I keep my eye open for writing by Atul Gawande. He has three books and many articles. The most recent one I saw was in the New Yorker. Dr. Gawande is an excellent writer and focuses on worthwhile themes. This September one is on coaching, that is, having a coach for whatever you do and want to do better. Gawande is also a professor of medicine but most importantly, he is a surgeon. Surgeons seem to be the physical powerhouses of medicine, those who can concentrate and perform delicate, complex operations that may stretch over many hours.
His New Yorker article is not only of interest because of who wrote it and what it is about but because it relates to teaching. The main steps in getting certified as an approved teacher in the K-12 schools are taking courses and student teaching. In the latter, the student is somewhat of an apprentice in the classroom of an experienced teacher. In many teaching positions, observers may watch one's teaching and note items they think could be improved. So, having a professional coach is part of both beginning and some advanced teaching.
Gawande explains in quite clear terms the difficulties of including a coach in something like a surgical operation where there has typically been none. Actors and singers often make use of coaches but a coach for a surgeon is a new thing. He reports his patient did not seem especially comforted to hear that her surgeon has a coach standing by. We have life coaches and sports coaches. We don't expect that even professionals will be beyond benefiting from having a coach. It may be the coming thing and indeed lead to better performances and less burnout.
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Bill
Main blog: Fear, Fun and Filoz
Main web site: Kirbyvariety
His New Yorker article is not only of interest because of who wrote it and what it is about but because it relates to teaching. The main steps in getting certified as an approved teacher in the K-12 schools are taking courses and student teaching. In the latter, the student is somewhat of an apprentice in the classroom of an experienced teacher. In many teaching positions, observers may watch one's teaching and note items they think could be improved. So, having a professional coach is part of both beginning and some advanced teaching.
Gawande explains in quite clear terms the difficulties of including a coach in something like a surgical operation where there has typically been none. Actors and singers often make use of coaches but a coach for a surgeon is a new thing. He reports his patient did not seem especially comforted to hear that her surgeon has a coach standing by. We have life coaches and sports coaches. We don't expect that even professionals will be beyond benefiting from having a coach. It may be the coming thing and indeed lead to better performances and less burnout.
--
Bill
Main blog: Fear, Fun and Filoz
Main web site: Kirbyvariety
