Strong leadership is at the heart of a healthy school and this doesn't just mean having a strong head teacher.  Following the latest annual report from HM Chief Inspector of Education, Liz Scott explores how to develop leaders at every level.  

What is the job of a coach?  For one Executive Coach and trainer, the key role of a coach is obvious.  Helen Sieroda says coaches should help clients see another perspective.

Are you motivated by the carrot or the stick? What about your clients - how can you identify their motivation? There's a self-perception inventory that focusses on motivation.  Coaching Connect asked Kate Turner (from Motivational Leadership Ltd) to explain more about 'Motivational Maps'.

Coaching Connect likes to ask coaches to act as reviewers. Leadership trainer and coach, Tania West (from Kairos Leadership Development), completed a Motivational Map – here’s what she thought of it.

From boom to bust – one entrepreneur explains how the failure of one business became the launch pad of a new coaching venture

Coaches should always be looking to capture great testimonials. Testimonials can help generate new clients. Here’s marketing expert, Lisa Farr, to explain more.

Coaching can help clients take huge leaps forward.  But how do you define coaching ? What makes coaching so great?  How do you explain the differences between coaching and counselling?  Coaching Connect has been to speak to Julie Hewson, a trainer of coaches, to find out.

The desire to become a coach can come from many different places.   Liz Scott has been to see Gail Adams and she explains how a life-changing experience helped inspire her to change direction to be a coach.

Games People Play, by Eric Berne, has stood the test of time (it’s over 50 years old).  What has made it so enduring? Coach, Steve Hoare reviews this Transactional Analysis classic

How do you set the right price for your coaching services?  Many coaches spend hours agonising over what to charge.  Coaching Connect's Liz Scott went to visit a marketing expert who thinks she might have the answer. 

If you want more clients then don’t waste your money on advertising. In the second in her series on marketing Lisa Farr (marketing expert) explains there are more cost effective ways of finding clients. Coaching Connect’s Liz Scott went to meet her.

How creative are you as a coach? This was something that Sali Mustafic was keen to explore at a recent Coaching Connect day.  Here’s her report on creativity.

How can coaches market themselves effectively?  At a recent Coaching Connect event Mike Brodie led a discussion group around the subject.  His group came up with four key secrets to successful marketing.

Action Learning is taking significant steps in larger organisations.  But how can Action Learning help SME’s?  At a recent Coaching Connect Event one of the break-out groups spent time discussing Action Learning for SME’s, here’s a snapshot of what they said.

In blogging for coaches part 1 – Grace Chatting covered how to start a blog. Grace was part of a group of coaches discussing blogging as part of an Open Space Technology discussion group. She now moves on to the art of blog writing.

'Blogging for coaches' – this was one of several topics discussed at the latest Coaching Connect event utilising the Open Space Technology facilitation technique.  Grace Chatting, one of the participants takes up the story

Should coaches be non directive? If they want to get to the heart of the problem, then yes they should says Liz Scott from Coaching Connect.

"The Business you were Born to Create" is the latest book from best-selling author Nick Williams.  Here's a review from Coaching Connect's Liz Scott

What are the similarities and differences between Narrative Coaching and NLP? Sali Mustafic shares her thoughts showing how the language between these two models is interchangeable.

Over the last ten years, student’s anti-social behaviour in schools has been increasing and has played a large part in some teachers leaving the profession.  Mark Escott from elan-tlc believes coaching can be a real support

Johnny Tenn is a coach who believes in the potential of the 'now'. He has developed a model that enables clients to choose powerful ways of thinking and behaving.  Liz Scott met him during a weekend course.

Devon's first Narrative Coaching Conference has left many coaches with more questions than answers - but that's exactly what it intended to do. Coaching Connect's Liz Scott went to find out more.

Narrative coaching and the narrative approach delves into the world of stories.  Sali Mustafic explains more

“Coaching for Performance” is one of the seminal coaching books of our time.  Dave Doran reviews this classic by Sir John Whitmore.

Is there really a huge difference between sports’ coaching and executive coaching?  Liz Scott went to meet Johnny Tenn, a coach working extensively in both fields. 

Coaches need to use trained supervisors.  According to Michael Carroll, one of the leading supervisors and trainers in the country, supervision is vital to help coaches see things more clearly.  Liz Scott went to meet him in Weston-Super-Mare.

Want to become a life coach?  If you’re serious about being a successful coach then check out this solid no-nonsense advice from business guru and best-selling author, Geoff Burch.  Liz Scott went to meet up with him in Cheltenham.

Coaching in the police is becoming more and more common place.  Liz Scott went to meet Cdr Jim Webster from the Metropolitan Police.  He explained how it is being integrated into the policing culture.

Life doesn’t reward good intention, it rewards action – do you agree?  Best-selling author of ‘SUMO; Shut up, Move On’ Paul McGee is adamant (from personal experience) that this is true.  Liz Scott from Coaching Connect went to visit Paul to learn more about his philosophy

Is a shift occurring in the world of coaching?   Instead of leaders hiring an executive coach – are they becoming coaches themselves?  Liz Scott went to visit Myles Downey in London to see what he thinks.

Are we heading towards a society where coaches are no longer needed? In the future will we all be such good listeners that coaches are obsolete?  Liz Scott went to meet up with best-selling author Nancy Kline who had some interesting thoughts.

