"Leadership is Everything"

Leadership is key to individual growth and organizational success.  Emerging technologies, global communications, new venues of worship and care place new demands on pastors to recognize, understand, and shepherd in innovative ways.  These demands call for a new brand of leadership that is adept at developing and empowering collaborative teams of leaders.  There are few things as vital as passing leadership on to the new generation.  John Maxwell, noted author and subject expert, says simply "leadership is everything."

What is coaching? 

Coaching is a supporting relationship where the coach draws the best from the person being coached.  The relationship is client centered and intended to stimulate personal growth.  Coaching values maintain that each person is distinctly designed and uniquely capable of exploring and discovering the best way to achieve their goals.  Coaching is a goals driven association that employs empathetic listening, stimulates ideas through powerful questions, and encourages progress by offering compassionate accountability.

In a recent coaching workshop for pastors, we discussed coaching values of distinct design, that the best subject matter experts for building paths to success are the clients themselves. A powerful lesson came as we were introduced to a photograph of Coach Doug Blevins, closely watching Olindo Mare, the Miami Dolphins kicker. Blevins, who was crippled from birth, is sitting in his wheelchair, he positions himself to see clearly and is intently focused on the kicker. He has never kicked a football, but he is the most sought after kicking coach in the NFL. Speaking of Coach Blevins, one of the pastors in the group said, “He looks as if everything inside him wants to kick.”  Now that is the heart of a coach!  The greatest desire of coaching is for you to be the very best you that God has purposed.

So, what does coaching have to do with leadership? 

Fundamentally, coaching is investing in people's lives.  It is a relationship in which trained coaches partner with clients in thought provoking and creative ways to inspire them to achieve the most of their personal and professional potential.  Coaching can unlock incredible creativity and encourage success, two important traits of effective leaders.

Is coaching value added?

One study, cited in Business Wire ("Executive Coaching, January 2001) showed that companies which provided coaching to their executives realized measurable improvements in productivity, quality, organizational strength, customer service and share-holder value.  The return on investment was nearly six times the initial investment.

• Benefits to organizations providing coaching to their leaders:
• Productivity (53%)
• Quality (48%)
• Organizational strength (48%)
• Customer service (39%)
• Reduced customer complaints (34%)
• Greater retention of executives who received coaching (32%)
• Cost reductions (23%)
• Bottom-line profitability (22%)

Benefits to leaders who received coaching:

• Bolstered working relationships with direct reports (77%)
• Improved working relationships with immediate supervisors (71%)
• Enriched team work (67%)
• Refined working relationships with peers (63%)
• Increased job satisfaction (61%)
• Reduced conflict (52%)
• Raised organizational commitment (44%)
• Enhanced working relationships with clients (37%)

Clearly, coaching had significant impact both organizationally and individually.

Why does coaching work?

Coaching is effective because of three unique features:

• Relationship -- the core strength of coaching is found in authentic, trusting relationships.  Clients often consider their coaches as their closest advocates.
• Collaboration -- clients and their coaches develop powerful synergy capable of pursuing changes as they work together toward the client's goals.
• Structure -- significant progress rarely happens without specific plans.  The coaching relationship provides support needed to pursue goals in deliberate, progressive, and focused ways.

This coaching method is distinctly Christian-based.  I use tools and methods developed through academic research to focus on leadership attributes and leader development.  My objective is to promote well-being and support you in the successful accomplishments of your personal and professional goals.   Coaching provides empathetic listening, while gently guiding progress through powerful questions.  Compassionate, confidential, and supportive accountability encourages success.  This model was designed for the church leader.

My core coaching values are:

• Creating relationships grounded in integrity
• Investing in the well-being of clients
• Promoting life balance and well-being
• Developing proven leadership methods
• Maintaining confidential and safe environment for growth

For more information or to arrange a free introductory coaching session call or send a note through the "Contact Us" page on this site.