Coaching Cultures in Education: Insights from Lucy Wood

I recently listened to a Teachers Talk Radio podcast interview featuring Lucy Wood, where she shared her thoughts on the role of coaching in education, especially from the perspective of empowering individuals and creating a lasting impact within organisations. In her conversation with Sabrina Ahmed-Qureshi, Lucy highlighted some key principles that are useful to reiterate.

One of the central themes of Lucy’s message was the idea that coaching should always be a choice. In her view, when coaching is presented as a voluntary process, it opens the door for real transformation. Coaching isn’t about ticking boxes or forcing a framework onto individuals—it’s about creating a space where people can reflect on their own motivations, challenges, and growth. This kind of approach, Lucy suggests, fosters genuine development rather than superficial change.

Lucy also addressed a common pitfall that many organisations face: the temptation to implement coaching as a top-down initiative with little cultural consideration. Without the proper buy-in from leadership and a focus on building a coaching culture, she explained, coaching can quickly become a performance management tool instead of a developmental one. For coaching to be truly effective, it must be embedded within an organisation’s values and practices, with leaders modelling coaching themselves and creating an environment where reflective practice is at the heart of everyday work.

Another crucial point Lucy made was the impact of cultural fit when it comes to coaching within schools or other educational environments. She discussed how tailoring coaching approaches to the unique needs and dynamics of an organisation is vital for its success. Simply applying generic coaching methods without understanding the specific context can lead to disengagement or missed opportunities for growth.

This conversation was a timely reminder of how essential it is to approach coaching with intention and respect for the individual. When it’s done right, coaching has the potential to help people reconnect with their values, overcome challenges, and ultimately thrive in their personal and professional lives.
If you’re interested in coaching and its transformative power in education, I highly recommend giving this podcast a listen—it’s packed with thought-provoking insights and actionable takeaways.

If you are interested in exploring how coaching can benefit your school, departments or team, feel free to get in touch—whether you are looking for tailored coaching support or guidance on fostering a coaching culture, I’d be happy to share with you my thoughts.