Bright Morning Blog

Best-selling author and coaching expert, Elena Aguilar, shares her wisdom about coaching, leading teams, and designing and facilitating transformational professional development.

How I reflect on the year

Latest Article

How I reflect on the year

December 4, 2023

The season of reflection and intention-setting has begun. I love thinking back over the year and identifying all the learning, and getting clear on what I want for the next year.

How I reflect on the year

How I reflect on the year

December 4, 2023

The season of reflection and intention-setting has begun. I love thinking back over the year and identifying all the learning, and getting clear on what I want for the next year.

How to celebrate Coach Appreciation Day

How to celebrate Coach Appreciation Day

November 5, 2023

Coach Appreciation Day was yesterday, but since it was a Sunday, you can celebrate today, or any time this week! Here are a few suggestions for how to celebrate...

Did You Make it Through?

Did You Make it Through?

October 30, 2023

Congratulations. It’s the end of October! I want to say, you made it through, but what does it mean to “make it through?” Also, perhaps we should aspire to more than just “making it through.” So here are some Look Back reflection prompts to expand your notion of what it means to successfully reach the end of a month.

Intention can be a placebo

Intention can be a placebo

October 15, 2023

I have talked and written a lot about setting intentions before coaching sessions or meetings. Often we set an intention, and then forget all about it, and then after the meeting we remember and think, oh! I forgot all about it but it happened anyway!

The coaching question that feels like a hug

The coaching question that feels like a hug

October 9, 2023

My favorite coaching question is not technically a question.

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 a new month with new possibilities for growth—if you are intentional. This fall, in the final Monday newsletter for the month, I’m offering you Look Back prompts; in the first Monday newsletter of the month, I’m providing Look Forward prompts.

It’s time to celebrate!

It’s time to celebrate!

September 25, 2023

It’s the end of September, a month that usually feels especially long and full for all of us. The end of a month, (or week or year) offers a natural moment to reflect, as well as to celebrate, and so here are some “Look Back” prompts for you, or to offer your coachees.

The coaching question that’s like a mini-earthquake

The coaching question that’s like a mini-earthquake

September 18, 2023

I think about my coaching questions as being like warm hugs or cold showers, or mini-earthquakes. I wrote about the cold shower question a few weeks ago and am curious whether any of you tried it!

Thank you! Your submission has been received!

Oops! Something went wrong while submitting the form.

Bright Morning Podcast

Try It On: Supercharge Your Learning

November 27, 2023

Try It On: Let Your Coachee Lead

November 20, 2023

Try It On: The Power of Silence

November 13, 2023

Try It On: A Question to Unlock Our Power

November 6, 2023

Try It On: A Question to Surface Underlying Beliefs

October 30, 2023

Try It On: A Confidence Building Sentence Stem

October 23, 1987

Try It On: Less Talking, More Impact

October 16, 2023

Try It On: Learn from Your Coachee’s Non-Verbals

October 9, 2023

Try It On: Improve Your Communication with Non-Verbals

October 2, 2023

What You Need to Know About Taking Notes During Your Coaching Conversations

September 25, 2023

How to Prepare for a Coaching Conversation in Five Minutes

September 18, 2023

How to Set Goals with Your Coachees

September 11, 2023

How to Introduce Yourself as a Coach

September 4, 2023

How to Introduce Coaching to New Clients

August 28, 2023

The Six Elements of Transformational Coaching

August 21, 2023

The Six Most Important Things to Know If You're a New Coach

August 14, 2023

Proactively Mitigating and Responding to Harm in Group Spaces

Facilitating PD: Post-Event Reflection

Designing PD: Reflection Before the Event

Designing & Facilitating Team Meetings - Part 2

Designing & Facilitating Team Meetings: Part 1

Navigating Contagious Negativity

Can I Coach Here?

When Someone Is “Too Far Gone” for Coaching

When “Equity” is Prohibited

Coaching Conversation: Finding Your Power

Coaching Conversation: ACE In Action

Three Resilience Boosters You Haven’t Heard Before

The Role of “Self-Care” for Educators

What do we mean by “every conversation is an equity conversation?”

