Impact stories

The group setting, being able to do it in my own time in the holidays without competing demands. The knowledge of the facilitators and the way they ran the session. So warm, open and inviting.

Timing, as it was during the holidays i could really engage more and not be distracted by the work due at school.

The supportive environment and having access to the content through the LMS.

This has been the best PD course that I have attended in some time. I was apprehensive about the break out groups but the presenters and team were welcoming, non-judgmental and supportive. Sharon and Chris did a fantastic job by working as a team to engage all participants. They shared their knowledge and showed that the genuinely cared about the progress of the participants. Thank you for an enjoyable three days.

I have been impressed with the OCAP from top to bottom, from the coaches and materials to the varied tasks and coaching arrangements. I come away with a deeper understanding of my role as a coach and how to serve my fellow teachers better.

I have thoroughly enjoyed Growth Coaching International’s Online Coaching Accreditation Program. The variety of activities undertaken and the weekly schedule has scaffolded my development really well. The paired coaching experience was exceptional. I got so much out of it in terms of being coached, practising my coaching and also in connecting with an educator on another continent. The quality of delivery is consistently high and the course is very well structured.

I am extremely proud of the progress that I have made across the course. The online delivery has really suited me and given me the opportunity to deeply explore each concept at my own pace.

The on line option was excellent and allowed flexibility. I enjoyed meeting people in group chats and the facilitators had an authentic caring disposition

The facilitators were excellent and paced the learning perfectly. The online time frames were spot on, allowing for timely breaks that meant there was no overload of screen time for me. I valued meeting a variety of people working in many roles within education. I really appreciated the practical parts of the program which allowed me to have a go, with support, at the different elements of the program.

Thank you for an informative program delivered in a supportive environment. I have a new energy and am confident the skills I have learnt will be used from day one of the new term.

Sharon and Chris, Thank you for giving me the opportunity of attending this course via Zoom. I thoroughly enjoyed the whole experience especially the opportunities to break out and practice the skills being taught.

Thank you for sharing your warmth and expertise with us. I have learnt some valuable life skills to ensure my conversations are more productive and meaningful to build the capacity of others.

The organisation of the program was excellent as was meeting and working with lovely people from all over the globe.

I am so grateful for the opportunity to have participated in this course. It was a bright spot in a time when there was so much stress and uncertainty. I looked forward to participating each week. I appreciated the flexibility to do some degree of self-pacing as necessary. I felt deeply connected to my partners and small group. Thank you!

The OCAP was a genuinely transformative (even life-changing!) learning experience for me. The course was really well-designed - the timing of each element and the strong emphasis on coaching practice and reflection allowed me to reflect, experiment and integrate my learning into my professional practice. The facilitators and the other GCI coaches who were involved were all able to distil their vast experience into practical, accessible insights for us, and the international nature and high calibre of the cohort of the other delegates made each interaction so incredibly enriching.

A really great online course that took adult learners into context. Materials & resources were very concise and the small group zoom sessions proved to be the most valuable. Working with other participants but especially with skilled coaches really made the difference to me.

I found this course to be very powerful. The learning was well paced, supported by experts as well as evidence based written research and the learning activities were practical.

The program blended content delivery with small group activity, The observations of coaching conversations - both live and recorded were extremely insightful to understand what this looks like in a very concrete way.

The warm professionalism of the facilitators (Claudia and Lucy). They established a supportive but challenging environment for us, despite the challenges of learning online.

The high quality of the content, the way that the content was designed, the break in between sessions, the ability to practice a lot, the energy and quality of the presenters

The manner in which Claudia and Lucy presented themselves. They are very knowledgeable and they explained the process clearly, with respect to attendees and their skill level. They organised the time well and it did not feel time consuming. The time went by very quickly and I believe this is due to the delivery on the content. Claudia and Lucy made the time informative and enjoyable.

The balance between the theory and the practical components. The program is very well structured to draw out and explain the key components of the growth coaching model and then have the opportunity to practice the associated skills. I think the program is very well paced, and always ran to the times we were told. The prompt start and accurste finish time was really respectful of our time as professionals undertaking this PD.

Thank you - I learned so much. This course has been life-changing in terms of my professional life. I wish I had done it years ago. It should be mandatory for all emerging leaders.

I wish I had completed this training at the beginning of my position as a Learning Area Coach as I believe that I would helped develop staff far more effectively; or rather they would have developed the agency to grow themselves. Many thanks for your energy and engagement Claudia and Lucy.

