How a Coach Can Help You Move Forward
Imagine for a moment what it would be like if someone would come alongside you and tell you they believe in you and that they believe that God is at work in your life. This person would be skilled both in asking good questions and in listening to your answers. They would encourage you to listen to the Holy Spirit and discover what it is God wants you to do. The conversation would be about you, your needs, and your agenda. At the end of the discussion, you would have greater understanding and insight plus a step-by-step action plan to move you forward toward God’s goals for you. This person would certainly have great value in your life. Who is this person? A coach! The things I have described are what a good Christian coach will attempt to do with you in a coaching conversation.
Despite the benefits of working with a coach, there is often hesitation in getting started. One reason may be due to a misunderstanding of what happens in a coaching relationship. A coach is not a supervisor, a consultant, a counselor, a mentor, or someone who is an expert at telling you what to do. In the professional world, all of those roles exist and are needed. But a coach is none of the above. What, then, is a coach and what do they do? In my training as a coach, I have come across several good definitions of coaching:
“Coaching is unlocking a person’s potential to maximize their own performance. It is helping them to learn rather than teaching them.” — Timothy Galloway
“Coaching is the process of coming alongside a person or team to help them discover God’s agenda for their life and ministry, and then cooperating with the Holy Spirit to see that agenda become a reality.” — Bob Logan
“Coaching is an ongoing intentional conversation that empowers a person or group to fully live out God’s calling.” –Keith Webb
In these definitions, there are some key words that reflect the goal of coaching: empower, unlocking, learn, discover, cooperating, maximize, and process. The coach comes to the relationship realizing that each person needs to discover for themselves what God wants them to do. Coaches aid in that process, but it’s not about telling others what to do; it’s about helping them discover it for themselves.
When asked to explain what I do as a coach, I often reply that I help people discern where they are, where they want to go, and how they will get there. Everyone can identify with the need for change, the desire to improve, and the dream of moving forward under God’s leading and blessing. The power of coaching will help you accomplish your goals quicker, more efficiently, and with greater confidence.
There are other benefits to coaching that provide great value. Bob Logan, an experienced coach, states that coaching provides the following advantages:
• Provides encouragement for the journey
• Cultivates wisdom and strategic insights
• Discovers breakthrough opportunities
• Maintains focus on the truly important
• Transforms vision into reality
The bottom line is – coaching works. Do you have something that needs to get done? Do you feel stuck and want some forward movement? Would you like someone who believes that God can accomplish His will in you to join you in the journey? Consider getting a coach.
If your church believes that it could benefit from training its leaders to coach others, then I would be glad to come to your church and conduct a 2-Day Coaching Workshop. If you have more questions about coaching, go to my website at: www.youneedcoaching.com and check out the information provided on my links.
