3 Key Intersections of the Montessori Method and Coaching
Posted on July 04, 2022 by Heidi Emoto, One of Thousands of Executive Coaches on Noomii.
The key intersections of Montessori and Life Coaching equip you to reach beyond the norm - the be able to explore the possibilities.
3 Intersections of the Montessori Method and Coaching
What do Helen Hunt, Steve Jobs and Jeff Bezos all have in common?
Besides being groundbreakers in their fields, they each benefited from a Montessori education as children, and Executive Coaching as adults.
As I began my Executive Coaching journey, I was surprised to discover many areas of intersection between the Montessori philosophy of educating children and the way that coaches partner with, and support, their clients.
The Montessori concept of “Follow the Child” is deceptively simple. In essence, if a child is interested in learning something, or developing a skill, the teacher’s role is to create the opportunity to learn or practice that skill. The teacher may provide an example at the start, or when asked, but their main task is to create the space and time for the child to use freely. Coaching is similar in that the coach follows the client. What does the client want to focus on? How does the client want to pursue that topic? The coach holds the time and space, creating an opportunity to explore the target area.
The questions asked by a Montessori teacher and by a coach are another point of intersection. A coaching session, or time of learning in a Montessori classroom, often begins with “What would you like to do/talk about today?” and may be followed up with "What is the desired outcome?” Other common questions are “What do you need to do xyz?” “What did you learn?” "What would you like to do different, or the same, next time?” The questions are chosen based on the client/student’s goals and area of focus at the time of the session but the answers are generated by the client/student based on their own experience. They are not provided by the coach or teacher.
Perhaps the most important commonality between Coaching and the Montessori Method is the wholistic focus on not just the individual, but also on groups. The insights into supporting intellectual, physical, emotional and social development that I have have taught me that a key part of success is finding your balance. When our needs are met in each of these areas we can create more freely, be more resilient, be better problem solvers and be happier. Coaching creates a safe place to explore and grow in each of these areas throughout life.
With the focus on following the client, asking thought provoking questions and a focus on the whole person, a life coach is like a Montessori teacher for adults, equipping them to reach beyond the norm, as we have seen in Helen Hunt, Steve Jobs and Jeff Bezos.
