Approach to Ministry — Coaching is as much a mindset as it is a skill set. It is positive, growth-oriented, judgement-free, change-focused, and action-oriented.
Coaching aligns with my personal theology in these ways:
- God is positive about me. He nudges me towards my potential rather than emphasizing my deficits.
- He is more about the future than the past.
- Present failure can often result in future success. I learn from everything.
- Life must be lived out in action that aligns with His purpose (mission) for me.
- He asks me to put others first and serve them.
- He demands accountability in all areas of my life: relationships, actions, attitudes, and assignments.
Benefits of Coaching — Coaching does not replace mentoring, consulting, or discipleship; instead a coaching approach can enhance each of these approaches to leadership development. It is a useful tool to:
- Increase team effectiveness
- Develop better communication skills
- Discover untapped potential
- Steward strengths, resources, and opportunities
- Create energy from authentic relationships
- Build capacity instead of dependence
What a Coaching Work Culture Might Look Like — According to a 2016 survey by the International Coach Federation, 60% of clients worldwide are under the age of 45. Its appeal may be due to its orientation to process rather than content.
These are the shifts that might be created by a coaching work culture:
- Information and technical knowledge to performance and outcomes.
- Focus on correct behaviors within cultures more than skill sets and results.
- Less transactional and more transformational.
- Acceptance of the discomfort of new learning and a growth mindset instead of an unchallenged and fixed mindset.