Practical Tools

Reflective listening isn’t just hearing words — it’s holding up a mirror so people can hear themselves more clearly. In this episode of Coaching for Change, Fran from Sankofa Leadership breaks down the habit of reflective listening and why it’s a game-changer for leaders, coaches, and helping professionals. You’ll learn: ✅ What reflective listening is (and what it isn’t) ✅ How it helps clients move from stuck to self-aware ✅ Simple ways to practice this habit in everyday conversations ✅ Why reflective listening builds trust, clarity, and collaboration Whether you’re coaching a client, leading a team, or supporting families, this skill helps turn ordinary conversations into moments of transformation. 💡 Coaching for Change is a series by Sankofa Leadership, helping leaders and practitioners build the habits that support person-centered, collaborative, and equitable coaching. 🔔 Subscribe for more coaching habits and person-centered tools on social platforms @sankofaleadership 🌐 Learn more at: www.sankofaleadership.com

Are you quick to jump in with solutions? 🙋🏾‍♀️ Sometimes “fixing” isn’t the fix. In this episode of Coaching for Change, Fran Maxwell shares why slowing down and pausing before you fix can unlock dignity, clarity, and better solutions for the people you serve. Learn: ✅ Why helpers and leaders rush to “fix” ✅ What shifts when you pause instead ✅ One simple question you can try this week Pausing isn’t passive — it’s powerful. When we create space, people discover their OWN solutions that last. ✨ Watch, subscribe, and share to spread person-centered practices far and wide. 🔗 Learn more about Sankofa Leadership: sankofaleadership.com 🎥 Join the live Coaching for Change sessions: https://us06web.zoom.us/meeting/register/Uzc59CADR5-9xXUV8EV6Bg #PersonCentered #CoachingTips #LeadershipDevelopment #CoachingForChange

Working well with others takes real personal work. In this episode of Coaching for Change, we’re continuing our deep dive into what it takes to have great collaboration — and this time, we’re turning the mirror on ourselves. I’ll share the story of a hard lesson I learned about relying on humor instead of preparation, what it taught me about my role in a team, and why self-reflection is a game-changer for collaboration. You’ll also get 4 simple practices to help you: - Recognize your strengths and opportunities - Move beyond “that’s just how I am” - Build trust and reliability in your team - Turn personal growth into better group results If you’ve ever been in a group project, on a committee, or part of a cross-functional team, this talk is for you. 💬 Question for you: Which of the 4 practices will you try first? Let me know in the comments. 📌 Join Us Live: Coaching for Change happens every second Wednesday of the month — free, on Zoom. Register here: https://us06web.zoom.us/meeting/register/Uzc59CADR5-9xXUV8EV6Bg For more on person-centered leadership, visit: www.sankofaleadership.com #collaboration #Leadership #Teamwork #SelfReflection #PersonalGrowth #LeadershipDevelopment #CoachingForChange #familycentered #

When collaboration goes wrong, it doesn’t just slow things down — it costs clarity, trust, energy, and impact. In this video, Fran breaks down: 🔹 Why good people get stuck in bad collaboration 🔹 The 3 levels of collaboration (alignment, partnership, synergy) 🔹 How to pivot your approach to match what’s really needed 🔹 How coaching, leadership, and service delivery all benefit from person-centered collaboration If you’ve ever been “the reliable one” — the one who quietly picks up the slack — or if your team’s communication keeps breaking down, this talk will shift how you see collaboration for good. 🛠️ Explore the Leadership Style Assessment: https://sankofaleadership.scoreapp.com 📅 Register for our next Coaching for Change Live: https://us06web.zoom.us/meeting/register/Uzc59CADR5-9xXUV8EV6Bg 🌐 Learn more at www.sankofaleadership.com #Leadership #Teamwork #PersonCenteredLeadership #CollaborationTips #WorkplaceWellness #CoachingForChange

