What (exactly) Is Coaching?
Coaching has become somewhat of a buzzword in ministry circles and in the business world. It's trendy to say you are "coaching" someone, or getting "coached".
But what does "coaching" really mean?
First off let's be clear that no one owns any word and we all know words can mean more than one thing. In fact, we have all seen words grow to mean different things in our lifetimes. Over the last few years, our society has morphed the meaning of some of the following words:
Masked, Essential, Agenda, Woke, Lockdown, Triggered...
Please stop for a moment and take a deep breath before we go on.
No need to get wound up, I'm just trying to make a point that when someone thinks of "woke" they no longer simply think of when their alarm clock went off, or in many circles, the word "agenda" does not simply apply only to what you will be talking about in an upcoming meeting.
It's similar, but not the same with the word "coaching".
Coaching always includes some sort of forward movement. Think of Cinderella's stagecoach or a coach from the wild west - you get in and it takes you from where you are to where you want to go.
Some coaches do that by telling you what to do. Sports Coaches are usually like that, some Business Coaches are like that, and even some Life Coaches.
The kind of coaching we are talking about in Bridges Coaching is NOT about telling people what we think they should do. In fact, it is the exact opposite.
The kind of coaching we practice allows space for the person being coached to not only choose their goal but to determine their pathway for getting there. We use the coaching core competencies lined out by the International Coaching Federation, and the Christian Coaches Network International shares how those same competencies are Biblical values.
The kind of Coaching we are talking about has at its core the conversational tools of Active Listening and Asking Powerful Questions to help people choose their goals and their next steps to develop their own personal pathways.
This is what making disciples is all about.
We help people follow God. To learn to discern His voice. To listen and obey. (Read Hebrews 8-10)
It's not easy, but it is simple and beautiful.
When I first started learning about coaching I was so excited. I really wanted to engage with the path God has for me and help others to do the same. It's been 15 years now and I'm still excited, but also still very challenged. This is the great adventure of our lives - knowing God and walking in relationship with Him, while helping others to do the same!
If you want to follow Jesus with your whole heart, coaching can help you do just that.
If you would like to know more about helping others grow to be wholehearted Jesus followers learning the foundational principles of coaching can set you up!
To be coached - check out our:
Associate Coaches or go through our book Traction!
To learn more about Coaching conversation tools or to become a certified Life Coach check out our video course or Save Your Seat for the next coach training cohort.