How do instructional coaching and Transformational Coaching work together? 

This is a question we hear a lot. In this episode, Elena demonstrates some of the many ways that Transformational Coaching compliments and enhances instructional coaching, resulting in tangible benefits for students and teachers alike. You’ll hear Elena coach a current 6th-grade ELA teacher who has been teaching for 17 years and is looking to push her proficient students to higher levels of knowledge. 

Notable moments: 

00:38 Episode Overview and Role Play Setup

02:35 Meet Kina: The Coaching Conversation Begins

04:32 Exploring Strategies for Proficient Writers

08:06 Deepening the Learning Process

13:40 Reflecting on Coaching and Teaching Practices

17:43 Implementing New Strategies and Building Community

26:38 Final Reflections and Conversation Next Steps

37:24 Conclusion and Resources

Keep learning: 

• Join our Learning Library and Transformational Coaching PLC and learn everything you need to know about using Student Surveys with your clients. 
• Read Arise: The Art of Transformational Coaching to build your coaching toolkit 
• Attend The Art of Transformational Coaching Workshop to grow your coaching skills 
• Receive weekly wisdom and tools from Elena delivered to your inbox
• Become a Bright Morning Member 
• Follow Elena on Instagram and LinkedIn
• Follow Bright Morning on LinkedIn and Instagram

Support the show:

• Become a Friend of the Podcast  
• Rate and review us

Working with a focal student is one coaching strategy that works just as well with clients who are completely overwhelmed as it does with those who are competent and confident in their role–and it’s pretty darn easy. Listen in to hear what you need to know to try this out in your coaching practice. 

Notable moments: 

01:52 Introduction to Focal Students

03:03 Step-by-Step Guide to Working with Focal Students

08:26 Ways to Continue Learning 

Keep learning: 

• Join our Learning Library and Transformational Coaching PLC and learn everything you need to know about using Student Surveys with your clients. 
• Read Arise: The Art of Transformational Coaching to build your coaching toolkit 
• Attend The Art of Transformational Coaching Workshop to grow your coaching skills 
• Receive weekly wisdom and tools from Elena delivered to your inbox
• Become a Bright Morning Member 
• Follow Elena on Instagram and LinkedIn
• Follow Bright Morning on LinkedIn and Instagram

Support the show:

• Become a Friend of the Podcast  
• Rate and review us

Reflection questions: 

• Have you utilized focal students in your coaching practice? Why or why not? 
• Do you have a teacher you think could benefit from working with a focal student? If so, what outcomes would you hope from this strategy? 
• What questions or wonderings do you have about this strategy? 

Podcast Transcript and Use:

Bright Morning Consulting owns the copyright to all content and transcripts of The Bright Morning Podcast, with all rights reserved. You may not distribute or commercially exploit the content without our express written permission.

We welcome you to download and share the podcast with others for personal use; please acknowledge The Bright Morning Podcast as the source of the material.

• Episode Transcript

Student surveys can help close knowledge gaps about students' backgrounds, close emotional intelligence gaps regarding the experience their students are having in their classroom, and build relational trust. If you have a client who isn’t connecting with their students, this is an episode you don’t want to miss. 

Notable moments: 

00:32 Introducing a Powerful Coaching Tool

01:03 Case Study: Coaching David

03:04 The Concept of a Third Point in Coaching

06:01 Benefits of Using Surveys in Coaching

08:40 Addressing Concerns About Surveys

10:02 Resources for Continued Learning

Keep learning: 

• Join our Learning Library and Transformational Coaching PLC and learn everything you need to know about using Student Surveys with your clients. 
• Read Arise: The Art of Transformational Coaching to build your coaching toolkit 
• Attend The Art of Transformational Coaching Workshop to grow your coaching skills 
• Receive weekly wisdom and tools from Elena delivered to your inbox
• Become a Bright Morning Member 
• Follow Elena on Instagram and LinkedIn
• Follow Bright Morning on LinkedIn and Instagram

Support the show:

• Become a Friend of the Podcast  
• Rate and review us

Reflection questions: 

• Are student surveys something you’ve integrated into your coaching practice? If not, what’s held you back? If so, what was your experience? 
• Do you have a client who is struggling to connect with students who you think utilizing student surveys would benefit? If so, what is the first step you want to take to make this happen? 