Coaches are too soft with their questioning according to one of the UK’s coaching legends, Sir John Whitmore.  Liz Scott from Coaching Connect, went to meet up with him in London.

Why are you a coach?  Best-selling author and Executive coach Myles Downey believes all coaches MUST ask themseves this question.  Liz Scott went to meet Myles in London

Should coaches be responsible for helping clients find meaning and purpose in their lives? Liz Scott went to meet Sir John Whitmore who explained this vital role for coaches.

Starting up as a coaching business can be tough.  It can be hard to generate clients and earn money.  Sometimes, like a car, you need to service your business and see what is and what isn't working. Wendy Kier, also known as the Business Mechanic, shares some of her learning.

It can be hard promoting coaching courses. The ‘hares’ might use the internet, email and twitter to promote an event, whilst the 'tortoises' amongst us like to meet people in the flesh. Liz Scott explains how good old fashioned face-to-face networking can really work.

Coaching and collaboration are two words being used more and more together.  Are you collaborating as a coach and are you finding success?  We met up with one Coaching Connect participant to find out more.

Networking can be very frustrating if you end up unable to escape from the person you’re talking to.  At Coaching Connect events the ‘structured networking’ segments are always popular.  Liz Scott explains more

Coaches are often energetic, fun and passionate about their work. Is that because they are renaissance souls?  Liz Scott went to meet best-selling author, Nick Williams in London. He’s the man who coined the term ‘renaissance soul’.

Are today’s managers really managing?  Dr Meredith Belbin believes there are significant areas of their role which they’re failing to fulfil.  Coaching Connect’s Liz Scott, went to meet him in Cambridge.

In coaching do thinks it’s best to specialise in one coaching model, or alternatively, to be a bit of a magpie of ideas?  Julie Hewson, who runs a coaching diploma course, says it’s important to specialise if you want to take your coaching to the next level.  Liz Scott went to meet up with her in Exeter.

Has the coaching bubble burst?  Is the coaching profession, which has been booming in recent years, about to hit the buffers? Liz Scott went to meet up with the CEO of a coaching training company, Gerard O’Donovan, to find out more.

Are coaches needed more than ever during the recession?  Is coaching vital to support people during these challenging times?  Best-selling author, Paul McGee thinks so.  Liz Scott went to visit him in Warrington.

Women are better at communicating and should be in more senior positions – do you agree?  When we met up with Dr Meredith Belbin in Cambridge, he said women have the edge when it comes to communication.

Have you ever thought of taking your client on a walking coaching session?  Liz Scott discovered that executive coach, Andrew Scott in Cumbria, finds this a great way to allow clients to get a fresh perspective.

Collaboration – is this the new way of working for the 21^st century?  Best-selling author, Nick Williams, believes that collaboration will be crucial for coaches over the coming years.  Liz Scott went to meet Nick in London.

Are there lots of inept coaches practising? What makes a good coach and what makes an incompetent coach? Liz Scott went to meet Myles Downey, best selling author, to find out his views.

What are you actually ‘selling’ when you’re a coach? If you’re a green-grocer it’s obvious what you sell - but what about coaches? According to Noble Manhattan’s Gerard O’Donovan, coaches should focus on selling ‘joy’ and ‘bliss’. What does he mean? Liz Scott caught up with him in Weymouth.

The recession is a GOOD time for coaching, according to Sir John Whitmore.  Sir John is well known for his international best-seller, "Coaching for Performance".  He believes coaches need to 'get out there' to provide support during these uncertain times.  Liz Scott from Coaching Connect went to meet him in London.

Do coaches really listen? According to best-selling author, Nancy Kline, the answer is (usually) a big fat NO.  She believes many coaches are really waiting to land that ‘killer question’. Coaching Connect’s Liz Scott went to interview her.

In July 2010 me (Liz) and my husband (Stu) cycled 1400 miles around the UK meeting up with coaches, authors, trainers and coaching experts.  This was a physical and mental journey, with highs and lows - but we made it! 

It doesn’t matter how great you are as a coach - if you can’t get clients you’ll never succeed. According to best selling business author Geoff Burch - the secret to building up clients is all about persuasion. We met up with him in Cheltenham to find out more.

Should all coaches engage in social networking? Is it becoming an essential way to develop yourself? One Edinburgh coach believes that coaches who are active on Twitter, Linked in and Facebook often have the edge.

Day 6 and we were in London, on foot and meeting some of the key UK coaching figures. Stu and I had a wonderful time sitting on the Embankment, drinking coffee and talking about coaching with Sir John Whitmore and Nick Williams. It was fascinating.

What’s the ‘right’ way to coach? Are there too many styles of coaching out there? Gerard O’Donovan is the CEO of a successful international coaching training company. I thought I’d find out what he thinks when I visited Weymouth on our Big Bike Ride.

What do you think makes a good coach? Can anyone coach? These were questions I decided to ask our first guest on our Big Bike Ride, Julie Hewson. Julie runs a coaching training diploma course, she is also an author and experienced coach - so what does she thinks makes a good coach?

Where are the new breakthroughs in coaching? Has coaching reached a dead end?  Some in the coaching world fear that it’s losing its way.

If you want a powerful and memorable mission statement, then keep it simple.  Google has summed up its mission: "To organize the world's information and make it universally accessible and useful."  If you want your customers to know what you're about then why not take some time to create a mission statement?