One of the concepts that has expanded my understanding of coaching is that we don’t just coach individuals, but we coach individuals who are part of a system. Coaching typically focuses on individual development, but a broader perspective recognizes individuals as integral parts of a larger system. As one person observed, “It is time to move from egocentric coaching to ecosystem coaching.” I am not yet sure how to do that effectively, but a recent article on the Fast Company website stimulated further thinking on my part. In his new book, You and We: A Relational Rethinking of Work, Life, and Leadership, Jim Ferrell focuses on helping people apply relational approaches to leadership and organizational life. This certainly has implications for effective leadership coaching and for coaching teams. Ferrell observes that, “The idea of a separate individual is a myth, and because it’s a myth, the strategies that mistake it as true generate system...
Comments from a Christ-follower on things that matter to him