Building Sustainable Coaching Cultures in Education

285: From Judgment to Growth: Building Sustainable Coaching Culture in Education with Sue Smith

In this Episode

“Sometimes it takes time to develop a culture, and we want to see results really quickly. but we just need to just continue delivering training continuing to model practice. and then eventually more and more people will embed that culture across the organization.”

 

Host Rosie Nice interviews Sue Smith, Learning and Development Manager at East Lancashire Learning Group, about the transformative power of embedding coaching culture within large education organizations. Sue shares her experience of moving away from traditional, judgmental observation-based performance management toward a more supportive, developmental coaching approach. Through practical strategies including learning walks, professional learning conversations, and action learning sets, East Lancashire Learning Group has successfully fostered an environment where staff feel valued, psychologically safe, and engaged in their own professional growth.

 

Sue discusses how traditional observation and feedback methods, often perceived as judgmental and evaluative, can undermine staff morale and create a culture of fear rather than learning. By shifting to a coaching-led approach organizations can transform their performance management systems. Sue shares practical implementation strategies for embedding coaching into everyday practices, as well as the challenges faced. She emphasises the importance of ongoing learning and development support for staff in coaching practices, and the recognition that building a thriving coaching culture is a long-term journey requiring persistence, patience, and genuine organizational commitment.

 

Sue demonstrates how moving from a performance management mindset focused on judgment and evaluation to one centred on empowerment, curiosity, and collaborative growth can unlock significant benefits for both individuals and the organization. The episode provides valuable insights for leaders and coaches working in educational settings, human resources professionals implementing coaching programmes, and any professional keen to understand how psychological safety and reflective practice can drive organizational change and improved staff engagement.

 

You Will Learn

• How moving from a judgemental observation model to a coaching approach learning and development model dramatically improves staff engagement and wellbeing
• How to embed coaching into everyday conversations and practices as well as organizational strategy.
• Why persistence and long-term planning is key to embedding a coaching culture

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Guest Bio

Sue Smith is the Director of Teaching, Learning and Development at East Lancashire Learning Group (ELLG) She has worked in FE for 25 years in various roles which include teaching and leading various curriculum areas, before moving to quality. Here she has transformed quality improvement with a focus on changing the mindset and ethos through coaching and continuous professional development and learning, enhancing teaching and learning, resulting in a positive impact for teachers and learners.

 

Connect with Sue