by Gary Reinecke | Jul 13, 2018 | Church Multiplication, Coach Training, Disciplemaking, Leader Development |
Do you remember your first shot? You were reassured; “it will only sting a little bit”. Feedback is sometimes like that.
Here are three strategies to develop your coaching muscle:
STRATEGY #1: Work with a coach mentor
STRATEGY #2: Ask For & Receive Feedback
STRATEGY #3: Learn with and from other coaches
I’ve discovered that the feedback I receive is mostly appreciated – usually helpful.
I remember the feedback on my coaching through a formal, written assessment – from two experienced assessors. The introduction to the report was brutal. So harsh, that I put the report down. Weeks later when I picked-up the document again; I found their recommendations extremely helpful. However, I had some questions.
During my internal struggle to gain perspective, I missed the window of opportunity for inquiry to engage the assessors. Lesson learned! If you are going to ask for feedback, be open to criticism.
Be prepared to accept what is genuinely helpful and reject feedback that does not accurately represent your experience and reality. Incidentally, this is a skill called “Self-Assessing” that is measured in the Online 360-degree Coach Assessment that I mention below.
There exists countless ways to receive feedback on your coaching. You can receive informal or formal feedback. In person, real-time or written. I have used and found each mode helpful.
I tend to lean on two types of feedback:
Small group, triads and 1-1 coaching sessions provide an opportunity for real-time feedback. The “fish-bowl” of group coaching gives participants opportunities to practice their coaching with timely feedback from individual of the group as well as a competent assessor. In addition, when asked in a 1-1 coaching session, feedback can requested to give you a sense of how you are helping the other person through listening and asking questions (for instance).
Using a 90-degree, 180 or Online 360-degree Coach Assessment; coaches solicit feedback from people they have coached. Multiple people are asked to assess the leader using the Online Coach Assessment 360-degree how she/he demonstrated the essential skills of coaching. The result is a clarifying experience.
The combination of soft + hard data; group + individual; real-time + deferred; makes for a robust experience to develop your coaching excellence.
InFocus is excited to give you an opportunity to sharpen your coaching effectiveness. The launch of the first Developing Coaching Excellence Collective is September 2018. This is uniquely designed to assist leaders who coach disciplemakers and church planter/multiplication leaders.
Since certification is a priority for some, the 10 hours of the Developing Coaching Excellence Collective are applicable to the International Coach Federation, Coach Mentor Requirement for the:
- Associate Certified Coach – ACC
- Professional Certified Coach – PCC
- Master Certified Coach – MCC.
If this is a need you have and would like more information, please contact me direct – click InFocus.
Here are a couple of related resources:
MANAGING POOR PERFORMANCE STORYBOARD
MANAGING POOR PERFORMANCE: COACHING GUIDE WITH STORYBOARD
POOR PERFORMANCE HANDLING STYLE MINI-PROFILE
MANAGEMENT EFFECTIVENESS PROFILE – SELF
MANAGEMENT EFFECTIVENESS PROFILE – 180
MANAGEMENT EFFECTIVENESS PROFILE – 360
by Gary Reinecke | Jul 6, 2018 | Coach Training, Disciplemaking, Leader Development |
I’m sure you see the similarities and are wondering if that photo above is “Gary”; honestly, it is NOT me!.
Here are three strategies to develop your coaching muscle.
STRATEGY #1: Work with a coach mentor
STRATEGY #2: Receive feedback
STRATEGY #3: Learn with and from other coaches
Let me unpack the “Why?” before the “How?”
Why is it important to sharpen my coaching skills? I am assuming if you are reading this blog that coaching is a muscle you exercise on a regular basis to develop people. Here are three contexts that ministry leaders flex their coaching muscle:
- Local Church: Pastors and church planters developing leaders in a local church
- Network: Leaders mobilizing disciplemakers & church planters within a neighborhood, city, state, region or nation
- International: Leaders who catalyze multiplication movements across borders
If you coach in one or more of the three categories above, then you make coaching a priority in your schedule; and developing your coaching skills is a necessity!