Podcast Transcript and Use:

Bright Morning Consulting owns the copyright to all content and transcripts of The Bright Morning Podcast, with all rights reserved. You may not distribute or commercially exploit the content without our express written permission.

We welcome you to download and share the podcast with others for personal use; please acknowledge The Bright Morning Podcast as the source of the material.

• Episode Transcript

Change is why we coach. And it’s why working with a client who is stuck, resistant, or has hit a plateau can be so frustrating. In these moments, you need to be prepared to take a confrontational stance. That’s what Elena will show you how to do in this episode. 

Notable moments: 

00:44 Introduction to Today's Roleplay Demonstration

04:12 Exploring Emotions and Reactions

09:41 Considering Next Steps and Solutions

15:20 Final Thoughts and Acknowledgements

Keep learning: 

• Join our Learning Library and Transformational Coaching PLC and learn everything you need to know about taking a confrontational stance with your clients. You’ll also find a video recording of this coaching demonstration and a debrief where Elena shares the thinking behind her coaching moves.  
• The First 10 Minutes (tool)
• Read Arise: The Art of Transformational Coaching to build your coaching toolkit 
• Attend The Art of Transformational Coaching Workshop to grow your coaching skills 
• Receive weekly wisdom and tools from Elena delivered to your inbox
• Become a Bright Morning Member 
• Follow Elena on Instagram and LinkedIn
• Follow Bright Morning on LinkedIn and Instagram

Support the show:

• Become a Friend of the Podcast  
• Rate and review us

Reflection questions: 

• What comes to mind for you when considering taking a confrontational stance? 
• How did Elena’s demonstration confirm or challenge the ideas you had? 
• What is one thing you want to try in an upcoming conversation? 

Podcast Transcript and Use:

Bright Morning Consulting owns the copyright to all content and transcripts of The Bright Morning Podcast, with all rights reserved. You may not distribute or commercially exploit the content without our express written permission.

We welcome you to download and share the podcast with others for personal use; please acknowledge The Bright Morning Podcast as the source of the material.

• Episode Transcript

There is no coaching without trust. But how do you know if your clients trust you? 

In today’s episode, Elena demonstrates how to do a trust check-in with your clients so you don’t have to guess or make assumptions. She also masterfully navigates learning that there has been a breach of trust. This episode is a must for every coach and leader. 

Notable moments: 

01:06 Roleplay Demonstration Setup

02:11 First Roleplay: Assessing Trust 

10:27 Second Roleplay: Addressing Trust Issues

18:30 Conclusion and Ways to Keep Learning 

Keep learning: 

• Join our Learning Library and Transformational Coaching PLC and learn everything you need to know about conducting a trust check-in with your clients. You’ll also find a video recording of these coaching demonstrations and a debriefs where Elena shares the thinking behind her coaching moves.  
• Read Arise: The Art of Transformational Coaching to build your coaching toolkit 
• Attend The Art of Transformational Coaching Workshop to grow your coaching skills 
• Receive weekly wisdom and tools from Elena delivered to your inbox
• Become a Bright Morning Member 
• Follow Elena on Instagram and LinkedIn
• Follow Bright Morning on LinkedIn and Instagram

Support the show:

• Become a Friend of the Podcast  
• Rate and review us

Reflection questions: 

• What is one thing that surprised you in Elena’s coaching demonstrations? 
• What is one thing you want to bring into an upcoming coaching conversation? 
• What is one thing you learned about Transformational Coaching as a result of listening to these demonstrations? 

Podcast Transcript and Use:

Bright Morning Consulting owns the copyright to all content and transcripts of The Bright Morning Podcast, with all rights reserved. You may not distribute or commercially exploit the content without our express written permission.

