Leadership is tough.
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Whether you look at biblical examples of leadership or you look at what it takes to lead in today’s world, leadership is tough and you have to be strong. Continue Reading…
No job or task is “beneath” a leader to do or smaller than a leader. Part of servant leadership is stepping in to help where needed to do what needs to be done.
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When attending the Tony Robbins Life Mastery event in 2009 I heard a story which showed that no task is below a leader. Even though Tony Robbins was not scheduled to speak at this particular event he was there the day prior to the first day of the event to meet with staff and help them prepare. There were a few things which had not yet been done that had to be completed before the seminar began. One of those tasks was placing out the conference chairs in neat rows for attendees to sit in. Continue Reading…
I have worked very hard the past several weeks to share a series of posts about coaching as it relates to leadership. I have offered my best effort to present a clear picture of the necessary elements of coaching from an academic and biblical research point of view. But, what is coaching?
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I believe coaching is the process of drawing out of a coachee skills which she does not yet possess but has the potential for.
Here is a list of the posts where I share how skills are drawn out of a coachee:
- The Need for Christian Coaching
- What Coaching Is
- A Coachee Must Have Potential
- Character & Attitude Determine a Coachee’s Potential
- The Responsibility of a Coachee
- How Companionship Transforms a Coaching Relationship
- Modeling is the Best Way to Coach Leaders
- Teaching is How You Coach Leaders
- Why a Coachee Must Also Coach Others
- An Example of Coaching from Coach K
I believe that if the coachee drives the relationship, is a companion encouraged by the coach, follows the holy life of the coach, and receives adequate teaching, then the coachee will be able to develop leadership qualities and skills.
And most importantly, the process then must start over with the coachee beginning to coach someone else.
Question: How do you coach leaders? What tips would you share for coaching leaders?
As a coaching relationship takes time to develop and continues, there comes a time when the coach simply needs to get out of the way. Legendary men’s basketball coach at DukeUniversity and winner 3 NCAA National Championships, Mike Krzyzewski (Mike is also known as simply “Coach K.”), tells a great story about the need for a coach to get out of the way at key points in the growth of a coachee.
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Coach K told the following story when he was asked, “How do you help them [his players] see what they have to offer?”
One of the best leaders by far of all time is Shane Battier, who now plays for Memphis. In the first practice of his senior year, the team had finished stretching, and I’m getting ready to talk to them to give them a bit of motivation—just a little 1-minute talk. Before I start, Shane gets them together and he says some things to the team. I said, “That’s pretty good. I don’t think I can top that.” I told Shane after the workout, “That was good. If you want to do that every day, you can.” He said, “I’ll do it every day.” I never again spoke to the team before practice for the rest of that year. 1 Continue Reading…
Notes:
- Sim B. Sitkin and J. Richard Hackman, “Developing Team Leadership: An Interview with Coach Mike Krzyzewski,” Academy of Management Learning & Education 10, No. 3 (2011), 495. ↩
In any coaching, mentoring, or discipling relationship there comes a point when the person who has been on the receiving end of the relationship needs to take the step to be the giver. After several years of being discipled, that disciple then goes on and disciples someone else. After several years of being mentored, that person takes initiative to mentor someone else. The same is also true with coaching. After a significant amount of time being coached, there comes a point in time when the coachee must begin to coach others.
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One of the most revealing statements about the coaching relationship which Paul and Timothy share is shown when Paul encourages Timothy, “Teach these things [things about having a strong faith, women being modest, elders having a Godly home, etc.] and insist that everyone learn them. Don’t let anyone think less of you because you are young. Be an example to all believers in what you say, in the way you live, in your love, your faith, and your purity.Until I get there, focus on reading the Scriptures to the church, encouraging the believers, and teaching them” (1 Timothy 4:11-13). Continue Reading…
“When you go out to fight your enemies and you face horses and chariots and an army greater than your own, do not be afraid. The LORD your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, is with you!”
While walking through elements of a coaching relationship the last few weeks on my blog I believe it is also important to note that teaching is an element of coaching. Why?
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Teaching is an element of coaching because there are circumstances when being an encouraging role model will not suffice so the coach must also teach. A coach may do so through questions, direct instructions, apprenticeship, etc. Continue Reading…
Throughout history, God has placed a high value on “take charge” people, made them his own, putting them to work. These individuals are good at what they do and use their positions in significant ways to get the job done.
The best way to coach someone in leadership is to be a model for that coachee. Leadership is an area where more is caught than taught, thus it is important that leaders who coach young potential leaders are great leaders.
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A recent article in Coaches PLAN magazine stated that “one of the best communication tools remains the image.” 1 The best way to communicate, teach, and coach is the image that a coach displays to others. When a young impressionable person opens himself up to be coached, the message the coach communicates is the image he displays to that person by living a holy life. Continue Reading…
Notes:
- Christian Hrab, ChPC, “A picture is worth a thousand words,” Coaches PLAN, Spring 2011, 6. ↩
Paul’s letter to Timothy in the Christian Bible is an example of how Paul provided encouragement to Timothy as a companion would do. Paul knew what spiritual gifts Timothy had, and Paul gave encouragement and instruction. This is something we must practice if we are serious about effectively coaching future Christian leaders.
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In Paul’s last days, he hoped to have Timothy’s companionship and help in ministry, as shown when he wrote, “Timothy, please come as soon as you can” (2 Timothy 4:9 NLT). When writing to the Roman Church (7 years before writing letters to Timothy), Paul mentioned Timothy in this manner: “Timothy, my fellow worker, sends you his greetings. . . .” (Romans 16:21). Continue Reading…
