Is it necessary for a Registrar to be an Instructional Coach?

Before I answer that question, I need to define what an Instructional Coach is. I’ve heard of people who coach a sports team or even of someone who is a vocal coach but a coach for teachers? Merriam-Webster (n.d.) defines a “coach” as “one who instructs or trains”. The word “coach” can be a noun or a verb. A coach can be a person who instructs or trains another person or a team of people but it can also refer to the action of teaching, instructing, or tutoring.

Figure 1, U20 European Lacrosse Championship (Sevcovic, Unsplash, 2019).

Using the definition given by Merriam-Webster to define an Instructional Coach, it could be someone who teaches, instructs, or tutors someone who teaches, instructs, or tutors others. According to the dictionary definition, the coach/coachee relationship goes in one direction. The coach has all the information and he or she imparts their knowledge to the coachee or sets the goal that the coachee will work toward. An Instructional Coach does a little more than this, though. The relationship between an Instructional Coach and the teacher is not a one-way street but it is more of a partnership between two teachers (Knight, 2018).

Situational Leadership

As I reflect on the question of whether it is necessary for a Registrar to be an Instructional Coach or not, I’m drawn back to some theories of leadership I studied about a year ago. Situational Leadership makes a lot of sense in the Registrar’s Office and I see some similarities between it and the different methods of instructional coaching.

Figure 2, The Situational Leadership II Model (The Ken Blanchard Companies, 2001, p. 11).

Style 1 (S1) Directing

• The leader provides the instruction

• The leader determines the what the goal is and how to get there

• The leader supervises and gives feedback

Style 2 (S2) Coaching

• The leader still provides direction but solicits suggestions from the employee

• There is more discussion and explanation than in Style 1

Style 3 (S3) Supporting

• The leader does more listening and asks questions

• The leader allows the employee to make decisions

Style 4 (S4) Delegating

• The leader allows the employee to set the direction and make decisions

• The leader supports the direction with resources that are needed

Figure 3, Three Models to Approaching Coaching (Knight, 2022).

Directive Coaching

• The coach needs to give more instruction to the coachee.

• The coach makes the decisions

• The coach shares knowledge directly with the coachee

Dialogical Coaching

• The coach engages in conversation with the coachee

• The coach asks questions and shares their expertise when appropriate

• The coachee makes the decisions

Facilitative Coaching

• The coach is a “sounding board” for the coachee

• The coach asks questions but does not share advice or answers

• The coach allows the coachee to figure out their own answers

• The coachee makes the decisions

Registrar as Leader or Coach

Style 1 (Directing) and 2 (Coaching) remind me of the Directive Coaching method. There are times when the Registrar needs to make the decisions and set the goals for the office. She (or he) needs to give instructions to others since the employee may not have the knowledge and information needed to make decisions. Eventually, as the competency and confidence are built up in the employee, the Registrar can move to Style 3 (Supporting) and 4 (Delegating) which is like Dialogical and Facilitative coaching. As the employee learns more and their competency increases, more responsibility can be given to them. The Registrar can then move into more of a coaching role.

Is it necessary for a Registrar to be an Instructional Coach? I think the bigger the Registrar’s Office is the more beneficial it is for the Registrar to take on the role of the coach. Coaching allows leaders to be developed which allows the office to run smoother. It may not be as necessary for a small Registrar’s Office but it would still be beneficial. Leaders should be developed no matter what size the office is and how many employees there are.

Part of the Body

1 Corinthians 12 talks about how there are many different parts to a body. Every part is needed and every part is important. If a body does not have all the different parts, it cannot function properly. That is how I see an organization. Every person is needed in order for the organization to function properly. The Registrar’s Office is like one of the organs in the body. It is not necessarily seen but it is vital to the survival of the college. If this “organ” is to be healthy, each member needs to be developed as a leader. Coaching will help. So…maybe it is necessary for the Registrar to be an Instructional Coach.

Resources Knight, J. (2018). The impact cycle. Corwin.

Knight, J. (3 February 2022). Three approaches to coaching. Instructional Coaching Group. https://www.instructionalcoaching.com/three-approaches-to-coaching/

Merriam-Webster. (n.d.). Coach. In Merriam-Webster.com dictionary. Retrieved June 1, 2022, from https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/coach

New International Version Bible. (2011). Biblica. https://www.biblegateway.com/versions/New-International-Version-NIV-Bible

Sevcovic, P. (2019). U20 European lacrosse championship, photograph, retrieved from https://unsplash.com/photos/id9i-v5fFMU?utm_source=unsplash&utm_medium=referral&utm_content=creditShareLink.

The Ken Blanchard Companies. (2001). Situational leadership II the article. The Ken Blanchard Companies. https://www.lifelongfaith.com/uploads/5/1/6/4/5164069/situational_leadership_article.pdf