Coaching Conversations with Jim Knight

What's the difference between directive and non-directive coaching? Should coaches set the agenda or let teachers lead?

In this episode, Dr. Robert Biswas-Diener joins Jim Knight to explore the philosophy and practice of instructional coaching. They tackle the big questions: balancing directive and non-directive approaches, the role of curiosity and empathy in coaching relationships, and how to give feedback that trul...

In this episode of Coaching Conversations, ICG Consultant Jessica Wise looks back at three standout episodes from 2025. Each one pushed her thinking about how we can better support educators and help schools flourish.

Listeners will hear why connection sits at the heart of real change and why strong support systems matter so much for educator well-being. Jessica also highlights practical ideas for creating schools where mental ...

In this week's Coaching Q&A episode, Jessica Wise and I dig into one of the most important topics in education today: the role of school leaders, especially principals, as instructional coaches.

We talk honestly about what great coaching really requires, the common challenges leaders face, and why authentic partnership matters so much more than compliance-driven conversations. We also explore what it looks like when le...

In this episode, Jim Knight sits down with the brilliant Zaretta Hammond, author of Culturally Responsive Teaching and the Brain. They discuss how teachers can bridge the gap between knowing and doing; bringing the science of learning and culturally responsive practices together to truly empower students.

Zaretta shares powerful insights on building students’ “learning power,” developing metacognitive skills, and shifting from ...

Chris Munro, John Campbell, and Jim Knight talk about what leadership coaching really looks like in schools. So much of it comes down to the conversations we have every day—the small moments that help people think, reflect, and grow.

In this episode they discuss ideas from their latest book Growth Talk, including tools like the Learning Conversations Map and the GROWTH model—both designed to help leaders turn ordinary interacti...

Jim Knight talks with William DeJean, founder of Unleashed Learning, about what it means to teach and lead in what he calls the “era of overwhelm.” Their conversation explores how systems thinking, a clear teaching and learning mission, and the use of both “what” and “how” data can create real coherence in schools. Together, they unpack how shared language and sustainable coaching practices can help educators move past compliance a...

In this episode, Jim Knight and Jessica Wise look back on the 2025 Teaching Leading Coaching (TLC) Conference, sharing moments that stood out and lessons that stayed with them. They talk about what makes instructional coaching meaningful, how caring communication shapes real partnerships, and why collaboration among educators matters so much. 

The conversation touches on memorable keynote sessions, useful coaching practices, an...

What does it really take to build a coaching program that works - not just on paper, but in real schools with real people? In this conversation, Jim Knight talks with TLC 2025 presenter Dr. Jataune Jones, about what makes instructional coaching thrive, the power of core values, strong partnerships between coaches and principals, and the importance of shaping coaching around each school's unique context.

Dr. Jataune Jones also ...

On the Coaching Conversations podcast, Jim Knight and Jessica Wise come together for their monthly episode of Coaching Q&A, where they talk about Jim's upcoming keynote, “Learning from Experience,” for the 2025 TLC Conference. Their conversation looks at how lessons from life—love, forgiveness, courage, and even the way we use our time—shape who we are and how we coach. Jim shares stories and research that show how everyda...

I had a great conversation with TLC 2025 breakout presenter, Sarah Ogborn, an instructional coach and AP teacher at Antioch Community High School. She talked about how she helped build and lead her school’s coaching program, sharing practical ways to connect with teachers, build trust, and handle challenges like imposter feelings and the isolation coaches sometimes experience. We discussed why strong relationships, clear communicat...

In this episode of Coaching Conversations, Jessica Wise and I take some time to highlight the remarkable keynote speakers who will be joining us at TLC 2025. We share a few powerful clips from recent podcast conversations and reflect together on what they mean for our work as coaches and educators.

We talk about the power of radical listening and how that simple act can transform relationships. We dig into trust-building, which...

In this episode, I talk with ICG Consultant, Christina Ortega, and Global Director of Learning & Development, Claudia Owad, about handling challenging conversations in schools. We focus on approaching these situations with empathy, preparation, and a coaching mindset so that the goal is growth, not blame. I share personal experiences and practical examples for using data, self-awareness, and emotional intelligence when conversa...

In this episode, I sit down with Dr. Rachel Lofthouse from the UK, Dr. Trista Hollweck from Canada, and Jasen Booton from England to talk about their new collaborative book, Coaching with Purpose. We learn about their personal journeys, the story behind the book, and why coaching, when it’s purposeful and relational, can be such a powerful force for growth and systemic change. Together, we explore ideas like “learning encounters,” ...

In this episode, I talk with Ephraim Lerner and Shane Leaning, the co-authors of Change Starts Here. Our conversation focuses on human-centered ways to think about organizational change in education. Ephraim and Shane share how they’ve adapted the double diamond model into an eight-stage framework: Connect, Discover, Define, Align, Develop, Learn, Deliver, and Sustain.

We spend time looking at how each stage works in practice, ...

This Coaching Q&A episode with Jessica Wise is all about the impact of artificial intelligence (AI) on instructional coaching. We emphasize that while AI can accelerate access to resources and support coaches with feedback and analysis, it cannot replace the adaptive, empathetic, and human-centered work of coaching. Our conversation also addresses ethical concerns such as privacy, bias, and environmental impact, highlighting th...

This week I'm joined by Yong Zhao, an unconventional thinker who’s never been afraid to challenge the status quo in education. We talk about his journey from a small village in China to becoming one of the most important voices in global education reform.

Yong shares powerful ideas about what’s not working, like our obsession with standardized testing and rigid definitions of merit, and what we could be doing instead. We d...