How Pure Coaching Complements Instructional Coaching

How Pure Coaching Complements Instructional Coaching, Mentoring, and More

Coaching in education is incredibly versatile—it’s not a one-size-fits-all solution. While approaches like Instructional Coaching and Mentoring are brilliant for skill-building and guidance, Pure Coaching adds an extra layer by unlocking deeper personal and professional growth.

In my experience, successful coaching is all about tailoring the approach to meet the unique needs of the individual or team. It’s finding the sweet spot between directive and non-directive methods.

Here’s how these approaches can work in harmony:
Instructing and Teaching (Instructional Coaching): These highly directive methods are perfect for mastering new skills and refining techniques. They’re essential but can sometimes miss the opportunity for deeper personal reflection.

Guided Coaching: Sitting in the middle, Guided Coaching helps tackle specific challenges while still encouraging reflective practice. It’s an effective mix of direction and exploration.

Mentoring: Mentoring shines when it comes to sharing wisdom and offering advice. It’s invaluable for career progression and strategic insight, though it often leans more directive than coaching.

Pure Coaching: At the most non-directive end, Pure Coaching is about self-awareness, inner clarity, and self-directed growth. It creates space for powerful questions, deep listening, and meaningful personal breakthroughs.

When used together, these methods create a holistic approach that goes beyond skill-building to foster transformation and resilience. Leaders who adopt this balanced coaching mindset can inspire reflection, continuous learning, and genuine growth within their teams and schools.

Curious about how coaching could benefit your team or school? Let’s chat! Whether it’s exploring tailored coaching solutions or building a coaching culture, I’d love to share ideas and help you discover what works best for you.