The Systemic Domain

Building upon the coaching skills and application outlined in the Fundamental domain the Systemic domain is the next step in your schools coaching evolution.

The Systemic domain acknowledges that educational contexts are dynamic and unpredictable, stuff is always happening, and people are forever attempting to make sense of change through conversations with each other. This is about having a broader perspective, looking beyond the individual to the patterns and dynamics at play in your environment.

The Systemic domain is split into three sub domains:

·????? individual

·????? group

·????? team

Individual

It could be argued that in sound one-to-one coaching we are always taking into account a variety of systems. However, having a ‘systemic mindset’ is key. For example, when I am coaching school leaders the focus may be on the challenges posed from colleagues, school governing body, students and community as well as their personal context. This is therefore not a linear problem-solution type interaction that you would typically find in the Fundamental Domain.

We find system mapping provides a clear, visual way of developing an awareness of how someone operates in relation with others. It can be an extremely informative process that allows the coachee to gain more clarity on their current situation within a one-to-one session. This is about helping the coachee to recognise and see themselves within the system to which they belong, as well as being aware of the narratives and stories that are present.

Group

Once you are up to speed with Fundamental coaching skills and processes, alongside an awareness of the systems in which you belong, you can now play an active part in the development of others through facilitation of professional dialogue and reflection. The planning and delivery of professional group coaching widens the value of coaching beyond the individual, building skills across your colleagues and setting.

Group coaching is the coaching of individuals with a group context, where the group members take turns to be the focal point while the other group members become part of the coaching resource for that individual.

There are different ways to do this through a range of approaches that we explore with our Coaching Culture Award schools.

Team

Unlike group coaching, team coaching is the coaching of a whole team that has a collective purpose and objective which all members are jointly responsible for fulfilling.

Team coaching helps teams work together, with others and within their wider environment, creating lasting change by developing safe and trusting relationships, better ways of working and new thinking, so that they maximise their collective potential and purpose.

There are a variety of ways to structure team coaching interactions which are more nuanced than a 1-1 and group coaching sets. You need to be aware of the individual, inter-personal challenges as well as the team tasks, relationships and interfaces across the wider organisational context.

Group and team coaching can work across departments, phases and wider school or organisation communities. This can help to support the development of people across your setting, eg., helping senior teams develop vision, mission, objectives, planning, and training.

Limitations of the systemic domain

Whilst there is more engagement with different people and contexts in a systemic coaching approach, the premise is still facilitation and non-directive in nature. By acting as a neutral coach you are potentially missing out on drawing on your own experiences and perspective, a key ingredient found in more skilful coaching interactions. There could be missed opportunities for the coachee(s) to co-create with you if the skills and knowledge of the coach are ignored.

There is no doubt that the onus is on the coach to master more progressive coaching skills and processes in this domain. The presumption remains that systems and hierarchy are in play which, as we have seen, have the potential to limit honest dialogue.?

This article was taken from our book 'All Ways Coaching' which is available on Amazon here

You can also find out more information on our unique Coaching Culture Awards from Persyou here