justintuckjerseysale">Giants Justin Tuck Jersey</a> Hasselbeck breaks down the race for the AFC West crownTags: Countdown <a title="Broncos Jersey Womens" href="http://www.broncosteamproshop.com/">Broncos Jersey Womens</a> Daily, NFL, playoffs, AFC West, Broncos, Tim Tebow, Oakland Raiders, Darren McFadden, Chiefs, <a title="Steelers Jerseys Authentic" href="http://www.officialsteelersonline.com/">Steelers Jerseys Authentic</a> Kyle Orton, Chargers, Philip RiversGrading Tim Tebow's PerformanceGrading Tim Tebow's PerformanceJon Ritchie, Ryan Stewart, and Skip Bayless grade Tim Tebow's performance against the PatriotsAFC South blogESPN's Paul Kuharsky writes about all things AFC South in his division blog 5 in Indianapolis</P>
<P></P>