We welcome you to download and share the podcast with others for personal use; please acknowledge The Bright Morning Podcast as the source of the material.

• Episode Transcript

If you are coaching someone who is struggling to learn how to do something new, today’s episode is for you. When growing our skills, the stages of learning are completely predictable, but most people aren't aware of that, and as a result, they can suffer. In this episode, Elena demonstrates how to use the Conscious Competence Ladder, a tool created by Noel Burch, to transform how your clients experience growing paints. 

Keep learning: 

• Join our Learning Library and Transformational Coaching PLC and learn everything you need to know about using the Conscious Competence Ladder with your clients. You’ll also find a video recording of this coaching demonstration and a debrief where Elena shares the thinking behind her coaching moves.  
• The First 10 Minutes (tool)
• Read Arise: The Art of Transformational Coaching to build your coaching toolkit 
• Attend The Art of Transformational Coaching Workshop to grow your coaching skills 
• Receive weekly wisdom and tools from Elena delivered to your inbox
• Become a Bright Morning Member 
• Follow Elena on Instagram and LinkedIn
• Follow Bright Morning on LinkedIn and Instagram

Support the show:

• Become a Friend of the Podcast  
• Rate and review us

Reflection questions: 

• Have you used a “third point” tool in your coaching? If so, what is your experience with it?
• Transformational Coaches always start with themselves. Where are you on the Conscious Competence framework with different elements of your coaching? How does it feel to locate yourself? 
• Do you have a client you would like to introduce the Conscious Competence with? How do you anticipate they might respond? 

Podcast Transcript and Use:

Bright Morning Consulting owns the copyright to all content and transcripts of The Bright Morning Podcast, with all rights reserved. You may not distribute or commercially exploit the content without our express written permission.

We welcome you to download and share the podcast with others for personal use; please acknowledge The Bright Morning Podcast as the source of the material.

• Episode Transcript

Resolutions don’t work for the overwhelming number of people, but we know what does! In this timely episode replay, Elena shares the simple, research-based, strategy she used to support her in making 2023 one of her best years yet. Listen in, grab your free resource, and take the first step in making 2025 a great year.  

Keep learning: 

• Join the Learning Library and Transformational Coaching PLC to gain access to our January Back from Break series, and 44 additional Skill Sessions!
• Core Human Needs free downloadable resource 
• Listen to Episode 105: Morning Rituals
• Attend The Art of Transformational Coaching workshop 
• Read Arise: The Art of Transformational Coaching 
• Receive weekly wisdom and tools from Elena delivered to your inbox
• Become a Bright Morning Member 
• Follow Elena on Instagram and LinkedIn
• Follow Bright Morning on LinkedIn and Instagram

Support the show:

• Become a Friend of the Podcast  
• Rate and review us

Reflection questions: 

Review the Core Human Needs downloadable resource. Reflect: 

• Which of these needs feels most satisfied in your life right now? What does that look like and feel like?
• How do you think your life might be different if these needs were met?
• Which of these needs do you feel most called to explore? Why are you drawn to that need?
• How could you begin to explore this need? How could you explore your personal history with this need?
• Which actions could you take to explore getting the need met? What's one thing you could do today to take one tiny step towards meeting this need?

In this timely replay, Elena once again becomes the coach in your ear, providing some guidance for how you can think about winter break to ensure it serves you and your needs. 

Keep learning: 

• Join the Learning Library and Transformational Coaching PLC to gain access to our January Back from Break series, and 44 additional Skill Sessions!
• Attend The Art of Transformational Coaching workshop 
• Read Arise: The Art of Transformational Coaching 
• Receive weekly wisdom and tools from Elena delivered to your inbox
• Become a Bright Morning Member 
• Follow Elena on Instagram and LinkedIn
• Follow Bright Morning on LinkedIn and Instagram

Support the show:

• Become a Friend of the Podcast  
• Rate and review us

Reflection questions: 

• What do you need from your time away from work? 
• How do you want to feel when you return? 
• Imagine yourself in 20 year. What do you think your future self would want you to do with this time away? What would they tell you to start/stop/keep doing? 