You understand, to extend your reach that you must empower and coach. This is why coaching is an essential muscle that needs to be exercised. It is not a management tool. Coaching is an empowerment tool!
How can I sharpen my coaching skills? One of the most fruitful experiences of my development as a coach was was to work with a mentor coach. In fact, this last year I worked with two different mentor coaches, one female (Kim) the other male (Sam). “How was this helpful?” you ask.
- Reason #1: Fresh insights
- Reason #2: New perspectives
These caused me to rethink my process. Plain and simple.
If you want to develop your coaching muscle – first, find a mentor coach. Someone who is a step ahead. Or has a different approach. Or new perspective. Find someone that can challenge you in areas that will help you empower disciple-makers and leaders from the grass-roots to the leader of a multiplication movement.
InFocus is excited to give you an opportunity to sharpen your coaching effectiveness. The launch of the first Developing Coaching Excellence Collective is September 2018. This is uniquely designed to support the development of leaders who coach disciple-makers, pastors, church planters and multiplication leaders.
Let me introduce my co-facilitator, Mukesh Azad. I met Mukesh in 2016 while conducting a coach training workshop alongside a Disciple Making Movement training track. One evening over dinner we discussed his vision to establish training centers to send out entrepreneurs to start businesses to fuel disciple-making and church planting movement; in some of the most difficult regions of the world. As he scribbled his vision on a paper napkin I sensed the Lord had us meet for a particular purpose. I am partnering with Mukesh to fuel this shared-vision in India and provide mentor coaching to leaders in the US. Read more about Mukesh – click here, then go to the bottom.
Since certification is a priority for some, the 10 hours of the Developing Coaching Excellence Collective are applicable to the International Coach Federation, Coach Mentor Requirement for the:
- Associate Certified Coach – ACC
- Professional Certified Coach – PCC
- Master Certified Coach – MCC.
If this is a need you have and would like more information, please contact me direct – click InFocus.
Here are a couple of related resources
LEARNING STYLES: SKILL BUILDER BOOKLET
LEARNING STYLES STORYBOARD
by Gary Reinecke | Jun 29, 2018 | Church Growth, Church Multiplication, Coach Training, Disciplemaking, Leader Development |
Chances are, if you are reading this blog – you have been coaching leaders for a while. You probably have a designated space for coaching appointments either in your office, or a quiet place in your home or your favorite “third” space e.g. Starbucks. You might be a pastor, church planter or denominational leader. Where-ever you meet with people or conference by phone; eliminating distractions is paramount.
Here are some common distractions that people endure during a typical workday:
- e-mail
- phone calls
- people interruptions
- multi-tasking (self-inflicted)
- mind-wandering
The list goes on and on, but the environments in which we coach either enrich or detract from our ability to focus. Reality is, distractions are costly: Length of Distraction + 23 minutes & 15 seconds = True Length of Distraction. All well and good. But what can you and I do to combat & win the battle over distractions:
1. Create an uncluttered, “conversational” environment.
2. Shut-down devises – not in use.
3. Communicate to pertinent people (administrative assistant/family members/colleagues) your coaching hours.
4. Stop multitasking – you are not as productive as you think! See How Distractions At Work Take Up More Time Than You Think.
5. Be present: there are many ways to do this. One way I’ve found helpful is a standing desk with a wooden, adjustable stool – see image above. Standing gives me the flexibility to walk around or shift my weight. A wooden stool is not built for comfort and forces me to stay alert! And is good for my back.
These are just a couple of tips to stay engaged during a coaching conversation. What suggestions do you have? Please share your wisdom below – I would love to hear your thoughts.
InFocus is launching it’s first Developing Coaching Excellence Collective to give you an opportunity to sharpen your coaching skills. This is uniquely designed to assist leaders who coach disciplemakers and church planter/multiplication leaders. In addition, since certification is a priority for some, the 10 hours are applicable to the International Coach Federation credentials including the
- Associate Certified Coach (ACC),
- Professional Certified Coach (PCC)
- Master Certified Coach (MCC).
If this is a need you have and would like more information, please click here.
What is one action you will take today to minimize distractions to focus?
