Coaching as a Form of Teaching: My Experiences as a Consultant And Educator

In the realm of creative industries, where innovation and adaptability are key, the traditional teaching model has proven increasingly obsolete.

I’m Chris, and as both an educator and a consultant, I’ve come to embrace coaching as a fundamental approach to teaching.

In traditional approaches, the lecturer often becomes a passive transmitter of information, reducing students to passive receivers of information. This method limits the potential for creative exploration and critical thinking.

As both an educator and a consultant, I've embraced a different approach — coaching as a form of teaching. This method is interactive, engaging, and collaborative, fostering an environment where students aren't just learning facts but are resonating with the material and each other. It’s about guiding rather than dictating, about sparking innovative ideas through conversation, reflection, and confrontation.

But this method isn’t confined to the classroom. The principles of coaching — guiding rather than dictating, sparking innovative ideas through conversation, reflection, and confrontation — are equally powerful in the professional field. As a consultant, I’ve seen how this approach can unlock creativity and drive solutions in real-world business challenges.

Coaching Through Graduation Projects

A significant example of this approach in action occurred during the graduation projects I recently supervised. My role as a coach involved guiding six students through their journey towards their diplomas, specifically in solving a unique problem for a real client. Rather than imposing my own bias or solutions, I encouraged each student to explore different perspectives, find their own solutions, and validate their ideas through data, research, and iterative testing.

Throughout this journey, I noticed a couple of key moments where individual students experienced breakthroughs. Each student, influenced by their personal experiences, backgrounds, and knowledge, reached a point where they reflected on their progress and surprised themselves with the solutions they developed. These moments were a testament to the power of collaboration and reflection — core tenets of my coaching method.

Facilitating Reflection and Collaboration

During our bi-weekly sessions, I created a platform for open discussion, where each student shared their progress and highlighted their struggles. By inviting others to suggest how they might approach the issue, solutions often emerged organically, sometimes without my direct intervention. This approach fostered a sense of community and mutual support, reinforcing the idea that through collaboration and reflection, progress is made.

I also ensured that these sessions were conducted in a friendly, informal environment—serious, yet enjoyable, with moments of reflection as well as laughter. This atmosphere encouraged students to express their opinions freely, without fear of judgment, making the learning experience both effective and enjoyable.

The Impact on Student Outcomes

This coaching method had a profound impact on the students' final projects. By instilling a collaborative attitude and encouraging feedback, students were able to break out of the narrow focus that long-term projects can sometimes create. In several cases, students changed the direction of their projects based on ideas and feedback from their peers during these sessions. This openness to adaptation and change is something that traditional teaching methods often fail to nurture.

In contrast, traditional approaches typically position the lecturer as the sole source of knowledge, with students passively absorbing information. This method stifles creativity and critical thinking, reducing the opportunity for students to explore new ideas or challenge their initial assumptions.

Applying Coaching in the Professional Field

The benefits of this coaching approach extend beyond the educational environment. In my consulting work with clients, I apply the same principles — encouraging open dialogue, fostering collaboration, and guiding rather than dictating solutions. This approach has proven particularly effective in facilitating complex business challenges, where diverse perspectives and innovative thinking are essential.

For instance, when working with clients in the creative industry, I often encounter situations where the initial problem is not well-defined, or where the team is too focused on a single solution. By applying a coaching mindset, I help them step back, reassess the situation, and explore a wider range of possibilities. This process not only leads to more effective solutions but also empowers the team, fostering a culture of continuous learning and improvement.

Personal Reflections and Professional Growth

As an educator, this coaching approach has been both fulfilling and energizing. Working with motivated, curious students who are eager to learn not just from textbooks, but from real-world experiences, pushes me to continually refine my methods and keep the material engaging and relevant. Every day, I encounter new tools, methods, templates, and technologies that can be incorporated into my courses. This continuous learning process ensures that I remain aligned with industry trends and can offer students an education that is both current and impactful.

Conclusion

Coaching as a form of teaching is not just a method; it's a philosophy that values active learning, collaboration, and adaptability. By fostering an environment where students and clients alike are encouraged to explore, reflect, and challenge themselves, we prepare them not just for their immediate tasks, but for the broader challenges they will face in their careers. This approach has proven effective in both educational and professional settings, offering a model of leadership that is as dynamic as it is impactful.

As I continue to blend these roles of educator and consultant, I see the immense value in applying these coaching principles across various contexts. Whether in the classroom or the boardroom, the goal remains the same: to inspire, guide, and empower others to reach their fullest potential.

What do you think about my approach?