A hands-on guide for transformational coaches working in school environments
In Arise: The Art of Transformational Coaching, renowned author and coach Elena Aguilar delivers a compelling and inspirational message about how to coach in the face of daunting challenges. In the book, you'll learn how to listen expansively in a coaching conversation, how to plan conversations effectively, how to coach across lines of racial difference, how to coach resistant teachers, and more.
You'll learn how best to impact your clients' "3 B's" beliefs, behaviors, and ways of being and explore illuminating case studies that highlight and illustrate the concepts discussed in the book. You'll also find:
- A Transformational Coaching Rubric 2.0 providing detailed explanations of all relevant coaching domains and indicators
- Comprehensive discussions of the reasoning and theory underlying the practical strategies explained within
- Techniques for developing, maintaining, and applying emotional intelligence in your work
An indispensable "how-to" guide for transformational coaches working in school environments, Arise: The Art of Transformational Coaching is the hands-on and practical roadmap to results that professionals in this area have been waiting for.
Table of Contents:
About the Author xxi
Acknowledgments xxvii
Foreword by Alexandrea Creer Kahn xix
Introduction 1
Every Child, Every Day 2
An Overview of This Book 4
From London to Oakland to Nairobi 12
The Bridge to Everything 17
1 Transformational Coaching: Why No One Can Learn from You If You Think They Suck 21
A Transformational Coaching Conversation 22
Coaching Is Professional Development 29
The Core Principles of Transformational Coaching 31
Four Theories of Action That Drive Transformational Coaching 33
A Transformational Coach's Essential Beliefs 41
Comparing Traditional Instructional Coaching with Transformational Coaching 48
The Impact of Transformational Coaching 51
2 A Transformational Coach's Ways of Being: How to Create the Conditions for Transformation 57
The Primary Role of Emotional Intelligence 59
The Dispositions of a Transformational Coach 66
People Remember How You Made Them Feel 77
3 The Foundational Abilities: The Cornerstones of Transformational Coaching 79
How to Coach a Teacher Who Opposes the New Curriculum 80
Coaching the Three Bs 86
Building Trust 90
Cultivating Agency 98
Navigating Power Dynamics 102
All We Need Is 15 Minutes 116
4 How to Listen: This Will Change Your Life 119
What Is Listening? 120
Common Obstacles to Deep Listening 124
How to Be a Good Listener 130
The Joy of Listening 136
5 Fifty Questions to Ask: And Four Types to Avoid 139
What Not to Do 140
Whenever Possible, Be Quiet 144
The Hardest Coaching Skill of All 146
The Coaching Stances 150
It's Not About the Nail 159
Five Coaching Survival Phrases 163
A Little More on What to Say and How to Say It 169
Forget the Stems, Remember the Source 175
6 Listen, Think, Respond: Inside the Mind of a Transformational Coach 177
The Three Steps in a Transformational Coaching Conversation 180
An Overview of the Thinking Tools 183
Every Conversation Counts 186
7 What You Need to Know About Emotions: And Why You Don't Need to Be a Therapist 189
But I'm Not a Therapist 191
Why Is It So Hard to Deal with Emotions? 195
What You Need to Know About Emotions 198
Stressed, Tired, and Overwhelmed 203
Trauma-Informed Coaching 207
When Did You Stop Dancing? 219
8 How to Coach Emotions: Without Making Things Weird 221
Address Core Human Needs 222
Use ACE Emotions 226
ACE Emotions in Action 234
Coach into the Spheres of Influence 238
Use Strength- Based Coaching 243
Additional Considerations When Coaching Emotions 248
9 How to Coach Resistance and Resilience: It's Easier-- and Harder-- Than You Think 257
What Is Resistance? 260
Resistance Is Optional 269
Can Someone Be Uncoachable? 277
How to Respond to Resistance 281
How to Cultivate Resilience 286
Witness and Behold 292
10 How to Coach Ways of Being: Coach the Person, Not the Problem 295
The Complexity of a Way of Being 298
Coaching Core Values 305
Coaching Personality Traits 311
Coach the Person, Not the Problem 314
11 How to Coach Beliefs: Change the Story, Change the Reality 317
Recognizing Beliefs 321
Unpacking Helpful and Harmful Stories 323
Naming the Stories 328
Exploring Beliefs 331
Trust the Process 338
12 What You Need to Know About Equity: And Why We Must Start with Race 341
Why Focus on Racial Equity 344
Power, Privilege, and Identity 346
What Is Racism? 349
How Racism Manifests in Schools 354
What Is to Be Done? 358
13 How to Coach for Equity: On Building Bridges 361
Who, What, When, Where, and Why Coach for Equity 363
Cultivating Identity Awareness 365
Why Calling People Out Doesn't Work 370
How to Change Beliefs 374
What to Say When You Hear Something Racist: A Cheat Sheet 386
How to Navigate All the Emotions 391
14 How to Coach Behaviors: It's Time to Close the Gaps 395
How to Do a Classroom Observation 397
The Gaps Framework 407
Adult Learning Principles 417
Planning the Debrief 422
How to Coach an Open, Receptive, "Easy" Teacher 427
15 The Art of Transformational Coaching: Heart-Centered Coaching 435
The Coaching Lenses 436
Using the Coaching Lenses to Plan 439
The Art of a Transformational Coaching Conversation 446
Reflecting on a Coaching Conversation 458
Things We Don't Talk About, Yet 461
Conclusion: All You Need Is Love 465
References 467
Appendix A: Transformational Coaching Mini-Rubric 471
Appendix B: The Core Emotions 477
Appendix C: The Coaching Lenses 481
Index 489
"Elena has done it again. Arise is a literal masterpiece. Full of deeply personal reflections, radically supportive scripts, and loads of opportunities to explore one's patterns, beliefs, and experiences, this book is a game-changer for any human being. I even used the strategies with my teenagers and partner; this content is not just applicable in a professional setting, but in a personal context as well." --Maia Heyck-Merlin, Founder & CEO, The Together Group; author of The Together Teacher, The Together Leader, and The Together Teammate
