Planning for a Coaching Conversation in 5 Minutes: Episode 265 | Bright Morning Podcast

✨ Join us in Boston — Enrollment closes next month →

Planning for a Coaching Conversation in 5 Minutes: Episode 265

E

265

•

07:12

•

November 3, 2025

Best-selling author and coaching expert, Elena Aguilar, brings weekly tips, tools, and wisdom to educators with one goal: to help you thrive.

Do I really need to plan for every coaching session?

In this episode, Elena explains how even five minutes of intentional prep can transform your coaching. Learn what to focus on, how to plan efficiently, and why your presence begins before the conversation starts.

Notable moments:

‍

Keep learning:

Join the Coach Learning Library and PLC and start your Planning for a Coaching Conversation Skill Session
Elena’s starting five:
- What’s my intention?
- What do I want them to feel?
- What strengths do I want to highlight?
- What stance do I want to take?
- What’s the most important thing to address today?
Free community webinars
Receive weekly wisdom and tools from Elena delivered to your inbox

Watch the Bright Morning Podcast on YouTube and subscribe to our channel

Become a Bright Morning Member
Follow Elena on Instagram and LinkedIn
Follow Bright Morning on LinkedIn and Instagram

Support the show:

Rate and review us

Reflection questions:

What do you currently do—if anything—to prepare for coaching sessions?
How might your coaching conversations change if you spent five minutes planning?
What planning question from the episode resonated with you most—and why?

‍

Podcast Transcript and Use:

Bright Morning Consulting owns the copyright to all content and transcripts of The Bright Morning Podcast, with all rights reserved. You may not distribute or commercially exploit the content without our express written permission.

We welcome you to download and share the podcast with others for personal use; please acknowledge The Bright Morning Podcast as the source of the material.

Episode Transcript

‍

More Podcasts

View All Podcasts

In Conversation with Dr. Dena Simmons

E

145

•

00:40:18

In this final episode of our Hot Topics of Coaching for Equity mini-series Elena shares seven things you can do when you are in a toxic culture, one where there is contagious negativity.

Disrupting Racism at the Dinner Table…And Beyond

E

144

•

00:14:12

In this final episode of our Hot Topics of Coaching for Equity mini-series Elena shares seven things you can do when you are in a toxic culture, one where there is contagious negativity.

Disrupting Racism in Coaching Conversations

E

143

•

00:46:35

In this final episode of our Hot Topics of Coaching for Equity mini-series Elena shares seven things you can do when you are in a toxic culture, one where there is contagious negativity.

Why We Need Affinity Spaces

E

142

•

00:34:41

In this final episode of our Hot Topics of Coaching for Equity mini-series Elena shares seven things you can do when you are in a toxic culture, one where there is contagious negativity.

Microaggressions 101

E

141

•

00:36:55

In this final episode of our Hot Topics of Coaching for Equity mini-series Elena shares seven things you can do when you are in a toxic culture, one where there is contagious negativity.

Coaching Conversation: The Final Conversation

E

140

•

00:44:22

In this final episode of our Hot Topics of Coaching for Equity mini-series Elena shares seven things you can do when you are in a toxic culture, one where there is contagious negativity.

Coaching Conversation: Phase 4: Build New Practices

E

139

•

00:47:34

In this final episode of our Hot Topics of Coaching for Equity mini-series Elena shares seven things you can do when you are in a toxic culture, one where there is contagious negativity.

Coaching Conversation- What Happens when You Trust the Process

E

138

•

00:39:09

In this final episode of our Hot Topics of Coaching for Equity mini-series Elena shares seven things you can do when you are in a toxic culture, one where there is contagious negativity.

Thank you! Your submission has been received!

Oops! Something went wrong while submitting the form.

Bright Morning Blog

A Quick Fix for Disengaged Virtual Participants

A Quick Fix for Disengaged Virtual Participants

February 17, 2026

Four Neuroscience Truths Every Team Leader Needs to Know

Four Neuroscience Truths Every Team Leader Needs to Know

February 10, 2026

Equity can’t be an “extra”—here’s where to start

Equity can’t be an “extra”—here’s where to start

February 6, 2026

Your fix-it mode is holding your clients back

Your fix-it mode is holding your clients back

January 26, 2026

Looking for an easier way to give feedback?

Looking for an easier way to give feedback?

January 20, 2026

The best way to change the world

The best way to change the world

January 12, 2026

My Best-Of List for 2025

My Best-Of List for 2025

December 30, 2025

This 5-minute practice can change how you learn—and how you lead.

