Coaching is a conversational process of deep listening and asking questions that empowers people to take forward action with their own deep desires and to make the changes they want in their lives. Coaches partner with people, encouraging them and challenging them to growth while also providing the energy of healthy accountability.
There is an amazing blessing on coaching relationships, perspectives and skills. Coaching is uniquely aligned with many scriptural patterns and revelations putting coaching in harmony with the target of heaven’s blessings and favor. People’s lives and perspectives are transformed. Jesus believed in the God-given sovereignty of every individual and he was expert at drawing out the deepest and best in each one from the perspective of unconditional love. He saw himself as a fisher of men with his deep and powerful questions. I believe Jesus saw himself as much a coach as a counselor. For example, he was asked 183 questions in scripture and only answered 3 of them directly. * (reference below) He did not see his role so much as one to bring answers, but as the one who drew out the gold that was in their own hearts and connected them to the revelation of the spirit within.
Counsel in the heart of man is like deep water,
But a man of understanding will draw it out. Proverbs 20:5 NKJV
Many times the Lord has already given people the counsel they need, but it is within them as deep water. There is not so much light in deep water, but the man of understanding can often shed just enough light for a person to be able to connect with their own deep counsel and wisdom and draw it out powerfully into their life. This rewarding “aha” experience of Proverbs 20:5 is experienced often in the grace of coaching. The safe coaching atmosphere readily opens up a person to deeply hear wisdom in their own spirit.
“Coaches are many things, but the essence of coaching is believing in people. Nothing is more empowering, nothing causes us to reach higher and accomplish greater things than having people in our lives that love us for who we are and believe unconditionally in what we can become. That is what Jesus does for us- He sees in us who we were made to be and loves us for who we are. Coaching is a conscious imitation of the way Christ looks at us…It’s a relationship centered on helping people discover and fulfill their destiny, which uses goals and actions steps to move strategically toward that end.” Tony Stolzfus Leadership Coaching
Great ideas without action is not coaching.” Notes Dave McIlrath of Truth Coaching. Coaching is about taking action and helping people who are stuck move forward. A history of being stagnant or of failure can often be broken with small victories and a little bit of forward momentum in that area of life. Coaching people into that forward action promotes confidence and a lifestyle hungry for change!
Coaches are trained in change management on an individual level–understanding people and empowering them in their own change agendas. Change is a rare animal to hunt requiring humility and encouragement up the steep hill of transformation. Coaching couples compassion with skill and challenge to find the unique way for each individual to reach fulfillment of their own deep desires.
Some key coaching skills are:
- Intuitive Listening
- Asking Powerful Questions
- Setting a safe and partnering atmosphere of faith
- Goal Setting
- Facilitating Action
Coaches are trained to be very sensitive to the client’s heart, goals and desires for change and seek to match their coaching efforts accordingly. It is not a prescriptive discipline, but an empowering one that draws on the power in the one being coached, thus insuring a much greater chance of buy-in motivation and success with the targeted change agendas.
Studying coaching is very interesting, but a bit empty without the firsthand experience of being coached. I would encourage you to experience it and learn it for your life, relationships and leadership. Too many of us have histories of antagonists and “devil’s advocates” who may have intended good but brought us wounds instead. Often, break-through is just waiting for a person to have a genuine advocate and someone who radically believes in them. Coaching can open the door for The Fisher of Men to snag the heart in a conversation and pull a person toward the Lord’s open arms of freedom and change. Coaching is a powerful way to partner with the Fisher of all Men’s hearts.
The Critical Need for Coaching Skills for Leaders
Leaders need the training and skill of coaching to be able to lead from a truly Kingdom perspective. As a Kingdom leader we earnestly desire to see people grow and flourish in their roles and responsibilities. We must empower them and give them room to own their responsibilities and confidently coach them to their full potential. KCN offers leaders to sharpen their coaching and leadership skills. KCN uniquely offers these skill trainings in an affordable format geared toward practically partnering with the grace of the Holy Spirit.