Today, I had the pleasure of meeting an inspiring group of coaches from The Teaching Skills Academy (TSA) at Abingdon and Witney College, led by Jamie Green, to share insights into my approach to coaching.
My coaching approach is deeply influenced by Tony Latimer, MCC‘s Non-Directive Coaching model: first, gain absolute clarity on the client’s current reality; next, understand their desired future; and only then, explore the steps needed to bridge the gap.
To illustrate this, I used a wonderful analogy shared by Phil Goddard on his The Coaching Life Podcast a couple of months ago in his conversation with Ian Watson:
“Our first few conversations are a bit like clearing all the mess out of the kitchen and getting to know what’s available. Once we’ve cleared everything away, we can really start cooking.”
This beautifully captures the essence of coaching for me. Sometimes the kitchen (our inner world) is so messy we don’t even realise it. The work might involve decluttering what no longer serves us, reorganising the spice shelf, or clearing out the cupboard under the sink. Other times, it’s about committing to consistent upkeep—like Jennifer Garvey Berger’s powerful reminder to take the gunk out of the sink (you can read it here).
What I loved about working with the TSA group today was how they immediately applied Tony’s model to their own experiences and played with the analogy (there were very sparkly classrooms, indeed). Together, we explored why starting with someone’s perception of their current reality can be so powerful. Returning to Phil’s analogy, this helped us understand how they see their kitchen (or classrooms) and what their perfect kitchen (or classroom) might look like, before deciding what actions to take.
A question came up during our session: What do I do when I’m asked for advice? For me, if someone isn’t asking us to coach them, we don’t need to withhold information. We can share ideas or offer insights while maintaining a coaching mindset of curiosity. For example, if a teacher asks how to make their lessons more interactive, you might share suggestions in the moment while staying curious about why they came to you with this request. That curiosity could open the door to a deeper conversation at a later time.
Coaching often requires us to decide, with the coachee, where the conversation should sit on the continuum between directive (e.g., instructional coaching or mentoring) and non-directive (pure coaching). Ultimately, it’s about knowing the people you work with and cultivating your own mindset of curiosity to unlock new perspectives and possibilities.
What stood out to me today was the TSA group’s genuine curiosity and eagerness to learn. Their openness to applying coaching concepts and exploring new ways of working was inspiring.
For me, coaching is about spending time understanding someone’s ‘current kitchen’ or whatever analogy they choose, and working together to create a clear vision of their ‘perfect kitchen’ or space. Only then can we decide on the actions that will allow us to go on a journey.
I primarily coach in education, but I also work with individuals from other industries, such as the NHS. If you are curious about how coaching could support you—or know someone who might benefit—please feel free to get in touch or share my details.
I’m always open to connecting, exchanging ideas, and having meaningful conversations about coaching. Let’s chat! Every conversation is a learning conversation.
Candida Javaid Coaching & Mentoring 