Seven “Be’s” for Effective Coaching Recommendations

Will your suggestion stick or slide away? The 7 “Be’s” for recommending make them stickier!

As coaches using the GIR model, we recognize that making a recommendation is sometimes the right coaching move. To stay on track, I like to remind myself of 7 “Be’s”—practices that make feedback both meaningful and well received.
 
Be timely. The closer to the observed event, the better. Teachers are prepared for and expecting feedback soon after sharing a lesson plan or being observed. They’re more likely to be primed for and open to ideas. It takes no more time to respond sooner rather than later. Remind yourself of that as you prioritize your busy schedule.
 
Be discrete. If your intended feedback might be perceived as criticism, be sure to find an opportunity to speak with the teacher individually. Praising publicly and recommending privately builds trust.
 
Be collegial. Invite partnership by sitting side-by-side. Give consideration to body language: Nod. Make eye contact (when making positive or neutral remarks). Have positive assumptions and aim for collaboration.
 
Be clear. Describe what it is you think could happen in concrete, actionable terms. What will it look like when the suggestion has been implemented? It’s helpful to target something that can make a short-term, noticeable difference.
 
Be specific. When your feedback is specific, there is less room for confusion and more likelihood of acceptance. Be clear and accurate. Don’t exaggerate to make a point. Avoid superlatives like “never,” “all,” and “always.”
 
Be concise. Connected with being specific is the need to be concise. If you keep talking after making a recommendation, it’s likely that the recommendation will not linger. Additionally, it helps to limit your focus, prioritizing one area for improvement.
 
Be prepared. It’s the Boy Scout motto, and it holds true here. Recommendations will bounce like rubber balls off the blacktop unless you’re prepared. After an observation, schedule time for your own reflection so that you can consider recommendations that could be included in a follow-up conversation, if needed. If you are responding to lesson plans, use the “touch it once” rule. Unless it’s a tough situation that you need to ponder, jotting down notes as you initially review the plan is an efficient way to offer feedback. Even with a busy schedule, we can be prepared to give effective feedback.
Keep these “Be’s” in mind when offering feedback. Chances are, your message will land more smoothly and be more likely to support growth.
 

This week, you might want to take a look at:
 
You can’t do better than your best:
 
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ufg-HMEzUwE&feature=emb_logo
 
 
Writing 100-word stories to grow voice:
 
https://www.middleweb.com/52541/the-power-of-short-form-to-grow-student-voice/
 
 
Using narrative video games to enhance reading skills:
 
https://www.edutopia.org/article/integrating-video-games-literature-lessons/
 
 
Helping students build metacognitive skills:
 
https://www.k12dive.com/news/students-benefit-metacognitive-skills/759772/
 
 
6 benefits of play:
 
https://thegeniusofplay.org/tgop/benefits/genius/benefits-of-play/benefits-of-play-home.aspx
 
That’s it for this week. Happy Coaching!
 
Want more coaching tips? Check out my book, Differentxiated Mentoring & Coaching in Education: From Preservice Teacher to Expert Practitioner, available from Teachers College Press!  I’m so excited to share it with you! You can use the code: FDNF25 for 15% off. Click  here  and I’ll email you the free Book Group Study Guide that includes questions, prompts, and activities you can use as you share the book with colleagues.  I hope you’ll love this book as much as I loved making it for you!