What happens when support doesn’t match what you actually need? In this episode of Coaching for Change, Fran shares a story of misaligned support, quiet burnout, and the leadership lesson that changed how she collaborates — and how she helps others do the same. Whether you’re leading a team, supporting clients, or working across departments, this video will help you rethink how you show up, how you ask for help, and how to build more person-centered collaboration. ✨ You’ll learn: • The 3 levels of collaboration: Alignment, Partnership, and Synergy • How to recognize when collaboration is breaking down • Two tips that can shift how you support and lead 🔗 Resources & Links 🧭 Take the Leadership Style Assessment https://sankofaleadership.scoreapp.com 🧰 Explore the Person-Centered Leadership Toolkit https://www.sankofaleadership.com/the-person-centered-approach/person-centered-leadership 🎥 Join the next Coaching for Change live session Collaboration That Works — Tuesday, August 13 at 10:30 AM PDT https://us06web.zoom.us/meeting/register/Uzc59CADR5-9xXUV8EV6Bg 👋🏽 Subscribe for more reflections, real tools, and powerful shifts that center people, purpose, and progress. #collaboration #leadership #burnout #personcentered #coachingforchange #sankofaleadership

What makes a question powerful in coaching? In this episode of Coaching for Change, we unpack how powerful questions can unlock insight, build trust, and move clients from confusion to clarity. Whether you’re a case manager, coach, or human services leader, this skill is essential for creating client-driven sessions that support real transformation. Learn when to ask, how to listen, and how to stay out of advice-giving mode. 💡 Ready to grow your person-centered skillset? Explore Sankofa’s full Person-Centered Coaching approach and toolkit at www.sankofaleadership.com powerful coaching questions, person-centered coaching, coaching techniques, transformational questions, human services coaching, trauma-informed coaching, effective coaching questions, strengths-based coaching, motivational interviewing, client-centered care, coaching for social workers

Struggling to keep your coaching sessions on track? In this episode of Coaching for Change, we’re diving into one of the most powerful coaching skills: Establishing and Holding the Focus. Whether you’re a human services professional, case manager, or coach, this tool helps you avoid “fix-it” mode and instead partner with your clients to define what truly matters in the moment. Learn how this practice creates clarity, builds trust, and leads to real, sustainable progress. 👉 Want to deepen your coaching practice? Explore Sankofa’s full Person-Centered Coaching approach and toolkit at www.sankofaleadership.com #PersonCenteredCoaching #CoachingForChange #HumanServicesLeadership #CoachingTools #ClientCenteredSupport

Episode 4: Coaching For Change, we explore the Fixing Mindset vs. the Coaching Mindset, a game-changing shift that can radically improve your impact as a human services or human resources practitioner. Feeling stuck in “fix-it” mode? It’s a common trap, but there's a better approach! By shifting to a coaching mindset, you empower clients to become the experts in their journey, unlocking their potential, building confidence, and driving lasting change. In this episode, you'll learn: - How the Fixing Mindset limits client growth by focusing on solving problems for them, not with them. - Why adopting a Coaching Mindset allows clients to discover their solutions, leading to more profound and sustainable outcomes. - Practical tips to shift your mindset before each session, ensuring you’re supporting—not directing—your clients' path to success. Ready to take your service delivery to the next level? Don’t miss out on this essential discussion for transforming your practice. Learn how small shifts in your approach can lead to massive results.

Episode 3: We're diving into the core of effective coaching: how the language your clients—and you as a coach—use reflects more profound beliefs about what’s possible. This session is packed with insights for human service professionals and coaches using 2-Gen approaches to break cycles of poverty and foster lasting change. In this video, you'll discover: 👉 How your clients’ words reflect limiting beliefs and how to help them shift to more empowering language. 👉 Practical, person-centered coaching strategies to reframe disempowering thoughts and help clients align their language with their goals. 👉 The power of modeling empowering language in your own practice to set the stage for transformational coaching.