I spent a while researching different coaches as I wasn’t really sure it was for me.

I came across Laura, by chance, and having looked at her website and read some of her blogs I thought ‘this person actually gets my role’! Not only has she done the role but she understands the nuances of it, how insular and lonely it can be and the demands that can be made of School Business Managers.

Nervously, I joined Laura’s group coaching program and felt slightly intimidated by the experience of some of the others in the group. I quickly realised that they had the same issues, insecurities and lack of confidence that I had. It was enlightening and great to hear how others had dealt with things and also to help others by making suggestions from my own experience, thus improving my confidence.

Coaching has helped me when dealing with the daily frustrations of the role. I won’t say I don’t still lose it, but I’m much calmer and comments have been made about how much I have grown since undertaking the coaching.

I would thoroughly recommend coaching to any Business Manager thinking about it. Laura was a great coach for me and I would highly recommend her – but do your research, everyone is different and finding the right coach for you is as important as the coaching itself.

So how do you go about asking for coaching? 

In my experience it’s best to start with some reflection.

• Think about your last review and what you need to work on.  I wanted to become more strategic and be more confident to speak up in SLT meetings
• Think about how you’re feeling. I was lacking in confidence, feeling isolated in my role and getting constantly frustrated by the demands being made of me by all staff
• Be honest with yourself! Do you want to change? It may mean answering some difficult questions and opening up about your fears, values and beliefs. Will you put in the work to change? A coach can support you to identify changes needed but you’ll only get that change if you put in the effort. This can be scary and challenging, but ultimately rewarding

Once you have considered these things then you need to ask for what you want. Be prepared!

• Say what you want to change and what you want to achieve 
• Tell your Head about the research you’ve done into coaches and the likely cost. Show them you mean it
• Detail how it will benefit not only you but the school – perhaps a different perspective at SLT that isn’t just curriculum based

I was very lucky – I have a forward thinking Head who understands the value of coaching and who has been very supportive of me throughout.  She is an amazing leader and I am very lucky that she gets the role. In fact she likens it to the Headteacher role in as much as she too can feel isolated and no-one else in school does her role.

You may not be so lucky, but don’t let that stop you asking for what you need – whether it be coaching, support or CPD.

Everyone deserves some personal development, don’t let yours be limited to professional qualifications.

— Jackie

Click HERE to listen to Episode 001 of the School Business Leadership podcast to hear Jackie’s Headteacher talk about the impact of Jackie’s coaching from her perspective and why the School Business Manager role is essential to the success of a school.

And if you haven’t already, you can subscribe to my podcast on your chosen podcast player by clicking HERE.