good point. To me good teaching is basically coaching to a lrage extent. No point in just repeating information, that will not make you think yourself.

It’s all down to how you define teaching. Your experience of teaching seem to be that it’s one directional.

My experience as a student (many years ago), as a teacher for a few years and now engaged in my daughters school is that teaching is very interactive – given the right teacher.

And then coaching as an concept has sailed up as the new trend, and unfortunately there’s gone inflation the title coach – seems like Bob and his Uncle are coaches nowadays. Coaching can be very powerful but remember that coaching is explorative. Coaching is all about asking questions to the coachee to facilitate the coachee finding their own answers and setting their own actions.

That’s often insufficient in education as concepts must be explained and the added experience of the teacher/mentor enhance the learning experience.

Coach!

Teaching is often merely passing along information. Coaching is interactive.

Coaching is understanding the shortest possible routes (or developing them under context) as they apply to the desirable outcomes.

Coaching is asking questions, getting feedback, adjusting the course, preparing other people for setbacks, understanding.

Don’t regurgitate and expect to become an expert, absorb the information and share it in an interactive way.

I find it amazing how teaching and sharing knowledge can keep the basics in the front of your mind. And if you get the basics right so much else fall into place almost effortlessly.

I also agree with your comment on blindly trusting experts, be your own judge!

I definitely will agree with you that teaching will give you lots of Aha moments and it helps you to refine and sharpen your skills.

I also agree that ‘expert’ is such a relevant term. However, even as an expert, you will never stop learning:)

It gives you a sense of responsibility since you don’t want to get the other person to fail, so this is when it really gets serious in your mind and learn the lesson even better

Thanks for this article. It is a good starting point for many people so they can think about it.

I spent early 2012 asking how I could position myself as an expert in my field. For a long time, I was waiting for a general someone to find me, recognize my efforts, and deliver my title.

As the year went on, I did some of what you suggested here in addition to blogging. I ran small group coaching programs (free of charge) that helped me organize my knowledge into a text. The feedback on that course gave me the recognition I’d been waiting for! I moved onto live webinars, paid private coaching, and finally an e-program.

I’m entering the New Year having claimed my expertise! I like that this article emphasizes taking your rightful place in your field rather than waiting for it to be awarded to you. Excellent advice