"Since the pandemic, schools and organizations have often struggled to rebuild community and trust. Arise builds on the foundations of Elena Aguilar's impactful prior work, giving practical strategies and case studies to support the well-being of students, teachers, and administrators alike." --Liz SoHyeon Kleinrock
"Want change? No one knows more about leveraging the human side of change than Elena. In her deeply optimistic new book Arise, Elena shows how Transformational Coaching--yes, coaching that is literally transformational--is the key to improving teacher practice and creating a school community where we all thrive. This book is exactly what we need so our students and our schools can flourish." --Jenn David-Lang, Founder, THE MAIN IDEA and Learn & Lead Masterminds
"Arise is an incredible compilation of ALL Elena's best work. This book will help any coach or supervisor continually practice becoming a better coach for their team and help any organization get closer to actualizing the full potential of each human being. To 'Arise' means to put in the effective effort and reflection necessary to improve yourself as a coach and immensely transform the lives of those who work with one another to improve systems for all of us. If we believe in ourselves and others desire to bring and become our best selves, we will all Arise!" --Shanie J. Keelean, Deputy Superintendent of Schools, Rush-Henrietta Central School District
"Arise should be required reading for all coaches and instructional leaders! It addresses the too often overlooked nuisances and soft skills of being an instructional coach head on, in an authentic way. It provides its readers with emotionally intelligent strategies and mindset shifts that are vital if you are serious about becoming a transformational coach." --Deidra Fogarty, Black Girls Teach
"Elena Aguilar has beautifully and cogently unpacked the 'behind the scenes' thinking and skills that will assist any coach who desires to transform education through her coaching conversations. With its use of real-world scenarios and practical coaching language supports, Arise will support every reader, no matter her role, in developing her coaching mindset (and skill set). Brava and thank you, Elena for another wonderful contribution to our field." --Jennifer Abrams, Communications Consultant and author of several books, including Having Hard Conversations and Stretching Your Learning Edges: Growing (Up) at Work
"Elena's human-centered approach is revolutionary, and offers an accessible path to the nuances of transformational coaching and a deeper understanding of ourselves and others." --Angela Watson, Founder of TruthforTeachers.com
"As a school principal, I find Arise to be a must-read, transformative coaching guide that sharply focuses on emotions, behaviors, and beliefs to establish systems that support effective coaching and staff development. This book is essential for every school leader committed to educational equity--every child, every day." --James Allrich, Principal, Argyle Middle School; Maryland Principal of the Year (2023)
"This phenomenal book sets the bar high, calling in every educator and coach to recognize the power of showing up and removing barriers for students even if it requires our own shift, vulnerability, and discomfort. With Arise, Elena inspires all of us to create conditions for positive transformation for our students (and ourselves) to explore, learn, and thrive." --Danielle Nava-Mijares, CEO & Educational Strategist, Nava Consulting LLC
"At a time when educational coaches are told they must help clients interpret data, navigate divisive politics, and implement revolving improvement initiatives, Elena Aguilar reminds us that just as effective educators strive to educate the whole child, we must support the whole adult educating the child. Arise is a brilliant, beautiful, and hopeful synthesis of Elena Aguilar's prior work and experiences. It is the definitive guidebook to transformational coaching. If you want to coach people instead of initiatives, this book is for you." --Brendan Wilson, Principal Coach, Anchorage School District
"Aguilar's Arise reminds us to trust teachers. In this book, her transformative coaching model is elevated as she reaffirms personhood as the path to creating the conditions that allow teachers to do their best thinking in pursuit of improving their practice." --Zaretta Hammond, teacher-educator and author of Culturally Responsive Teaching and the Brain
"Arise is a revelation. This book is an invaluable gift for coaches in any field, but particularly education, Arise isn't a toolbox, it's a profound invitation. It challenges and supports its readers to build and sustain relationships and communities that foster learning and belonging. In this beautiful, rejuvenating text, Elena Aguilar offers a blueprint for building a better world--one where every child is valued, every adult is a partner for transformation, and every human being's dignity is treasured." --Garrett Bucks, author of The Right Kind of White and founder of The Barnraisers Project
"Arise is a comprehensive resource for those committed to supporting pre-service teachers through collaborative coaching conversations. Elena's guidance has transformed my approach to interacting with student teachers, creating conditions where self-awareness, equitable practices, and resilience flourish so that everyone involved can truly thrive." --Kathrina Mendez, lecturer & Supervisor of Elementary Education, University of California, San Diego
"The incomparable coach extraordinaire, Elena Aguilar, beautifully combines narrative, theory, and practice to guide educational leaders on how to center humanity, equity, and love in their coaching so that they can create the conditions for adults and students alike to thrive." --Dena Simmons, Ed.D., Founder and Executive Director, LiberatED
ELENA AGUILAR is the CEO of Bright Morning, the author of 8 books, and the host of the Bright Morning podcast. She has trained tens of thousands of educators in strategies to create thriving teams, cultivate resilience, and make every conversation count towards building a more just and equitable world.
Jossey-Bass
Pub Date: July 23, 2024
1.06" H x 9.28" L x 7.42" W
544 Pages
Paperback