#173: Short on Time? Skip the Observation, Not the Pre-Conference

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In this episode of Coaching the Whole Educator, Becca sits down again with veteran instructional coaching expert Steve Barkley to unpack one of the most overlooked but powerful parts of the coaching cycle: the pre-conference. Together, they break down why pre-conferences are essential for effective instructional coaching, teacher growth, and human-centered school leadership.

Steve explains how pre-conferences create trust, increase teacher agency, and ensure coaching conversations feel relevant and meaningful. Instead of using coaching time for “I gotcha” observations, Steve shows how a strong pre-conference transforms the work into “I got you,” helping teachers reflect, self-identify needs, and experience immediate shifts in clarity and confidence.

Listeners will learn:

• What a pre-conference actually is and why it’s the most important step in the coaching cycle
• How pre-conferences build trust, value, and relevance for teachers
• Why skipping the pre-conference leads to ineffective coaching and wasted time
• How focusing on teacher-driven goals increases engagement and efficacy
• The role of questioning skills, reflective listening, and open-ended questions in high-quality coaching
• How coaches can diagnose what teachers truly need by listening for payoffs vs. costs

This conversation gives coaches and school leaders practical, classroom-ready strategies for improving observations, strengthening post-conferences, and building a human-centered coaching culture where growth actually sticks. If you want to deepen your instructional coaching practice, increase teacher buy-in, and elevate the impact of every classroom visit, this episode is a must-listen.

Download the Stages of Competence resource, here!
Episode 74 pairs perfectly with this episode! Take a listen!

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