Coaching When You’re the Boss

Responding When Emotionally Activated

How to Build Your Team’s EQ

How to Close Your Coaching Conversations

How to Determine Your Coaching Conversation Area of Focus

Transformational PD Part 3: Responding to Resistance

February 13, 2023

Transformational PD Part 2: Six Transformational Tips

February 6, 2023

Transformational PD Part 1: What It Is and Why You Need It

January 30, 2023

Coaching Resistance: Part 3 - Coaching Demonstration

January 23, 2023

Coaching Resistance: Part 2 - Preparing OURSELVES

January 16, 2023

Coaching Resistance Part 1: What is Resistance?

January 9, 2022

How to Set Yourself Up For a Great Year

January 2, 2023

In Conversation with Dr. Dena Simmons

November 28, 2022

Disrupting Racism at the Dinner Table…And Beyond

November 21, 2022

Disrupting Racism in Coaching Conversations

November 14, 2022

Why We Need Affinity Spaces

November 7, 2022

Microaggressions 101

October 31, 2022

Coaching Conversation: The Final Conversation

September 26, 2022

Coaching Conversation: Phase 4: Build New Practices

September 19, 2022

Coaching Conversation- What Happens when You Trust the Process

September 12, 2022

Coaching Conversation: Building Relationships and Trust in Phases 1 and 2 of Transformational Coaching

September 5, 2022

Transformational Coaching in Action - Phase 1: Surface Current Reality

August 29, 2022

Limited Series: Starting the School Year Strong - Setting Yourself Up to Coach

August 22, 2022

Limited Series: Starting the School Year Strong Considerations for a Thriving Coaching Program

August 15, 2022

Limited Series: Starting the School Year Strong The PD You Need

Starting Strong: The Power of Vision

Do What You Can: In Conversation with Sharon McMahon of @SharonSaysSo

What to Read This Summer with Dr. Kimberly Parker

Coaching Joy

Coaching Sadness

Coaching Emotions: Anger

10 Strategies to Shift a Mood

It’s All In the Details

When Things Don’t Go According to Plan

Powerful Facilitation Starts and Ends With You

The PD Book Sneak Peek

What to Say: Listener Questions- Asked & Answered

Designing Your Racial Equity Learning Journey

What to Say: It’s Complex - What to Say as a Person of Color

What to Say: Compassion, Curiosity and Boundaries

What to Say: Here’s What to Say

What to Say: Evaluating What’s Possible

What to Say: The Role of Power in Addressing Racism

What to Say: The Power of Purpose

What to Say: A Framework for Responding to Racism

What to Say: Reckoning with Our Past

February 28, 2022

What to Say: Recognizing Racism

February 21, 2022

What to Say: Three Steps to Navigate Your Emotions

February 14, 2022

What to Say: The Role of Your Identity in Responding to Racism

February 7, 2022

The End of Month Routine You Need

January 31, 2022

Three Steps to Better Decision Making

January 24, 2022

What Do You Need to Quit In Order to Stay?

January 17, 2022

Morning Routines for Educators

January 10, 2022

Coach's Corner: It’s Time to Get Your Needs Met

January 3, 2022

Kute Blackson

December 27, 2021

What Do You Need This Winter Break?

December 12, 2021

Introducing The PD Book!

December 6, 2021

Preparing for Healthy Conflict

November 29, 2021

When it Feels Like it’s Never Enough

November 22, 2021

The Gifting Episode

November 15, 2021

In Conversation with Kimberly Jones and Gilly Segal

November 8, 2021

First 5 Minutes: “Who is a fictional character…”

November 1, 2021

First 5 Minutes-Tell me about a challenging moment

October 25, 2021

First 5 Minutes: Resilience Boosting Opener

October 18, 2021

First 5 Minutes: Tell Me About a Place…

October 11, 2021

Quarterly Wisdom: Journey into Wanderland

Coaches’ Corner: Is Your Tank Full?

September 27, 2021

How to ACE Your Coaching Conversations

September 13, 2021

Behind the Design: How to Coach Strong Emotions

September 6, 2021

Addressing Race-based Opportunity Gaps

August 30, 2021