Coach like Atticus Finch
“‘First of all,’ he said, ‘if you can learn a simple trick, Scout, you’ll get along a lot better with all kinds of folks. You never really understand a person until you consider things from his point of view…until you climb into his skin and walk around in it.’”
I recently worked with a CrossFit gym owner and coaches. I have never done CrossFit. Any success we had seemed to come from simplicity and a dash of Atticus Finch.
It didn't come from stylish programming and shiny new things, but from considering the peer coaches perspectives.
Atticus Finch from Australia’s favourite book
For this, I borrowed an approach I’d learned as a teacher. Basically, graduates often think they are struggling more than they are. However, they just need reassurance that all is good.
This is the same with coaches… Thus, I co-taught but let the peer coach lead whilst I stepped back and support without 'rescuing'. AITSL 3.2 levels Highly Accomplished teacher
For me, 'engagement' comes in many forms. Here, the coaches felt trusted, not managed.
Sometimes 'leadership' isn’t about being out front. Simply, set things up well and then stand back far enough for others to grow.
“Others sang your life, But now is a chance to shine. And have the pleasure of Saying what you mean... Have the pleasure of Meaning what you sing.”