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Leaders and Coaching
by Diana L. Hynson
(If you are a teacher, see instead "Teachers and Coaching.")
As a leader in the Christian education and formation ministry in your church, you provide leadership to those in the classroom or small group; and you need to work well with others. How do you find ways to sharpen your own skills and expand your knowledge base in order to do well? What if all you had to do was to make a phone call to a coach? (As a "shorthand" way of referring to the person being coached, we'll use the term "leader.")
What Is Coaching?
Coaching is practice between a coach and one or more leaders who establish an agreement about what they want to accomplish. The coach will help leaders discern the healthy things they want to do or to be and find appropriate behaviors to get there. How is coaching different from other disciplines with which you may be more familiar?
- The coach and leader are essentially peers, not "master and student."
- Coaches believe that knowledge is within the leader or within the leader's grasp if he or she knows where and how to obtain it.
- Coaching is not primarily focused on giving new knowledge (teaching) or skill sets (mentoring or apprenticing), but rather on the action plan for obtaining that knowledge or skill. The coach may point to various resources; but the initiative rests with the leader to follow through with attendance at a conference or district event, for example.
- The coach and leader "design an alliance" concerning what will be accomplished. The leader sets his or her agenda. The coach and leader agree on it and work together to honor it. Within that framework, the coach may also give the leader "homework" between coaching sessions. The leader can say "Yes," "No," or make a counter offer.
- Coaching is oriented toward next steps and focused on what behaviors will help the leader reach her or his goals. The coach will also help the leader deal with feelings so that they do not become a block to the leader's future goals.
- The coach keeps personal opinions and advice out of the conversation so that the leader can move ahead on the agenda. The coach listens deeply and asks probing questions.
- Coaching is often done on the telephone. The leader and coach do not have to meet face to face, although they may meet when that is both possible and preferable.
Coaching for Christian Education/Formation Leaders
How might coaching help you? Perhaps one of these scenarios will sound familiar. Each one suggests ways in which working with a coach would be beneficial.
One: Part of your work is with volunteers who need to be nurtured, cultivated, and equipped for their own ministries (which they might view as "jobs"). A coach can help you develop your own sense of how to work with various personality types and a plan for dealing with group dynamics and conflict resolution. In addition, a coach can help you work on your own nurture at the same time to avoid (or recover from) burnout.
Two: You spend a lot of time doing "details," such as organizing, ordering curriculum, or keeping up with a calendar of events. "Administrivia" is not your thing, but you need to do it. A coach can help you cultivate the administrative skills you need to stay organized and effective and provide a safe venue of accountability and support for your plan. Since coaching tends to happen over time, you have a chance to develop powerful habits.
Three: You are responsible for the vision and mission of the ministry of Christian education and formation, and you are a detail person. A coach can assist you in stepping back to see a larger picture and to get a handle on the overall ministry. Your coach can also help you find ways to interpret the ministry through biblical and theological lenses using your own level of theological knowledge and experience. Furthermore, since you don't have to be and should not be alone in that endeavor, a coach can assist you in fully engaging the other "stakeholders" who can contribute to and develop that vision with you.
Four: You are new to this ministry and are having some difficulty focusing on all that needs to be done and thought about. A coach can be instrumental in taking the time, over time, to help you explore both the big picture and the various pieces that make up the whole. In addition, the coach can help you to work through your own sense of call and to keep all the parts in perspective.
Five: You have been in this ministry for a while now and need a boost. A coach can guide you through some appreciative inquiry about your call and sense of mission and ministry; help you identify current barriers, blocks, or ruts; and work on an action plan for revitalization and renewal.
A Coaching Network
Given this model of what coaching is, how quickly would you call a coach for help? The General Board of Discipleship can offer coaching training to district or annual conference groups.
To read about some of the coaches and coaching resources currently available to you, check out:
If you want to know more about being a coach or being coached yourself, please contact the General Board of Discipleship (Diana Hynson, dhynson@gbod.org; or Carol Krau, ckrau@gbod.org).
Thank you for coming to the General Board of Discipleship for your resource needs.
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Dr. Diana L. Hynson (dhynson@gbod.org) is the Director of Learning and Teaching Ministries at the General Board of Discipleship of The United Methodist Church in Nashville, Tennessee.
Updated 2-18-09
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