Turning Supervision into Support: The Power of Coaching in Education

Insights from Gallup’s Global Workplace Research

In an era of hybrid work, rapid change, and rising expectations, traditional supervision no longer works. Gallup’s State of the Global Workplace research reveals a clear truth: managers who coach consistently outperform those who simply direct.

The same is true in education. When principals and instructional leaders prioritize conversation, clarity, and actionable feedback, engagement rises, growth strengthens, and culture transforms. Coaching becomes the bridge between potential and performance.

What the Research Shows

Engagement remains low worldwide. Gallup reports that only 21 percent of employees globally are fully engaged. In the United States, the rate is just 32 percent, following an 11-year low of 30 percent. Only 23 percent of employees strongly agree they understand what excellent performance looks like in their role.

This pattern echoes across schools and districts. Without regular coaching, most educators operate without clear expectations or developmental feedback.

The Manager as Coach

Gallup’s research identifies one essential shift: the best managers see themselves as coaches, not bosses. Effective managers communicate clearly, advocate for their teams, and create consistent opportunities for feedback and growth.

The conclusion is simple. Frequent, meaningful conversations drive engagement. Whether leading teachers, paraprofessionals, or administrative teams, coaching must replace process-focused evaluations or at the very least compliment the process.

Five Core Coaching Practices

1. Define and clarify expectations.Only 23 percent of employees strongly agree they know what excellent performance looks like. In schools, that translates into inconsistent understanding of instructional quality. Use coaching to establish clarity and revisit regularly through conversation. Ask, What does excellence look like in your classroom?

2. Hold weekly conversations that matter.Gallup found that meaningful weekly feedback drives engagement. Find time to have short, consistent coaching dialogues. Try four simple questions: What went well? What challenge surfaced? What strategy will you try next? How can I support you?

3. Ask more than you tell.Effective coaches rely on inquiry, not mentoring. Ask open-ended questions such as, What do you know you can do well but have not yet tried? or What part of your work gives you the most energy? Curiosity unlocks ownership and awareness.

4. Lead with strengths and growth.Coaching focused on strengths creates engagement. Begin each conversation with, Tell me about a success you saw this week. What made it happen? Then build future goals from that success.

5. Develop your own coaching skills.Many leaders are promoted for their technical expertise, not their ability to coach. Building coaching skill takes intention and practice. Gallup outlines five types of conversations that create ongoing connection and growth between leaders and their teams: role and relationship, quick connect, check-in, developmental, and progress review. Practiced consistently, these conversations build trust and clarity, forming the foundation of a true coaching culture.

   
   

Why It Matters in Education

Gallup’s meta-analysis of 112,000 work units and 2.7 million employees found that highly engaged teams achieved up to 23 percent higher performance and 43 percent lower turnover.

In schools, engagement shows up as retention of staff, greater instructional consistency, and stronger implementation of initiatives. When educational administrators lead with conversation, people stay connected and motivated even amid change.

Final Thought

When leaders shift to coaching, schools change. Gallup’s data confirms what great educators already know: consistent, strengths-based conversations drive engagement, growth, and belonging.

At VH Consultants LLC, we help leaders develop positive habits that transform professional learning into lasting improvement and create environments where students thrive.