This 5-minute practice can change how you learn—and how you lead.

December 23, 2025

How do you not let one hard moment make you doubt everything?

How do you not let one hard moment make you doubt everything?

December 8, 2025

Everything Is Practice

Everything Is Practice

November 27, 2025

From “Ugh, Role Play” to “That Changed Everything”

From “Ugh, Role Play” to “That Changed Everything”

November 20, 2025

Our best offer of the year arrives Friday, November 28

Our best offer of the year arrives Friday, November 28

November 18, 2025

Learning Amidst Chaos: Building Resilient Spaces

Learning Amidst Chaos: Building Resilient Spaces

November 14, 2025

Three Ways to Make Asking for Help the Norm

Three Ways to Make Asking for Help the Norm

October 17, 2025

The best coaching conversation ever?

The best coaching conversation ever?

October 3, 2025

Your next PD session is already planned

Your next PD session is already planned

September 5, 2025

Your calendar doesn’t need another pointless meeting

Your calendar doesn’t need another pointless meeting

September 3, 2025

When the Unthinkable Becomes All Too Real

When the Unthinkable Becomes All Too Real

September 1, 2025

“Every day is a crazy day. It’s fine.”

“Every day is a crazy day. It’s fine.”

August 29, 2025

What I do before every coaching conversation

What I do before every coaching conversation

August 27, 2025

Align your calendar with your purpose

Align your calendar with your purpose

August 22, 2025

How to Turn Our Free Webinars into Ready-to-Go PD for Your Team

How to Turn Our Free Webinars into Ready-to-Go PD for Your Team

August 20, 2025

How you introduce yourself matters more than you think

How you introduce yourself matters more than you think

August 15, 2025

What if purpose is something you do? 🤔

What if purpose is something you do? 🤔

August 13, 2025

What to do when your admin doesn’t “get” coaching

What to do when your admin doesn’t “get” coaching

August 12, 2025

Your leadership instincts are right—trust matters more than anything

Your leadership instincts are right—trust matters more than anything

This one question will make EVERY conversation better.

This one question will make EVERY conversation better.

Reimagining your first meeting this fall

Reimagining your first meeting this fall

The Foundation of Resilient Teams

The Foundation of Resilient Teams

You're Talking too Much 🤐

You're Talking too Much 🤐

Wait time: My most effective coaching move

Wait time: My most effective coaching move

A simple solution to small problems (with a big impact)

A simple solution to small problems (with a big impact)

Why We Don’t Need Less PD—We Need Better PD

Why We Don’t Need Less PD—We Need Better PD

From Knowing to Doing: How to Lead Transformational Professional Development

From Knowing to Doing: How to Lead Transformational Professional Development

A tiny tweak to save you hours

A tiny tweak to save you hours

5 Steps to Fewer Resentments

5 Steps to Fewer Resentments

Three Steps to Better Decision-Making

Three Steps to Better Decision-Making

Mastering Difficult Conversations: How to Coach Emotions for Deeper Impact

Mastering Difficult Conversations: How to Coach Emotions for Deeper Impact

February 19, 2025

Transforming Limiting Beliefs About Emotions: How to Embrace and Find Wisdom in Your Feelings

Transforming Limiting Beliefs About Emotions: How to Embrace and Find Wisdom in Your Feelings

February 17, 2025

Blend Transformational Coaching and Cognitive Coaching

Blend Transformational Coaching and Cognitive Coaching

February 3, 2025

A Paradox Transformational Coaches and Leaders Know to Be True (And May Still Struggle to Heed the Wisdom)

A Paradox Transformational Coaches and Leaders Know to Be True (And May Still Struggle to Heed the Wisdom)

January 27, 2025

Are You Working With Someone Who Is Struggling?

Are You Working With Someone Who Is Struggling?

January 22, 2025

Four Lessons from Neuroscience to Become a Stronger Team Leader

Four Lessons from Neuroscience to Become a Stronger Team Leader

January 13, 2025

How to Never Again Hear, “Why Do I Have to Be Here?”

How to Never Again Hear, “Why Do I Have to Be Here?”