Thank you! Your knowledge and expertise over the three days, meant that after our coaching triads, all I could think was "Wow!", the conversations were so rich, deep and clarifying. Thank you for helping me to develop my skills.

this program was brilliant. i usally hate role plays and internally groan when I'm told 'we are going into pairs/groups to role play; but this was really powerful and valuable. thanks

This was a very organised course with highly competent facilitators. All the initial outcomes were met through an interesting mixture of activities. I would highly recommend this course to any educator.

I would not hesitate to recommend this course to anyone who is interested in supporting themselves and others to be more effective in their communication. GROWTH provides a model for talking and listening that is supportive and empowering for coach and coachee. The approach reassures and challenges you to engage with your new learning.

Participation in this course has completely transformed my thinking. I now feel inspired and ready to support others when setting goals, dealing with difficult conversations and providing feedback.

This training has been a very valuable way of spending time to enable me to support colleagues and have a much more solution-focused team.

Fabulous course, well-paced and engaging. Course deliverer very knowledgeable and accessible. I have left with a very clear understanding of the role of the coach and am excited about its future impact on my colleagues.

A fabulous inspiring course. Looking forward to motivating others in the way I have been motivated over the past two days. Thank you.

[The facilitator’s] knowledge was second to none, and her approach was outstanding.

Amazing way to connect despite the online situation - encapsulating the friendly buzz of a conference in a virtual zone must have been challenging but you nailed it (maybe as coaches are such nice people!). Timezone management was tricky but I thought you did an amazing job with the timetable. The interactive sessions were so good to talk with and learn from others in the group. There were bonuses - I was inspired and engaged all from my school office or sofa at home without the expense and fatigue of travel and I probably benefited from fewer weight inducing morning teas). Plus I could walk and reflect in between the sessions. Thank you for leaving the portal open for a while afterwards and for recording the sessions so that we can re-visit and see the ones we missed - very important for online learners (as we know after running distance learning as schools). Great job and thank you. (Keynote, Ellie Drago Severson) This was very helpful, inspiring and real - easy to connect to for a wide audience. Thank you so much. Great start to the day in NZ!

It was a real privilege to be part of the conference and listen to the more experienced coaches and those new to the field. I loved listening to the stories from the field and the Keynote, but also the coaching demos. It was great to 'meet' people I have been reading about and the work that they have done, including the books they have written. (Keynote, Ellie Drago Severson) A brilliant session. Love the ways of knowing. This has given me some real food for thought. Loved the session

Recognising the impact I can have with coaching and the moments when it is useful/opportunities to use it

A deeper understanding of how a coaching approach can be used to effectively impact and enhance my work and relationships.

I loved the balance of theory and practice. There were lots of moments to really reflect on my own practice and opportunities to have those 'aha' moments. A good amount of time also to practise our coaching skills. The program was very well designed.

It was very hands on. We had opportunities to discuss and be part of the learning experiences. I learnt so much because I had to do it in the moment. The content was great.

The delivery and the practice opportunities throughout the course. The relevance and its ability to be transferable and applicable to any/all situations.

Thank you for the time and effort you have invested. It was such a worthwhile course for me to do on this journey that I am on, and I am already hearing how differently I am responding to people I work with.

An amazing opportunity that I believe will be a game changer for me as a leader

Such an energising and valuable course which struck the perfect balance between theory and practice. I enjoyed the facilitator's engaging delivery, and it was interesting to be part of the conversation about how the course could be refined for the next lucky cohort.

Thank you Edna for sharing your expertise I appreciate it so much and feel like I am ready to be a better leader and teacher!

I wanted to take a moment to express my deep gratitude for the incredible impact cycle coaching course that you led. The tools and techniques that you taught us have had a tremendous impact on me and my team, and I am so grateful for your guidance. Since taking the course, we have been able to approach our work with a newfound sense of clarity and purpose. The strategies you shared with us have allowed us to tackle even the most complex challenges with confidence and skill, and the results have been truly impressive. Thank you for sharing your expertise with us and for inspiring us to be the best that we can be. Your coaching has made a lasting impact on our team, and we are all better for it.

I have a much clearer idea on how to implement the impact cycle in my school. I especially found the coaching opportunities and Growth questions very useful.

Thank you, I feel empowered to take action with the new skills I have developed during my time in the sessions.

