Barnabas File

Parker Palmer is one of my favorite authors.     This quote from Palmer recently came to my attention:   "The good news is that God loves us, and we’re all created in God’s image. And if you really believe that today, then that means staying grounded in that good news, being open to the world, taking creative risks and investing yourself and your resources."   As I read this passage, I became aware that this provides a good theological basis for coaching.   First, we are all created  in God’s image .  As I am involved in coaching my clients, I am aware they are individuals created in the image of God.  They are special and unique.  No matter where they are in their spiritual walk, they are important to God and to me.   Second, my approach to coaching is  grounded in the good news .  For me that means everyone has the potential to be “transformed by the renewing of [the] mind” (Romans 12:2) and seeing life through the perspective of the Gospel. This perspective enriches and em

I attended an all-male military school for 12 years.  This was not a residential school; we all lived at our homes in the community.  When I told people I went to a military school, one frequent response was, “Oh, have you been in trouble?”  No, I entered the school in first grade not because I was an incorrigible offender but because my parents wanted me to have a good education and were willing to sacrifice for me to go to a private school.   Fast forward to the present day.  As I work with churches and other organizations, I sometimes hear this statement: “This person has a problem. They probably need a coach.”  I am not sure of the source of this perspective, but it misses the real reason that a person should have a coach.   The present coaching movement was birthed through businesses where rising executives were (and are) provided coaches so that they could build on their strengths.  They were already doing well and showed potential to do more, but the idea was that, with coaching

When we promote coach training, we often refer to the process as “an additional tool in your ministry toolbox.”     As I talked with a ministry leader this week about coach training for his denomination, I realized that coaching is much more than simply a skill.   First, it is a biblical approach to developing disciples.  We believe that each person is “fearfully and wonderfully made” (Psalm 139:14) and is unique in the sight of God.  Because of this, each of us has a special calling, one that can be discerned through interaction with a coach.  As believers we are also commanded to “grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.” (2 Peter 3:18, NIV).  Entering into the life of faith is just the beginning because we are invited into a process of lifelong learning and serving.   This journey can be facilitated through a relationship with a Christian coach.   Second, coaching is a way of knowing.  When we come into a new environment with questions and anticipation of

Life Coaching or Personal Development Coaching can take many forms.     I recently was involved in a conversation with a colleague about coaching seminary students around their financial habits.     One of the things we discussed was whether a person needs to be a financial expert to coach someone about finances.     We agreed that helping a person to break old habits or, perhaps more proactively, develop new habits or behaviors was the key to financial coaching rather than financial expertise.       Developing new habits is not easy. Some suggest that, on the average, it takes more than two months before a new behavior becomes automatic — 66 days to be exact . More realistically, how long it takes a new habit to form can vary widely depending on the behavior, the person, and the circumstances. In a study by researcher Phillippa Lally, a key finding was that it took anywhere from 18 days to 254 days for people to form a new habit.   This is where coaching can make a significant contri

The first real “job” for which I was paid was as a math tutor.     Considering that I failed Calculus in college, this is rather ironic.     I was a junior in high school and my math teacher recommended me as a tutor for an eighth grader.    The parents paid me ten dollars a session.   As I began working with this young man, I realized pretty quickly that he already knew what he was supposed to do.  He understood the calculations and was probably a better math student than I was!  The key was focus.  He needed someone who would just sit with him, respond to his work, and provide encouragement.  I did not need to be an expert; I just needed to be there.   I find myself in the same situation very often as a leadership coach.  As I talk with a client, I discover that not only does the person have the best knowledge of the situation we are discussing, but he or she has some ideas about how to address it in a positive way.  So why does the person need a coach?   One of the things that a coa

In The Agile Church:  Spirit-Led Innovation in an Uncertain Age , Dwight J. Zscheile writes about the Book of Acts, “The apostles don’t typically understand what kind of witness God wants to bring forth until they are in the midst of it; it is much more improvisational.” I was recently introduced by a friend to a book on improvisational theater or IMPROV, and I have done some additional reading about the process and come to understand that there are certain concepts that are basic to improvisation.  First, there is a situation or an idea that runs through the sketch.  Second, the sketch builds on the idea of “Yes, and . . . .”  We take what is given and build on it.  Third, the performers use what is on hand.  Fourth, they work with their intuition. This seems to be what was happening in Acts.  The apostles had an idea that runs through the account: “We are called to share the Gospel of Jesus Christ.”  We continually are faced with the concept of “Yes, and . . .” as we read the book. T

I have been doing professional life coaching over ten years and I find that I still have a number of opportunities to introduce and explain the concept to people.     Just about everyone understands athletic coaching either from observing a sports coach in action or serving as a volunteer coach.     Life coaching is a bit different.     Three basic ideas will help you understand how life coaching works.      First, the person being coached is the focus of coaching.  The coach is thoroughly engaged in the coaching conversation, but the conversation is all about the client.  When we engage in a normal conversation with a friend or colleague, we expect that each person will have their fair share of the time—not simply reacting but sharing their own ideas and experiences and carrying their part of the conversation.  In coaching, it is all about the client.  The coach is there to serve the client’s agenda—to listen, ask questions, and support.   Second, the coach guides the process and the