January 8, 2025

The 5 Most Popular Bright Morning Podcast Episodes of 2024

The 5 Most Popular Bright Morning Podcast Episodes of 2024

January 3, 2025

How to Make the Most of the Final Days of Break

How to Make the Most of the Final Days of Break

December 30, 2024

Sign Off with Confidence

Sign Off with Confidence

December 23, 2024

This is My Favorite End-of-Year Activity

This is My Favorite End-of-Year Activity

December 16, 2024

Three Ways to Boost Collective Resilience

Three Ways to Boost Collective Resilience

November 25, 2024

My Advice: Feel the Feeling

My Advice: Feel the Feeling

November 18, 2024

Say, "Goodbye," to Resistance

Say, "Goodbye," to Resistance

November 18, 2024

Why You Need to “Pull-Back-the-Curtain” in Your PD

Why You Need to “Pull-Back-the-Curtain” in Your PD

November 11, 2024

My Top Strategy for Making the Most of Limited PD Time

My Top Strategy for Making the Most of Limited PD Time

October 28, 2024

7 Learnings from 15 Workshops

7 Learnings from 15 Workshops

October 21, 2024

You Can Get Along with Anyone

You Can Get Along with Anyone

October 14, 2024

Every Single Teacher You Coach has Gaps to Close

Every Single Teacher You Coach has Gaps to Close

October 7, 2024

Coaching Across Lines of Difference

Coaching Across Lines of Difference

September 30, 2024

Thirty Years of Wisdom

Thirty Years of Wisdom

September 23, 2024

Take the Easy Way Out

Take the Easy Way Out

September 16, 2024

A Hope-Building Paradigm Shift

A Hope-Building Paradigm Shift

September 9, 2024

Setting Coaching Goals: Step One

Setting Coaching Goals: Step One

September 2, 2024

Do You Have an Anchor for the Year Ahead?

Do You Have an Anchor for the Year Ahead?

August 26, 2024

Six Questions All Coaches Need Answers to

Six Questions All Coaches Need Answers to

August 19, 2024

What to Do When There’s Not Enough Time

What to Do When There’s Not Enough Time

August 12, 2024

How Will You Introduce Yourself to Clients?

How Will You Introduce Yourself to Clients?

6 Steps to Close a Knowing-Doing Gap

6 Steps to Close a Knowing-Doing Gap

Four Design and Facilitation Learnings

Four Design and Facilitation Learnings

Do You Struggle with Disengaged Learners?

Do You Struggle with Disengaged Learners?

Are You Avoiding the Conversation?

Are You Avoiding the Conversation?

How to Savor Your Holiday

How to Savor Your Holiday

Build a Stronger Team with One Move

Build a Stronger Team with One Move

Do You Want to Make the Next School Year Easier?

Do You Want to Make the Next School Year Easier?

This Summer, Build Your Skills at Creating Connection

This Summer, Build Your Skills at Creating Connection

How to Continue the Quest to Better Know Yourself

How to Continue the Quest to Better Know Yourself

I’d Always Be in the “Needs to Improve” Column in this Area

I’d Always Be in the “Needs to Improve” Column in this Area

5 Questions I Ask Myself When I Design PD

5 Questions I Ask Myself When I Design PD

My best design resource

My best design resource

End-of-year reflection questions for you

End-of-year reflection questions for you

“These kids can’t…”

“These kids can’t…”

How trust develops

How trust develops

Who do you find hardest to listen to?

Who do you find hardest to listen to?

Is there “us” and “them” drama on your team?

Is there “us” and “them” drama on your team?

Addressing the Teacher Exodus

Addressing the Teacher Exodus

Being a Coach Transformed My Parenting

Being a Coach Transformed My Parenting

Do You Trust Your Team?

Do You Trust Your Team?

February 26, 2024

My Favorite Coaching Phrase

My Favorite Coaching Phrase

February 19, 2024

My Top 5

February 19, 2024

I Made It!

February 5, 2024

How to live in alignment with your values

How to live in alignment with your values

January 29, 2024

Here’s what it takes to create thriving teams

Here’s what it takes to create thriving teams

January 15, 2024

Here’s how I’m surrendering at our team retreat

Here’s how I’m surrendering at our team retreat

January 8, 2024

A must-ask question

A must-ask question

December 18, 2023

How I reflect on the year

How I reflect on the year

December 4, 2023

How to celebrate Coach Appreciation Day

How to celebrate Coach Appreciation Day

November 5, 2023

Can You Let Your Heart Open Even More?

Can You Let Your Heart Open Even More?

November 2, 2023

Did You Make it Through?

Did You Make it Through?

October 30, 2023

Intention can be a placebo

Intention can be a placebo

October 15, 2023

The coaching question that feels like a hug

The coaching question that feels like a hug

October 9, 2023

What would you really love to say about this month when it ends?

What would you really love to say about this month when it ends?

October 2, 2023

It’s time to celebrate!

It’s time to celebrate!

September 25, 2023