What are Resistant Teachers Hiding?
May 14, 2020
The more you understand resistance, the easier it’ll be to respond to it. But many coaches struggle with teachers they perceive as resistant because they don’t understand resistance. In addition, resistance is hard because it activates strong and often unpleasant emotions within us. The more we know ourselves, and understand our thoughts and emotions, the better we’ll be at coaching resistance. Whenever you’re uncertain, uncomfortable, in doubt, troubled, confused, or encountering resistance—start with yourself. Seek to better know yourself.
Check out the infographic I created! My first infographic ever. I hope it’ll help you remember these ideas. If you find this useful, please share it with a friend or colleague.
Keep Learning
- Have content just like this sent straight to your inbox. Subscribe to our Weekly Wisdom Newsletter
- Download this free tool: How to Eliminate Resistance
- Listen to this Bright Morning Podcast episode: Say Goodbye to Resistance
- Learn to navigate emotions in coaching. Register for an upcoming The Art of Coaching Emotions workshop
More Blogs
View All Blogs
Why We Don’t Need Less PD—We Need Better PD
May 8, 2025
We don’t need less PD, we need better.
From Knowing to Doing: How to Lead Transformational Professional Development
May 1, 2025
Learn how to design professional development that bridges the knowing-doing gap and drives meaningful change through intentional practice.
A tiny tweak to save you hours
April 2, 2025
Today I’m sharing one that might help you speed along a time-saving change.
5 Steps to Fewer Resentments
March 26, 2025
Thank you! Your submission has been received!
Oops! Something went wrong while submitting the form.
Bright Morning Podcast
View Podcasts
Navigating a Client’s Lack of Growth: Episode 239
May 5, 2025
Core Emotions Tool in Action: Episode 238
April 28, 2025
Transformational Coaching Dispositions: Episode 237
April 21, 2025
How to Return to Presence: Episode 236
April 14, 2025
Expansive Listening in Action: Episode 235
April 7, 2025
Transformational Lesson Plan Feedback: Coaching Demonstration: Episode 234
March 3, 2025
Navigating Standardized Testing Woes: Coaching Conversation: Episode 233
February 24, 2025
Instructional Coaching with Transformational Coaching Strategies: Coaching Demonstration: Episode 232
February 17, 2025
Combat Overwhelm with a Focal Student: Episode 231
February 10, 2025
Using Student Surveys to Build Trust and Close Gaps: Episode 230
February 3, 2025
Taking a Confrontational Stance: Coaching Demonstration: Episode 229
January 27, 2025
Assessing Trust In Your Coaching Relationships: Coaching Demonstration: Episode 228
January 20, 2025
Normalizing Struggles with the Conscious Competence Ladder: Coaching Demonstration: Episode 227
January 13, 2025
The Final Coaching Conversation of the Calendar Year: Episode 226
December 16, 2024
How to Know What Your Clients Think About Your Coaching: Episode 225
December 9, 2024
Navigating Confidentiality in Coaching: Coaching Demonstration: Episode 224
December 2, 2024
Soliciting Feedback from Your Admin: Coaching Demonstration: Episode 223
October 28, 2024
Coaching an Emotions-Resistant Client: Coaching Demonstration: Episode 222
October 21, 2024
Navigating Client Cancelations: Coaching Demonstration: Episode 221
October 14, 2024
Using the Gaps Framework: Coaching Demonstration: Episode 220
October 7, 2024
How to Open and Close a Coaching Conversation: Episode 219
September 30, 2024
Navigating First Observation Nerves: Episode 218
September 23, 2024
The Getting-to-Know-You Conversation: Episode 217
September 16, 2024
Aligning Expectations Between Coach and Admin: Episode 216
September 9, 2024
Designing Impactful Coaching Goals: Episode 215
September 2, 2024
Crafting Your Personal Vision for the School Year: Episode 214
August 26, 2024
Six Things Coaches Need to Know Before School Starts: Episode 213
August 19, 2024
Determining Your Schedule for the School Year: Episode 212
August 12, 2024
How to Introduce Yourself to Clients: Episode 211
August 5, 2024
How to Coach Behaviors: Coaching Conversations: Episode 210
July 29, 2024
Coaching Behaviors: Teacher-to-Student Interaction Tool: Episode 209
July 22, 2024
How to Coach Behaviors: The Gaps Framework: Episode 208
July 15, 2024
Coaching Behaviors: Planning for the Conversation: Episode 207
July 8, 2024
How to Coach Behaviors: Episode 206
July 1, 2024
How to Coach Beliefs: Coaching Demonstration: Episode 205
June 24, 2024
How to Coach Beliefs: Create New Beliefs: Episode 204
June 17, 2024
Coaching Beliefs: A Simple Three-Step Tool: Episode 203
June 10, 2024
How to Coach Beliefs: The Drama Triangle: Episode 202
June 3, 2024
How to Coach Beliefs: Five Things You Need to Know: Episode 201
May 27, 2024
Coaching Conversation: Coaching Core Human Needs: Episode 200
May 20, 2024
How to Coach Towards Agency: Episode 199
May 13, 2024
How to Curb Your “Fix It” Tendency: Episode 198
May 6, 2024
Core Human Needs and Coaching Conversations: Episode 197
April 29, 2024
How to Coach Ways of Being: Episode 196
April 22, 2024
Sneak Peek #4: Inside Elena's Newest Book!
April 15, 2024
Sneak Peek #3: Inside Elena’s Newest Book!
April 8, 2024
Sneak Peek #2: Inside Elena’s Newest Book!
April 1, 2024
Sneak Peek #1: Inside Elena’s Newest Book!
March 25, 2024
Building Strong Coach/Admin Relationships: Episode 195
March 18, 2024
What to Do When You’re Not Feeling Compassionate or Curious: Episode 194
March 11, 2024
What You Need to Know about Classroom Walkthroughs: Episode 193
March 4, 2024
How to Set Up Meeting Process Observers: Episode 192
February 26, 2024
Coaches of Color, It’s Time to Honor Your Needs: Episode 191
February 19, 2024
How to Use the Ladder of Inference in Your Coaching Conversations: Episode 190
February 12, 2024
I Don’t Want to Co-Sign THOSE Feelings: Episode 189
February 5, 2024
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: Episode 174
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
August 7, 2023
Facilitating PD: Post-Event Reflection
July 31, 2023
Designing PD: Reflection Before the Event
July 24, 2023
Designing & Facilitating Team Meetings - Part 2
July 17, 2023
Designing & Facilitating Team Meetings: Part 1
July 10, 2023
Navigating Contagious Negativity
July 3, 2023
Can I Coach Here?
June 26, 2023
When Someone Is “Too Far Gone” for Coaching
June 19, 2023
When “Equity” is Prohibited
June 12, 2023
Coaching Conversation: Finding Your Power
June 5, 2023
Coaching Conversation: ACE In Action
May 29, 2023
Three Resilience Boosters You Haven’t Heard Before
May 22, 2023
The Role of “Self-Care” for Educators
May 15, 2023
Five Ways to Normalize Emotions in Your Coaching Conversations
April 17, 2023
What do we mean by “every conversation is an equity conversation?”
April 10, 2023
Coaching When You’re the Boss
April 4, 2023
Responding When Emotionally Activated
March 27, 2023
How to Build Your Team’s EQ
March 20, 2023
How to Close Your Coaching Conversations
March 13, 2023
How to Determine Your Coaching Conversation Area of Focus
March 6, 2023
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
Transformation starts here
Start cultivating your skills to lead teams that transform schools and organizations into joyful, resilient, and equitable environments.
