Can Anyone Learn to Coach?

240px-Human-Hands-Front-Back

When I lead a coach training workshop one of the participants will usually asks me:  Can anyone learn how to coach? The REAL question–The question behind this question is usually….Will I be able to learn how to coach? At first glance, coaching seems so easy. Anyone can do it! Yet, very quickly new coaches discover [...]

Train-the-Trainer LIVE 2013-2014 Quarterly Webinars

feat-become-trainer

What is the Train-the-Trainer clinic? The Train the Trainer clinic is designed to fully equip and certify participants to train others in our Basic Coach Training Certification. You will leave the clinic with the skills to train others how to coach! Our Train-the-Trainer clinic is offered several times each year in a variety of locations as [...]

Basic Coach Training – 2013 LIVE Webinar Schedule

BCT

Basic Coach Training is designed to equip pastors, ministry leaders and church leaders with basic coaching skills that can be integrated and incorporated into their local ministry setting. Coach training can dramatically enhance the ministry leader’s effectiveness as a leader and greatly increase the impact within their faith community and the larger local community. In addition, [...]

Professional Coach Training: Module 1: Coaching Foundations – Columbia, MO (August 2013)

prof-coach-training-image-no-click-wording-800

Professional Coach Training: Developing Ministry Excellence and Effectiveness Module 1: Coaching Foundations August 6, 7, 8, 2013 Why Does Every Pastor Need Coach Training? This program is for church leaders, pastors and ministry staff that struggle to effectively lead their ministry. Our Module 1: Coaching Foundations training will help you identify your hidden potential as [...]

Powerful Question Fortune Cookies

Powerful Question Fortune Cookie

At a recent coach training in the UK, the participants were thrilled to discover Appendix B, A Year of Questions, in the book Change Your Questions, Change Your Church. They had wondered how they were going to be able to think of powerful questions during their coaching sessions, and appreciated having this resource to refer [...]

The Trouble With Powerful Questions

ID-10077219

The history of humanity changed when a single question changed; when we stopped asking, “How do we get to the water?” and started asking, “How do we get the water to us?” When I first heard that statement, it stopped me cold as I immediately saw the power of coaching at work. In ministry, particularly, [...]

Andy Ray

AndyRay

I am in the least anxious stage of my life. I have been married to Katherine,my high school sweetheart, for forty+ years. We are the parents of one daughter, Elizabeth who works with the homeless in Memphis. I am the third generation United Methodist pastor and have served every type of congregation over the past [...]

To Listen Deeply, Clergy Need Bold Boundaries

Teresa-Angle-Young

 The following is a guest post by Reverend Teresa Angle-Young, one of my co-authors in Ministry 3.0. In a recent coaching session with a pastor, he said, “I simply cannot hear God’s voice anymore.” He said this with a combination of fatigue, exasperation, fear and anger. After an hour of deeply listening to him, what [...]

Pastors, Are You Listening to God?

Listening To God

I just finished reading the book Puzzling Symptoms by Clifton K. Meador, where one of the statements was that 40% of all diagnoses by a doctor are incorrect. We’ve actually experienced the frustration of that first-hand in my family. When I look at this situation through the lens of what I know as a coach [...]

Listening for the Sounds of Life

Listening

The following is a guest post by Darrell Roland, one of my co-authors in our newest Coaching4Clergy book, Ministry 3.0. Sitting outside this morning, I heard various sounds ringing in the air. Initially, I heard cars traveling nearby, buses beeping at their stops and children yelling as they run to catch their bus. Then, I [...]

Donna Tosches

Donna Tosches

Donna Tosches is the Director of the Methodist LeBonheur Healhcare Employee Assistance Program. She has been a Licensed Clinical Social Worker for over twenty years and a Certified Employee Assistance Professional for ten years. She is a member of the National Association of Social Workers, the Employee Assistance Professional Association and the International Critical Incident [...]

Sell the Problem

solution

Most leaders try to sell a solution or answer, when what we really need to do is sell the problem. Human nature dictates that most people will resist if someone just tells them what to do. We want to be included in the process, and really understand what’s going on behind the scenes. Once people [...]

