We hear quite a lot these days about having personal coaches. What does this mean, and what are the benefits? Definitions of a coach that we are accustomed to are: "A person who trains or directs athletes," or "A person who gives instruction, as in singing or acting," or "A private tutor employed to prepare a student for an examination." In the world of personal or professional coaching, a different definition is given the practice of coaching. Though there are various types of personal or professional coaching arrangements and various purposes, in general, a personal coach "helps a person get from where they are to where they want to be."

In this context, the coach is not an expert. That is more the work of a mentor. A coach who is an expert on the subject around which coaching is taking place may actually be a hindrance. How is this possible? Because the first element of coaching is to draw upon the strengths an individual already possesses. The coach does not give advise or do problem-solving with the person being coached. Instead, he or she helps the person discover solutions out of their own know-how and experiences. If the coach is an expert on the subject, he may be tempted to bring his own solutions to the situation rather than helping the other person discover his own solutions. The second element of coaching is to seek the gaps a person has for which he does not have strengths or experiences to inform him. Where there are gaps, the coach leads the person to decide how to address them with training or with mentoring or whatever else is appropriate.

Coaching is a ministry or service I wish to provide interested pastors to help them get from where they are to where they want to be, or where God wants them to be. During my sabbatical during 2005, I learned the value coaching can bring to leaders and determined I wanted to bring this value to pastors in the association. As a result, I sought training and am now completing certification with the Green Lake Coaching Center as a coach.

I invite any TCMBA pastor who is interested to contact me for more information or to discuss a possible coaching arrangement. A pastor may desire help working through a project or getting over a hurdle in his leadership. He may want help setting a new vision with his church or developing a strategy for the vision the church already owns. Whatever the need, I welcome the opportunity to provide this ministry in the association.

Wayne

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