Thinking Connections FAQ

Question 1

How does an engagement with Thinking Connections begin?

Accepted Answer

Every engagement begins with a conversation — a no-obligation consultation where I take the time to understand your context, your challenges, and what you are hoping to achieve. From there, I recommend the program or consulting approach that best fits where you are. Nothing is prescribed before I understand your situation.

Question 2

Do all programs begin with the Thinking Assessment Tool and Profile?

Accepted Answer

Yes. The Thinking Assessment Tool and Profile is the starting point for every coaching and consulting engagement. It is not optional — it is the foundation. Without a clear, evidence-based picture of how you currently think, any development work is guesswork. The Profile ensures that everything we do together is targeted, relevant, and grounded in your actual thinking.

Question 3

How long does the Thinking Assessment Tool take to complete?

Accepted Answer

The assessment itself typically takes between 30 and 45 minutes to complete. Once submitted, I analyse the results and prepare your personalised Thinking Profile, which we then work through together in a dedicated debrief session. That session is where the real insight begins.

Question 4

I am an Early Career Teacher. Is Thinking Connections right for me?

Accepted Answer

Absolutely. Learning to Thrive is designed specifically for Early Career Teachers in their first three years of practice. The early years of teaching are formative — and the metacognitive foundations you build now will shape your practice for the rest of your career. The sooner you develop the habit of thinking critically about your thinking, the more quickly and sustainably you will grow.

Question 5

I have been a middle leader for several years. Is there still value for me?

Accepted Answer

Yes — and this is exactly what Renewing the Middle is designed for. Experienced middle leaders often reach a point where the role has become familiar, and familiarity without reflection can quietly limit growth. Renewing the Middle is a challenging, honest, and energising program for leaders who are ready to examine their thinking with fresh eyes and lead with renewed purpose.

Question 6

Can Thinking Connections work with whole leadership teams, not just individuals?

Accepted Answer

Yes. My school consulting work is designed for leadership teams — from middle leaders through to executive teams. The Thinking Assessment Tool and Profile is available in a version calibrated for Executive Leadership Teams, and I work with teams to surface and examine the collective thinking that is shaping their school's culture and direction.

Question 7

I am a pre-service teacher on practicum. Can I access any programs?

Accepted Answer

Pre-service teachers are a group I care deeply about. While my formal programs are designed for practising teachers and leaders, I am happy to have a conversation about what support might look like for pre-service teachers, particularly those completing their practicum in schools I work with.

Question 8

Are programs delivered in-school or remotely?

Accepted Answer

Both. I work with educators and schools across Australia, and I offer flexible delivery — in-school, remote, or a combination of both. The format is always determined by what will work best for you and your context, not by logistical convenience.

Question 9

How long does a typical coaching program run?

Accepted Answer

Program length varies depending on the program and your goals. Individual coaching programs are typically structured as termly or annual engagements. School consulting engagements are scoped based on the school's needs and the depth of work involved. I always discuss timing and structure clearly before any engagement begins.

Question 10

What does a typical coaching session look like?

Accepted Answer

Sessions are structured around your real challenges and goals — not a generic agenda. We begin from your Thinking Profile and work through the specific thinking patterns, decisions, and situations that are most relevant to your practice right now. Sessions are reflective, challenging, and practical — always moving between insight and application.

Question 11

Do you work with individual teachers and leaders, or only through schools?

Accepted Answer

Both. I work with individuals who are seeking coaching independently, as well as with schools that want to bring the programs to their staff. If you are an individual teacher or leader interested in working with me, I encourage you to get in touch directly.

Question 12

What is metacognitive thinking, and why does it matter for educators?

Accepted Answer

Metacognition is thinking about thinking — the capacity to examine, understand, and deliberately shape the mental processes that drive your decisions and actions. For educators, it matters enormously: the quality of a teacher's thinking about their teaching, and a leader's thinking about their leadership, determines the quality of everything they do. Developing metacognitive awareness is not a soft skill — it is the foundational capacity that makes all other professional development more effective.

Question 13

Is the Thinking Assessment Tool and Profile based on research?

Accepted Answer

Yes. The Thinking Assessment Tool and Profile is grounded in an empirically designed theory of metacognitive thinking developed over three decades of research, classroom observation, and school-based application. It has been continuously refined through direct work with educators and leaders across Australia.

Question 14

How is this different from other coaching or professional learning programs?

Accepted Answer

Most professional learning focuses on what educators do — strategies, frameworks, and techniques. My work focuses on how educators think, because the quality of thinking determines the quality of everything else. The Thinking Assessment Tool and Profile gives every engagement a rigorous, personalised diagnostic foundation that most programs simply do not have. And because the work is built around your actual thinking — not a generic framework — it is far more targeted, relevant, and lasting.

Frequently Asked Questions

Getting Started

Who the Programs Are For

How Engagements Work

The Theory and Approach

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