The Value of Quick Successes

changes2

It takes years to make a major shift in an organization’s culture, and it’s easy to get discouraged partway through. Just think of Moses and the Exodus, and the many times they would say, “Oh, it was better in Egypt, let’s turn around.” We all need those little successes to keep us going. Even if [...]

Embra Jackson

Embra Jackson

Reverend Dr. Embra K. Jackson, a native of Jackson, Mississippi. He is married to the Rosia Ousley. They have four children. He has earned a Bachelor’s degree in Political Science from Tougaloo College; an MPA from the University of Mississippi; a Master of Divinity from Interdenominational Theological Center and the Doctor of Divinity from Memphis [...]

The Marathon Effect

changes

In his book, Managing Transitions, William Bridges refers to the “marathon effect.” Here’s how it works: In the largest marathon events, a staggered start time is used to process the multitude of runners. By the time the last group starts the race, some of the first group will already be finishing. When your church is [...]

Recognizing the Difference Between Change and Transition

Ministry30_1

Exciting news! Ministry 3.0 is officially on sale now from the Coaching4Clergy website. It’s an anthology of coaching stories from 18 contributing authors who are using coaching in ministry settings. My purpose behind the book was to put a tool in people’s hands as they create a coaching culture. As I train and mentor pastors and [...]

Take a Mini-Vacation With These Fun Videos

vacation

We’ve been talking about vacations this month on the blog – how to prepare for one, how to be on one, and how to return from one.  Today, I invite you to take a few minutes to laugh out loud (at least I did!) with these two fun videos. This video below is a travel insurance [...]

Vacation Re-Entry for Pastors

vacation

Coming back is often more traumatic than going away, and this is one of the biggest reasons that pastors avoid taking vacations. The stress and overwhelm of re-entry can quickly erase any of the good effects of being away.  If your vacation plans are for the middle or end of August, you’ll have the double [...]

Susan Claytor

Susan Claytor

10 years of full time lay youth and family ministry, then on to ordained ministry. Attended VTS in Alexandria, VA and was ordained in 2004. Previous work in corporate settings and in private schools with children. Currently working on my D.Min and rector of moderate sized parish in Central Pennsylvania.     Business Address: 310 [...]

When You’re Away, Be Away

relax

In an earlier post, I wrote about how difficult it can be for pastors to take time off, and how many resist them because vacations seem like more work than they’re worth. You may think you can get away with a “stay-cation,” (maybe using my Power Sabbath exercise), but if you’re one of the many [...]

Ken Wagner-Pizza

Ken Wagner-Pizza

I am a married Episcopal priest with 2 young children.  I am currently serving a pastoral sized parish. I have had some coach training in the past and have benefited from great mentors and spiritual directors. I come from an extended family that is diverse in its Christian expression.         Business Address: [...]

Alexander Dyakiw

Alexander Dyakiw

Married for 40 years and being a servant of the church as a deacon and a spiritual director I spend much of my time helping people find a balance of work and spirituality in life.  Humor being a large part of it. Being a guide in the walk of life and as life hits from [...]

Lauri Kerr

LauriKerr

My name is Lauri Kerr. I grew up near the Pennsylvania Grand Canyon on a dairy farm. I was exposed to many different types of people because my grandmother had Farm Vacationers come and stay at her home. I attended Mansfield University where I majored in Psychology. In my professional life I have spent much [...]

Ted Babcock

Ted Babcock

Professional Experience:2010-present Canon to the Ordinary, Diocese of Central PA, Harrisburg, PA 2005-2010 Rector St. Andrew’s, Shippensburg, PA 2001-2005 Assistant Rector, Christ Church, Greenwich, CT 1998-2001 Intern, St. Davids, South Bronx, NY 1992-1998 Managing Director, Babcock Blance, Rowayton, CT 1987-1992  Managing Director, CEO Dole Associates, Katonah, NY 1985-1987 Founder Invasset, New Canaan, CT 1983-1986 Program [...]

Jonathan Currier

Fr  Jonathan

Fr. Jonathan Currier went off to Harvard, thinking he wanted to be a mathematician, but God and Abelian algebra intervened.  Unable to penetrate the obscure abstractions of Nils Abel’s brilliant mind, he concluded that the world and his GPA would be better off if he chose another profession. Captivated by the preaching of Harvard Chaplain [...]