Podcast Transcript and Use:

Bright Morning Consulting owns the copyright to all content and transcripts of The Bright Morning Podcast, with all rights reserved. You may not distribute or commercially exploit the content without our express written permission.

We welcome you to download and share the podcast with others for personal use; please acknowledge The Bright Morning Podcast as the source of the material.

The Peak End rule tells us that people's final experience has an outsized influence on how they remember something. This is great news for our coaching! In this episode, Elena demonstrates how to use the final conversation of the calendar year to send your clients into break feeling empowered and accomplished. 

Notable moments: 

00:30 Setting the Stage for Role Play Demonstration 

02:10 Jumping into the Role Play

16:42 Debriefing the Role Play

22:38 Final Thoughts and Resources

Keep learning: 

• Free tool: The First 10 Minutes of a Coaching Conversation
• Join our Learning Library and Transformational Coaching PLC and learn everything you need to know about closing out the calendar year with your clients. You’ll also find a video recording of this coaching demonstration! 
• Read Arise: The Art of Transformational Coaching 
• Attend The Art of Transformational Coaching workshop
• Receive weekly wisdom and tools from Elena delivered to your inbox
• Become a Bright Morning Member 
• Follow Elena on Instagram & LinkedIn
• Follow Bright Morning on LinkedIn & Instagram

Support the show:

• Become a Friend of the Podcast  
• Rate and review us

Reflection questions: 

• What coaching moves did you hear Elena make that built trust? 
• What was one thing you heard Elena do that you would like to try in your coaching conversations?
• What is one question you’re left with after listening to this episode? 

Podcast Transcript and Use:

Bright Morning Consulting owns the copyright to all content and transcripts of The Bright Morning Podcast, with all rights reserved. You may not distribute or commercially exploit the content without our express written permission.

We welcome you to download and share the podcast with others for personal use; please acknowledge The Bright Morning Podcast as the source of the material.

• Episode Transcript

Soliciting feedback from your coaching clients has big benefits, including strengthening your practice, building trust, and modeling being a learner. And it can be scary! In this episode, Elena demonstrates how to confidently and clearly ask for client feedback and acknowledge receiving it. As a bonus, you’ll also hear how to open your coaching conversations with a question that builds resilience! 

Notable moments: 

00:43 Role Play Demonstration Setup

02:55 Part 1: Introducing the Feedback Survey

04:54 Part 1 Reflection

07:55 Part 2: Transitioning to Feedback Acknowledgment

10:39 Reflecting on New Beliefs

14:23 Part 2: Roleplay Reflection

15:36 How to Continue Growing Your Skills in This Area 

16:55 Closing Remarks and Acknowledgements

Keep learning: 

• Subscribe to our Learning Library and Transformational Coaching PLC to learn everything you need to know about soliciting feedback from clients, including Elena’s feedback survey
• Read Chapter 15 of Arise: The Art of Transformational Coaching for more on evaluating the impact of your coaching conversations 
• The First 10 Minutes (free tool)
• Receive weekly wisdom and tools from Elena delivered to your inbox
• Become a Bright Morning Member 
• Follow Elena on Instagram & LinkedIn
• Follow Bright Morning on LinkedIn & Instagram

Support the show:

• Become a Friend of the Podcast  
• Rate and review us

Reflection questions: 

• What has been your experience with feedback? 
• Have you explicitly solicited feedback from your coaching clients (or direct reports)? Why or why not?
• What did Elena’s model and Cary’s reflection prompt you to want to do or do differently moving forward? 

Podcast Transcript and Use:

Bright Morning Consulting owns the copyright to all content and transcripts of The Bright Morning Podcast, with all rights reserved. You may not distribute or commercially exploit the content without our express written permission.

We welcome you to download and share the podcast with others for personal use; please acknowledge The Bright Morning Podcast as the source of the material.

• Episode Transcript