Teaching like torsades

I was at a coaching clinic the other day with judo coaches from across the province. The Marketing Director was tossing out light-hearted questions to use in social media posts. One of them was: “If your coaching philosophy were a heart rhythm, what would it be?”

I am not always in the mood for those kinds of questions, but the answer came to me right away:torsades de pointes.

Torsades is a rhythm that twists and turns around the baseline. It waxes and wanes, sometimes close, sometimes far, but it never disappears. For me, that is what good coaching looks like.

As faculty, we are not always at the centre of a resident’s world. Some days we are close, offering feedback, shaping decisions, or helping navigate a tough patient encounter. Other times we fade into the background, giving space for growth and independence. But even then, like the rhythm, we are still there. Learners sense that steady presence, in the room, in the clinic, in the community. It matters more than we think.

This week, consider your ownteaching rhythm:

• Lean in when the moment demands it. Early in training, or when challenges arise, draw close to provide clarity and reassurance.
• Step back to let growth happen. As confidence builds, create space and watch from a distance.
• Signal your ongoing presence. Even when not actively involved, small gestures like a quick check-in, a glance across the room, or a quiet word at the end of the day, remind learners you are still with them.

The key is not how close or far you are in any one moment. Rather, it is the rhythm itself. A pattern of connection and space, intensity, and calm, which builds trust over time. Coaching, like torsades, is always in motion. It shifts and adapts, but its steady beat, the commitment to being there, never stops.

Dr. Irvine is a physician researcher with Northern Medical Services, Department of Family Medicine, College of Medicine, University of Saskatchewan and Faculty Development Site Lead for the La Ronge Family Medicine Residency Training Program with the University of Saskatchewan.