The 14th Annual Cognitive Coaching^SM Leadership Network Symposium was held in Denver, Colorado from January 23-26, 2008, with over 100 people participating. This year's theme was Leading and Sustaining Mindful Cultures. One participant wrote:

What a fabulous time I had at the symposium and now I have, once again, arrived home energized and empowered by the events of the past week. I must say it is the one time a year that I am surrounded by a room full of like minds with the passion and understanding of the CC process and the desire to be self-directed and life-long learners. It is like no other community of people that I have ever been associated with and I am blessed to have the opportunity to "be," and stay connected with such like minds. Seeing old faces, meeting new faces, and making connections are just added bonuses to the week.

What I need now is about 2-3 months to just stay home and read books I purchased, and will purchase, as a result of the Symposium—however others will not see it my way—so I must be patient and it will all get done in time.

This year's Symposium featured a preconference, Coaching for Improved Performance through Trust, Strength-Based Inquiry, and Compassionate Communication with Megan Tschannen-Moran, author of Trust Matters. Megan deepened our understanding of the five facets of trust she has identified from her own research and the literature on trust: benevolence, honesty, and competence, openness, and reliability. She pointed out that the first two are the most critical and the others serve as indicators that benevolence and honesty are present. As Cognitive Coaches, we were reminded how critical those trust factors are in creating the conditions to invite teachers to do what is required to improve schools. Tschannen-Moran said that trust has many benefits including infusing positive energy, creating more adaptive and agile organizations, and assisting in utilizing resources to the greatest advantage.

Wednesday night's opening banquet was an opportunity for participants to renew old friendships and make new acquaintances. We were all inspired to think about the power of States of Mind after viewing the video, Gifts from the Fire.

Thursday morning began by introducing the newest Training Associates, Linda Salzman, John Clarke, and Dave Derby. Art Costa and Bob Garmston, the co-developers of Cognitive Coaching^SM, presented "Enriching Rituals," a seminar that engaged us in thinking about how one prepares as a coach. All of us became aware of being more intentional and conscious in our work. [Art and Bob's presentation handout in Word format (new window): "Enriching Rituals."]

In the afternoon, Jane Ellison and Carolee Hayes, presented, "What's Your Mindset?" They shared the work of researcher Carol Dueck regarding the effects of a fixed mindset versus a growth mindset. The group considered the implications of the two mindsets for student learning and for coaching.

Throughout Thursday, Friday, and Saturday, a featured speaker was Jim Roussin, one of the Center's Training Associates. The title of Jim's presentation was "Mindful Coaching: Exploring New Paradigms for Self-Directed Learning." The four modules are represented below through compelling quotes Jim shared with us. [Jim's slides in PDF format (new windows): (1) Module 1, (2) Modules 2 & 3, (3) Module 4.]

Module 1—Weaving Positive Patterns of Potentiality—The Warps and Wefts of the Coach's Loom
"The work of human works...[is] to establish, in and by means of each one of us, an absolutely original center in which the universe reflects itself in a unique and inimitable way."—Pierre Teilhard De Chardin

Module 2—Inviting the Powerful Observer—Coaching the Invisible
"The range of what we think and do is limited by what we fail to notice. And because we fail to notice that we fail to notice, there is little we can do to change until we notice how failing to notice shapes our thoughts and deeds."—R. D. Laing

Module 3—Mapping 4 Perceptual Positions for Meaning & Action—The Learners Walk

"Would you tell me, please, which way I ought to go from here?"

"That depends a good deal on where you want to get to," said the Cat.

"I don't much care where—" said Alice.

"Then it doesn't matter which way you go," said the Cat.

"—so long as I get somewhere," Alice added as an explanation.

"Oh, you're sure to do that," said the Cat, "if you only walk long enough."

—Lewis Carroll, Alice in Wonderland

Module 4—Symbolic Modeling and Clean Language—The Metaphors of Change
"In oneself lies the whole world, and if you know how to look and learn, then the door is there and the key is in your hand. Nobody on earth can give you either that key or the door to open, except yourself."—J. Krishnamurti

Jim's very stimulating presentation stimulated us all to higher levels of thinking about our consciousness and craftsmanship.  View Jim's slide show review of the Symposium by clicking the play button (pop-up window):  

In addition to several great workshops presented by participants on a variety of topics, there were four dialogue groups that exchanged thinking about three topics generated by the 100+ participants:

1. What might be some ways that we can energize systems to embrace CC and intelligent thought so that we can prepare our students for the unknown future?
2. In order to get to the deep structures, how do you balance the duality of being present in the moment and listening while simultaneously analyzing and making decisions?
3. In supporting systems, how might we think differently in providing access to CC training to more diverse populations, i.e., parent, students, administrators, etc.?
4. How might we infuse CC dynamics into data-driven PLC's without everyone being formally trained?

Three book studies invited participants to share their thoughts and reactions to some recent books related to the work of Cognitive Coaches:

• Leadership on the Line by Heifetz and Linsky
• Thinking-Based Learning: Activating Students' Potential by Swartz, Costa, Beyer, Reagan, & Kallick
• Mindfulness by Daniel Siegel

It was a stimulating week for all. We look forward to seeing you next year in Denver for the next Symposium, already being planned. Here is the schedule: