Coaching for Academic Success

Monique GaudreaultLouise Nadeau

Nikki Clarke

Agenda

• Exercise – Goal Setting

• Coaching in a University Setting

• Coaching versus Counselling

• How we see our students

• Solution Focused Coaching Process

• Exercise – Life Wheel

• Benefits of Coaching

• Coaching Applications in a Post Secondary Education Setting

Exercise

IDENTIFY

• 2 personal goals & 2 professional goals

What do you want to attain?

What IS Coaching in a University Setting?

Coaching is an ongoing partnership between the coach and the student that promotes change and a willingness to take action that brings about positive and lasting transformations in the student’s personal, academic and professional life.

Coaching offers a variety of techniques and strategies to help empower the student in their life.

Why is coaching a very effective tool for university students? Action-oriented Focuses on the positive Draws on students’ strengths

Coaching VS. Counselling

• The Role of the Counsellor:– Providing nurturing and caring support– Promoting healing– Assisting in the development of coping skills– Focuses on the past to improve present and future functioning

• The Role of the Coach:– Being a catalyst for action– Acting as a motivator for change – Promoting the identification of action steps – Focuses on the present to improve the future and increase

optimal functioning

How We See Our StudentsBased on Milton Erickson’s Five Principles

• 1. Okayness principle – People are Okay, nothing is wrong – Not a deficit remediation model– Gives the power back to the student– Coach provides a mirror for the student’s strengths

• 2. People already have all the resources within to be a success – Coach’s role is to help create awareness of these– Help students learn how to access these resources to

increase learning – Atkinson, M, & Chois, R.

How We See Our StudentsBased on Milton Erickson’s Five Principles

• 3. Behind every behavior there is a positive intention– Helps students understand the deeper meaning/value

behind their behaviors– Helps students understand how a behavior is serving them– Helps separate the person from their behavior

• 4. People always make the best choice available to them– Focuses on the here and now– Encourages students to see that regret and hindsight are not

always helpful, unless it is for the purpose of learning- Atkinson, M, & Chois, R.

How We See Our StudentsBased on Milton Erickson’s Five Principles

• 5. Change is not only possible, but inevitable – Encourages students to embrace and celebrate change– Helps students develop their flexibility and to learn what they

do and do not have control over– Provides hope that change WILL happen, one must simply

decide the course of change -Atkinson, M, &

Chois, R.

Solution Focused Coaching Process

1. Build rapport with student

2. Develop a contract with a clear outcome

3. Create an experience

4. Develop action steps

5. Explore value for the student

6. Appreciate student From the Art and Science of Coaching;

Erickson College

Building Rapport

• Powerful questions

• Listening

• Being congruent in words and actions

• Backtracking

Developing the Contract

Open Ended Questions to ask students:

1. What do you want?

2. How would you know if you got it?

3. What might be some of the best ways that you could work towards it?

4. How important is it for you? How might you commit to it?

Goals

• Is it stated in positive terms?

• Is it within their control?

• S.M.A.R.T. Goals

• Check for ecology both from within and externally.

Create an Experience

• Miracle question

• Mentors Table

• Time Shift

• Value Clarification

• Point of view shift

• Wheel(s)

Exercise – Life Wheel

Spirituality

Personal Growth

Health

Money

Career

Learning

Life Management

Physical Environment

Social LifeLeisure Time

RelationshipsFamily

Action Steps

• Develop action steps with the client

Explore Value for Student

Possible questions to ask:

- What are you taking away from our session today?

- What are you leaving with?

- What was helpful about the work we did together today?

WHY?

- Allows the student to process his/her own session

- Gives the coach increased awareness and insight around the student.

Coach Appreciates Student

- Coach reflects on what the student accomplished within the session and appreciates the work they did.

- Coach is not a cheerleader but instead reinforces observable positive behavior.

How coaching relates to the U of O mandate

• To facilitate the development of students personally, interpersonally, culturally, and academically

• To develop programs and services to improve the quality of university experience

• To create a stimulating environment conducive to academic success from year one to graduation

Coaching Applications in a Post-Secondary Setting

• Mentoring Centres

• Supervisor/Supervisee

• Academic Advisors

• Professors

• Career Centres

• Counselling Centres

• Centre for University Teaching

Tips to Make Coaching a part of your life

Check in with your values

Often

Act accordingly

Concentrate on what you want

Have Fun, Be Passionate

Intuition; Trust it

Never say never

GO FOR IT

References

• Claridge, M.T. & Lewis, T. Coaching for Effecive Learning. A Practical Guide for Teachers in Health and Social Care.

• Atkinson, M, & Chois, R. Art & Science of Coaching : Step-by-Step System. Exalon Publilshing, Ltd., c2007.

• Law, Ho et al. The Psychology of Coaching, Mentoring and Learning. John Wiley & Sons Ltd. C2007,.

• Whitworth Laura & al. Co-active coaching : New Skills for Coaching People Toward Success in Work and Life. Palo Alto, California, Davies-Black Publishing, imprint of Consulting Psycholgists Presss, c1998.

Questions?

THANK YOU