Thank you so much for an amazing 2 days. Thank you for your care and authenticity. I have learnt so much and feel much more confident as a leader and to begin engaging in the coaching process with my peers.

Thank-you Lucy. This has been very engaging and thought provoking for my own practice and the practice of my colleagues. Very well executed.

Support, resources, hands on learning, pushed out of my comfort zone but in a safe and supportive way

Practical strategies to incorporate coaching into my leadership to better lead, nurture and grow my team

To invest in the moment and see every conversation as an opportunity to listen, to notice and empower

The amount of practical tasks and time to work with a range of peers in developing these skills. Penny also made the learning very accessible, it felt achievable and helped make our group feel comfortable.

Andrew made the course content accessible to all participants allowing for powerful interactions and practical learning experiences.

Jan was a brilliant presenter and is incredibly knowledgeable and relatable. She was able to effectively provide us with the tools to use within our coaching back at school. The partner coaching and practice sessions were so incredibly valuable to be able to hone in on our skills.

The humanised learning and context based activities. There were so many incredible lightbulb moments. You have designed an exemplary course that truly does amplify our lives on both the professional and personal fronts.

The collaborative approach with fellow participants and the opportunity to practice the model between sessions. Also being able to see how I can readily put this into action back at school

Content extremely relevant and applicable. It has given me skills to effectively help others achieve their goals in a positive way.

Andrew you have certainly helped me achieve a heightened understanding of coaching this year and enabled me to facilitate quality coaching conversations with my team. Thank you.

Thanks so much, Andrew. You did and outstanding job of guiding us through the program, bringing your rich and deep knowledge, expertise and skill, while maintaining warmth, humility and care.

Jan, you are an amazing facilitator. Thank you for your energy, deep knowledge and humor and most importantly getting our group focussed on the learning. The first Pd I have enjoyed for a long time.

Absolutely loved working with you both Chris and Dan. I have truly enjoyed all aspects of learning, collaborating and talking!! Working together, supporting each other to grow in this space has been life changing.

Penny is a fabulous facilitator with deep knowledge and presents in an engaging way - one of the most valuable PL Sessions I’ve been to in 33 years!

Thank-you for your knowledge, guidance and support. Your sessions were informative, engaging and incredibly helpful. You united our Senior Leadership Group and have provided us the tools to affect positive change in our community.

The skills and tools I’ve learned to be clear and concise in my messaging when having challenging conversations - I loved how much time we had to reflect on ourselves and our position in conversations

The facilitators were clear, knowledgeable and happy to share insights. They were welcoming and made the course today feel as though we as leaders can take this on board and succeed.

The energy and enthusiasm from Lucy as well as the interactive nature, being able to put it into practice in a safe and supported environment.

Thank you for your enthusiasm and passion when delivering the course, it was invigorating

Jan’s facilitation of this course was highly engaging, informative and made direct connections with my context. Her knowledge of the research and the content of the course was excellent!

The level of expertise of the facilitators and the participant's knowledge and insights. It was great to work with leaders that had the same passion for coaching.

The clarity of content; the challenge to implement these awarenesses daily to enhance all communication and leadership behaviours.

This course really changed how I now view coaching. What stood out most was how powerful the course is for both personal and professional growth. You really don’t just learn about coaching; you actually experience how impactful it can be from both a coach and coachee perspective. One of my biggest takeaways was learning to really listen and to use the Growth Framework more naturally when facilitating coaching sessions. My approach to coaching has shifted more toward creating a safe space where people feel comfortable being honest, thinking big, and breaking things down into real, doable steps. An experience that really stuck with me was my one-on-one coaching sessions with Claudia. In just two sessions, I was able to map out a clear direction for my personal goals and felt genuinely supported throughout. That experience showed me how meaningful and powerful coaching can be when it’s done well. I’ve come away from the program feeling inspired about the impact I can have in education as a coach. I’m also more mindful in my day-to-day interactions with my colleagues and students. I'm making a conscious effort to slow down, listen, and give others space to think and share. It’s not always easy with busy schedules, but I’m much more intentional about it now. I feel more confident asking thoughtful questions and supporting others in a meaningful way. Our facilitators, Christian and Claudia, made the learning experience engaging and supportive throughout. Kate was incredibly helpful during my registration, making the process smooth and easy to navigate. And of course, the cohort itself was a big part of the experience; everyone showed up with openness and honesty, which made it a safe and encouraging space to learn.