It has been a while since my last blog, which may be hard to believe since I do have more time as a Coach. The questions are, "How have I been using this time? Who/What have I been putting my efforts towards?" Short answer: Email. I thought I gave my inbox a lot of my attention as a teacher, but never have I expended so much of my energy working on writing emails. My emails as a teacher were more frivolous than they are now as a Coach, and I received emails more than I sent them. Now my email behavior is relentless, and I'm often drafting an email while I'm checking two others. Email has become my primary communication medium; I don't have to enlist Gmail Meter to know that email is a big part of being a Coach.
Receiving emails is easy, it's the construction of them that is so painstaking. Our words are not supported by nonverbal cues in an email, so it's easier for someone to misread our tone and be offended. Consequently, I find myself sharing a draft email with colleagues to test its tone.
Many times I feel like I'm walking a tightrope without a circus net. In the classroom, teachers develop and implement; however, it's all about defense in coaching within a culture that may not completely understand, and therefore, accept me as a Coach.
One might assume that clicking "Send" would calm my anxiety, but waiting for responses only lengthens and intensifies it. Then, the cycle continues!
Receiving emails is easy, it's the construction of them that is so painstaking. Our words are not supported by nonverbal cues in an email, so it's easier for someone to misread our tone and be offended. Consequently, I find myself sharing a draft email with colleagues to test its tone.
Many times I feel like I'm walking a tightrope without a circus net. In the classroom, teachers develop and implement; however, it's all about defense in coaching within a culture that may not completely understand, and therefore, accept me as a Coach.
One might assume that clicking "Send" would calm my anxiety, but waiting for responses only lengthens and intensifies it. Then, the cycle continues!