Jeff welcomes to the podcast executive coach and former healthcare system leader, Theresa “T” Hamilton-Casalegno, ACC, FACHE.
In this episode, Theresa broaches the neuroscience of coaching – a fascinating and extensive topic that can’t be fully covered in one podcast – to address how the coaching relationship benefits physicians.
She tells us that certain parts of the brain light up when we hold people in what’s called a naturally creative, resourceful, and whole state. In other words, professionals will usually rise to the occasion when given the chance. As a coach, this is a great way to approach conversations with clients, as it makes them much more open to learning and creating long-lasting change.
What steps does Theresa suggest we take to implement neuroscience concepts into coaching sessions?
- Step 1 – Be Curious Rather than Trying to Solve a Problem. It’s all about the coach asking open-ended questions and being curious, as opposed to making assumptions and giving instructions to try and solve a problem. On the receiving end of coaching, know that your curiosity is also critical to growing and achieving your best self.
- Step 2 – Help People Work from a Position of Strength. Focus on a person’s strengths and help them determine how they can use those strengths to accomplish their goals. As a coaching client and probably performance-driven self-critic, first shifting your thinking towards your strengths creates a more open mind for constructive feedback.
- Step 3 – Ask Disruptive Questions. New learning and growth come from the ability to challenge assumptions, limiting beliefs, or current thinking. Give people space to think about a different way of doing something. We don’t need to change beliefs or values.
Most importantly, PRACTICE positivity, curiosity, and creating new neuropathways in coaching sessions!
Theresa “T” Hamilton-Casalegno, ACC, FACHE
“T” has spent more than 30 years in executive leadership positions, including fifteen years as Chief Executive Officer and Vice President of a regional healthcare system; five years as a Chief Executive and Vice President of a for-profit hospital; and twelve years in high-tech publishing as a Publisher and Vice President.
She holds a Bachelor of Arts in Business Management from Emmanuel College, Boston, Massachusetts, and a Master of Science in Health Administration from Simmons University, Boston. Terri is also a Board Certified Fellow of the American College of Healthcare Executives.