Barnabas File

At some point, I discovered that you learn more by teaching than by being a student in a course. For four years, colleague Beth Kennett and I have taught an Introduction to Coaching class as part of Summit Coach Training from Pinnacle .  In teaching, I have rediscovered at least ten concepts that I think every coach should remember.   1.   1.  The client is central.     Coaching is really all about the client. The client sets the agenda, and the coach provides the process.     If you have any concerns about what to ask or how to proceed, ask yourself, “Does this serve the client?” 2.       Coaching is really a partnership.     It is a collaborative activity.     Bob Dale spoke about coach and client as “thought partners.”     It is a partnership that fosters creativity on the part of client and learning on the part of the coach. 3.       You are not a “fixer.” ...

Looking for a master class in coaching?  Check out  Breakthrough Coaching: Creating Lightbulb Moments in Your Coaching Conversations  by Marcia Reynolds, a masterful coach.  The book is a fresh look at the basics of coaching written to encourage and challenge the practitioner.   Key topics are: ·        How to Embody a Coaching Mindset ·        Maintaining a Client-Centered Focus ·        What Is Their Desired Outcome Really? ·        Debugging the Operating System ·        Turning Insights into Commitments   An example of her approach is the way that she addresses empathy.     She explains,   “ Empathy doesn’t mean getting caught up in people’s emotions and dramas. There is a difference between empathy and sympathy. Sympathy is absorbing another’s emotions.  . ..  Empat...

When someone asks me what kind of coach I am, I usually respond “leadership coach.”  Although I could coach individuals in any field, I am most comfortable working with leaders—especially congregational leaders.     This ties in with my personal vision:     “To use my spiritual gifts of teaching, encouragement, and administration to build up the Body of Christ.” In our Summit Coach Training classes, I try to point out that life coaching is a broad field with many specializations that can address various aspects of a person's life. Here are some of the most common types of life coaching: ·         Personal Development  or Life Purpose  Coaching:   Provides a broader approach to self-improvement, helping clients identify and achieve personal goals. ·         Career Coaching:   Focuses on navigating career paths, finding the right job, or advancing in your current role. · ...