Skeptical but intrigued. Q&A with Art Alumni Phillip Peters
Q: When coaching was first proposed at school, what was your initial reaction?
A: I was a little skeptical, but intrigued. After speaking to the member of staff who was organising the introduction to coaching, I became intrigued enough to give it a go.
Q: What was your experience like on The Anatomy: Foundational Coaching Course?
A: I found it to be one of the most interesting and enjoyable courses I had been on at the time. During the course, which was attended by only others from my school, I was given the opportunity to have open an honest conversation with others who, to that point, I had not really spoken to. It was refreshing to be put in the position where I was talking to people for the first time and felt like everyone was being genuinely curious, something which we often don’t do in our everyday lives. The course made me reflect on this idea of being genuinely curious when talking to others.
Q: When did you realise the full potential of coaching?
A: Having a coaching conversation with a student about their behavior in lessons completely disarmed them and allowed for a meaningful conversation without defensiveness or arguments.
Q: What was the difference learning coaching online versus in-person?
A: I completed The Journey online, which was very different from the face-to-face experience of The Anatomy, which I did in person. It (attending the course online) was more powerful. It allowed me to connect with coaches from all over the world and gain experience and stories from others.
Q: What drew you to take The Art, and what was your experience of that course?
A: Having learned a lot from the previous courses, I asked to do The Art. It was delivered online and provided an opportunity to reconnect with other coaches. It challenged me to step outside my comfort zone and had a profound impact on me, making me wish for a world where people are open and vulnerable with each other all the time. The Art course made me think deeply about ideas I was already aware of and brought them to the forefront of my mind. It also challenged me to do things outside my comfort zone, resulting in a profound impact. Additionally, it explored the concept of thinking about participants, which made me consider this more in my teaching.
Q: How has your experience learning coaching skills influenced your view on teacher training?
A: My experience with coaching has made me realise the power of having coaching as part of initial teacher training. I believe it would have made me a better teacher earlier in my career, as it would have provided a better understanding of how to plan for different types of participants.