What is a coach?

Coaches guide people from where they are toward the greater competence and fulfillment they desire.  Christian coaching is the art and practice of working with a person or group in the process of moving from where they are to where God wants them to be.

Why would anybody want a coach?

Coaching helps people who want to: Get unstuck; build confidence; expand their vision for the future; fulfill their dreams; unlock their potential; increase their skills; move through transitions; and take practical steps towards their goals.

How does coaching differ from counseling?

Unlike counseling or therapy, coaching is less threatening, less about problem solving, more about helping people reach their potential.

Coaching is not for people who need therapy to overcome painful influences from the past; coaches help people build vision and move toward the future.

Coaching is not about looking back; it's about looking ahead.

Coaching is not about healing; it's about growing.

Coaching focuses less on overcoming weaknesses and more on building skills and strengths.

Usually coaching is less formal than the counselor/counselee relationship; more often it is a partnership between two equals, one of whom has experiences, perspectives, skills, or knowledge that can be useful to the other.

What do coaches do to help others?

Coaches stimulate better skills.  Good coaching helps people anticipate what they could become, overcome self-defeating habits or insecurities, manage relationships, develop new competencies, and build effective ways to keep improving.

Coaches stimulate vision.  Many individuals and churches have no clear vision.  They keep doing what they have done for years, without much change and with little expectation that things will even different.  Coaches work with individuals and organizations (including churches) as they think beyond the present, more clearly envision the future, and plan how to get there.

Coaches help people grow through life transitions.  Whenever we encounter major changes in our lives-such as a new job, a promotion, a move, the death of a loved one, the launch of a new career, or retirement-we face uncertainty and the need to readjust.  Experienced coaches better enable people to reassess their life coals, find new career options, change lifestyles, get training, reevaluate their finances, or find information so they can make wise decisions.

Coaches guide Christians in their spiritual journeys. Many believers understand the basics of the faith and aren't looking to be discipled.  But they need focused time with somebody who has been in the spiritual road longer, who models Christlikeness, can point out the barriers to growth, and can guide the journey.

Coaches speak the truth in love. Good coaches know that sometimes the best way to help is by refusing to ignore harmful behavior patterns.  Instead, coached nudge people to deal with attitudes and behavior that should be faced and changed.

What happens in coaching?

Coaching is a relationship that most often is client centered and goal directed. Every coaching situation is unique, but usually coachign will being by exploring the issues that the person wants to change  In what areas does he or she want to grow?  Sometimes the person wants to be a better leader, better self-manager, or someone with a clearer perspective about where to go in the future.  Christians in coaching may seek to determine where God appears to be leading them to go.

There is also the need for better awareness of where the person is at present.  What are his or her strengths, weaknesses, abilities, interest, passions, spiritual gifts, values, worldviews, and hopes?  Often the coach will use assessment tools to enable people to learn more about themselves.

Then comes vision.  Coaches might assist people, organizations, or churches in formulation life-vision or life-mission statements.  Coaches might as, for example, "Considering your gifts, abilities, driving passions, and unique God-giving personality, what is your life mission?"  It takes time to answer a question like that but without a clear vision, people, churches, organizations, and even governments tend to drift with no direction.

At some point, coaches will help people set goals and plans way to reach these goals.

When obstacles get in the way, coaches challenge, encourage, and give accountability so the person can get past the obstacles and experience success.  A coach can help you remove the blinders, allowing you to see what you may not recognize and give support as you move forward.  A Christian coach is there for you, prayerfully listening to your concerns and asking questions that will give you clarity on you situation, get you past your own blocks, realize your God-given potential, and challenge you to be your best.

Copyright© Gary R. Collins, 2009, used with permission