The Bright Morning Podcast with Elena Aguilar

How do you proactively mitigate harm being done in PD spaces, particularly harm experienced by people who identify with a marginalized identity?  How do you respond when harm is done, including in breakout spaces where you might not be present?  In today’s episode, Elena answers these two questions and provides you with the guidance you need to ensure you are designing and facilitating safe-ish sp...

The reflection you do after facilitating PD has the ability to transform your approach. In this episode, Elena walks you through the four sets of questions that have proven invaluable to her own practice.  Mentioned in this episode:  Artful Design and Facilitation workshop The PD Book Visit https://brightmorningteam.com/podcasts/ for links to everything we mention on the show.  Follow us on Facebo...

In this first episode of a three-part series on designing and facilitating transformational PD, Elena “pulls back the curtain” and shares how she prepares to facilitate. Listen in for a detailed list of reflection questions that will help you feel confident and grounded as you walk into the next PD or team meeting you are facilitating.  Mentioned in this episode:  Artful Design and Facilitation wo...

Have you ever led a team meeting that got derailed due to emotional flair-ups? Elena shares the specific prompts she uses in these daunting facilitation moments, and what’s led to the Bright Morning Team no longer facing this common team challenge.  Mentioned in this episode:  The Art of Coaching Teams (retired July 2024 with the release of Arise: The Art of Transformational Coaching ) The PD Book...

In the first of this two-part series, Elena pulls back the “Bright Morning curtain” to give you an insider’s look into how we use purpose to drive our team meetings. From 1:1 check-ins, to monthly presenter team meetings, you’ll get the inside scoop into what we do and why we do it.  Mentioned in this episode:  The Art of Coaching Teams workshop The PD Book   Coaching for Equity workshop   Become...

In this final episode of our Hot Topics of Coaching for Equity mini-series Elena shares seven things you can do when you are in a toxic culture, one where there is contagious negativity.  Mentioned in this episode:  Free Community Webinars Episode 68: Take a Confrontational Stance  Episode 43: The Spheres of Influence  Visit https://brightmorningteam.com/podcasts/ for links to everything we mentio...

“What do you do if you’re coaching in a place where your values are misaligned?”  In this episode of our Hot Topics in Coaching for Equity mini-series, Elena takes a coaching stance to help unpack this question and support you in thinking through potential options for taking action.  Mentioned in this episode:  Free Communinity Webinars   The Art of Coaching Teams  Coaching for Equity workshop Vis...

“Is there ever a time when we should consider that someone shouldn't be working with kids…and should we advise supervisors to let them go versus continuing to coach them?”  Elena unpacks this question and provides four potential steps to take when you encounter this challenging reality in this episode of our new mini-series: Hot Topics in Coaching for Equity.  Mentioned in this episode: Coach...

This is the first of a four-episode Hot Topics in Coaching for Equity mini-series. In this episode, Elena is joined by Bright Morning teammate, Nick Cains. The two discuss how you coach for equity, when even using the word “equity” is prohibited. Elena shares six steps you can take today.  Mentioned in this episode:  1619 Project Other podcast episodes with Nick:  Episode 9 Episode 143 Episode 148...

How do you support a client who has “lost their mojo?”  In this coaching conversation, Elena does so by cultivating self-compassion, engaging with curiosity, and gently challenging assumptions. You will also hear the use of trauma-informed strategies that demonstrate how a coach can support a client through an emotional experience without overstepping into the role of therapist.  Listen in for a m...

Coaching emotions is the key to Transformational Coaching. And our ACE tool is the key to coaching emotions. In today’s episode, Elena utilizes ACE in a coaching conversation. Listen in to hear how an exploration of emotions can unlock some profound realizations, and can be accomplished in 12 minutes!    Mentioned in this episode:  ACE framework from Episode 38: How to ACE Your Coaching Conversati...

This is the second episode in our four-part mini-series on coaching for resilience and coaching emotions. In this episode, Elena shares three resilience boosters that are sustaining her right now. Listen in to gain ideas for yourself, and approaches you can take when coaching others.  Opportunities for continued learning:  Onward: Cultivating Emotional Resilience in Educators   The Art of Coaching...

