Why 5-minute coaching works

​Colleagues,
 
Let’s look at an actual example of a 5-minute coaching (5-mc) session. I was training a group of future school administrators on how to do 5-mc by modeling the practice with one of the participants:
 
Me (the coach): I really enjoyed seeing you teach today. Tell me, what did you think went well?
 
Teacher: Students were really engaged and learned the topic.
 
Me: What is something that surprised you?
 
Teacher: One of the students who is usually quiet was really engaged and did better than I would have expected.
 
Me: That’s wonderful! Is there anything that you would do differently?
 
Teacher: I don’t think so. I was using a new teaching strategy and I need to do it more.
 
Me: I’m glad you had so much success. I look forward to being able to visit again soon.
 
Reasons why 5-minute coaching is so powerful:

1. Simplicity. You don’t need coaching skills. You only have to remember three questions and to be disciplined enough to be quiet.
2. Brevity. The “5-minute” session above took 90 seconds.
3. Safety. Sessions never force anyone to discuss negative things and they are informal. 
4. Return on investment (ROI). Over time, people become more reflective and begin asking the questions of themselves.
5. Value. Often times you will learn something that has high value for the organization or implications for your own leadership.

 
Within the example above, there is a golden nugget of information. Can you find it? Tomorrow we will look at how to follow up on that nugget.
 
In the meantime, please engage in a 5-minute coaching session today! It will be worth it, I promise.
 
Do good and be well,
 
Frederick