Here are a couple of related resources to develop your coaching excellence!
Coaching Skill Builder
Coaching Effectiveness Profile
by Gary Reinecke | Jun 24, 2018 | Church Growth, Church Multiplication, Coach Training |
The World Cup is in full swing now. 6 teams have already qualified, but 10 spots are still up for grabs. It will be an exciting week as each of the groups finish their final round of games to determine who will advance to the Round of 16. My favorite group is Group F with Mexico (6 points), Germany & Sweden (tied with 3 points) and S. Korea (0 points). The final two games will be played on Wednesday this week with the top two spots, still to be decided.
Ironically, Germany who lost to Mexico in the opening match could come out on top of their group with a win over S. Korea and a Mexico loss, versus Sweden. Germany’s coach, Joachim Low, has led the Germans to the final in the last two World Cups – with one championship in 2014. Repeating as World Champions is a massive challenge that only countries have ever managed e.g. Italy (1934–1938) and Brazil (1958–1962).
The pressure is immense. As the game evolves every four years, coaches and players must adapt. This is the challenge Germany face under Low; but if it can be done, Germany will figure out a way.
The same can be said for your ability to support leaders who are planting churches. New methods come and go, cultural attitdues towards church and issues of faith are always at stake in a world that is in a state of change – remember my previous blogs explaining VUCA: Volatile, Uncertain, Complex & Ambiguous. But principles last the test of time. In training church planting coaches I’ve found that a principle-based approach, for the coach to follow, can help coaches support planters as they navigate the life-cycle of a church plant regardless of the model they are implementing, the context they are planting or the challenges they face.
- How long have you been coaching church planters?
- Has it been a while since you attended coach training?
- Do you want to work on your coaching skills to support church planters?
You might be interested in the COACHING Church Planter Collective to revisit or be introduced to a principle-based approach. I would appreciate your feedback on a good time to hold the informational webinar based on the three options available, please click here so that we can schedule the best time to meet as a group, or individually. Look forward to connecting with you!
International Coach Federation (ICF) Coach Mentor Requirement available!
An added value is to apply the 10 hours in the COACHING Church Planter Collective to your ICF Coach Competencies, Mentor Requirement. More information will be available in the overview.
Here are a couple of related resources to apprentice church planters:
COACHING EFFECTIVENESS PROFILE
COACHING INTROVERTS
COACHING EXTRAVERTS
LEADERSHIP MULTIPLICATION PATHWAY STORYBOARD
by Gary Reinecke | Jun 16, 2018 | Church Growth, Church Multiplication, Leader Development |
One of the more fruitful experiences of my development as a coach was was to work with a coach mentor. In fact, this last year I worked with two different coach mentors. “How was this helpful?” you ask.
- Reason #1: fresh insights
- Reason #2: new perspectives
They caused me to rethink my process. Plain and simple.
If you desire to grow and expand in your coaching – find a coach mentor. Someone who is a step ahead. Or has a different approach. Or new perspective. But most of all, find someone that can challenge you in areas that will help you empower leaders from the grass-root church planter to the leader of a multiplication movement.
InFocus is excited to give you an opportunity to sharpen your coaching effectiveness as you coach church planters and mentor other coaches in your network to do the same.
Are you interested in learning more about the Church Planting COACH Collective? I would appreciate your feedback on a good time to hold the informational webinar based on the three time slots available, please click here so that we can schedule the best time to meet as a group, or individually. I look forward to connecting with you!
Learn about the two coach mentor options:
Option #1 – Missional Coach Development
- Customized coach mentoring to develop your coaching effectiveness as you coach church planters and mentor leaders in your network, using a coach approach.
Option #2 – ICF Coach Competencies, Mentor Requirement
- Customized coach mentoring for coaching church planters is available which can be utilized for your ICF, Coach Mentor Requirement for your ACC, PCC or MCC.
Here are a couple of related resources to cultivate a church planting movement:
CONTINUOUS MULTIPLICATION STORYBOARD
CONTINUOUS MULTIPLICATION COACHING GUIDE WITH STORYBOARD