This is the first episode in a four-part mini-series on cultivating emotional resilience and coaching emotions. To kick things off, Elena is sharing the four things you need to know and do if you want to talk about and coach for resilience and discussing the power of “self-care” for educators (spoiler alert: it’s not all bubble baths and trips to the spa).  Opportunities for continued learning:  O...

“Why don't you disrupt racist behavior more immediately? Our kids needed change yesterday…”   We get asked a version of this question frequently, so today we’re replaying a listener favorite episode from last year where Bright Morning teammate, Nick Cains, joins Elena to explore how we center transformation (and our own humanity) when disrupting racism in our coaching conversations.   Mention...

What are racial affinity spaces? Why are racial affinity spaces necessary?  How do you respond when people are concerned about there being racial affinity spaces?  What should I consider if I want to bring racial affinity spaces to my school or organization?  If these are questions you’re curious about, this episode is for you.  Mentioned in this episode:  Coaching for Equity workshop  The PD Book...

What is a microaggression?  What can you do when you hear, see or experience a microaggression?  If these are questions you are curious about, this episode is for you.  Mentioned in this episode:  Stamped from the Beginning , by Ibram X Kendi Dr. Chester Pierce   Microaggressions in Everyday Life: Race, Gender, and Sexual Orientation , by Dr. Derald Wing Sue Opportunities for continued learning: ...

If you want to be a Transformational Coach, you must be able to coach emotions.  If you want to coach for equity, you must be able to coach emotions.  The first step to coaching emotions is to acknowledge and normalize them. In today’s episode, Elena shares five ways to do so in your coaching conversations.  Opportunities for continued learning:  Episode 37: How to ACE Your Coaching Conversations...

Episode Description  | At Bright Morning, we believe every conversation is an equity conversation (or at least it should be). But what does that mean? In this episode, Elena shares the three things you can do to make this a reality. Mentioned in this episode: Ladder of Inference The Art of Coaching Workbook, Exploring Identity Markers & Reflecting on Identity Markers exercises (pp.16-19) (reti...

“Can I coach if I’m the boss?”  The short answer is yes. But only if you are clear, intentional, and capable. If you are an administrator, a supervisor, or anyone who is responsible for evaluation who also wants to take a coaching stance, this is an episode you don’t want to miss.  Mentioned in this episode:  The Art of Coaching Workshop (retired July 2024 and replaced by The Art of Transformation...

You’re in the middle of a team meeting or a work conversation and someone says something that sets you off. How do you respond?  In today’s episode, Elena provides the background information that you need to be able to understand what’s driving your response in those moments, gives you a three-step method to use to respond with intention, and shares an activity you can start using today to increas...

If you want a team that can engage in healthy conflict, one that experiences high levels of investment and low levels of resistance, you need to focus on emotional intelligence (EQ). The first step to doing so is to grow the awareness of your own emotional landscape.  Today’s episode provides you with the knowledge and tools to get started.  Mentioned in this episode:  The Art of Coaching Teams (b...

How our conversations end matters. A lot. In this episode, Elena provides 5 tips that will allow you to close your coaching conversations in a way that elicits positive emotions, allows your coachee to tap into their sense of power, and cultivates resilience.   Mentioned in this episode:  The Art of Coaching Workshop (retired July 2024 and replaced by The Art of Transformational Coaching workshop...

What do you do when a coaching client doesn’t know what to focus on during your time together?  If you want to feel confident in answering that question, this is an episode you won’t want to miss! Elena shares four tips for guiding the conversation when your client has many priorities, maybe even competing priorities that will not only help them figure out where to start, but will also build their...

Today we’re replaying an essential What to Say When You Hear Something Racist episode in which Elena shares her simple framework for responding to racism and demonstrates how she recently put it into action while antiquing (because unfortunately, racism is everywhere).  Mentioned on this episode:  The Conscious Competence Ladder: Understanding the Learning Journey (Free tool)  The 3 Ps framework:...

Today we’re replaying the first episode of our, “What to Say When You Hear Something Racist” series. In this inaugural episode, Elena shares the first step you must take if you want to skillfully respond to racism: deepening your understanding of your own identity.  When you know yourself, you'll be able to better understand when you are inclined to step up and take action, or when you might...