Does the following sound familiar?

“You know your leadership or church has more potential than you are experiencing but there are things that consistently get in the way. You pray, you strategize, you involve others, you make plans, you go to seminars, and you do your best to execute, but it could be better and you know it. You feel that there’s something else needed, but you just can’t put your finger on it.”

Believe it or not, the feelings expressed above are common for anyone who is trying to be the best they can be in their field. It’s not just a pastoral, ministry or church frustration; it is a common feeling.

Individuals and sports teams have long enjoyed the benefit of having a coach. Solid coaching takes what you have and helps you make it better. A good coach does not change the basic ingredients of a person or organization, but they enhance the strengths already evident in individuals and helps the group of people blend into a team for maximum effectiveness.

Even the best performers benefit from personal coaching. Pastors and church leaders are beginning to see the same value for their own ministry effectiveness. Knowing what to do is important. Doing it to your best is the difference between being good and being great!

Some wonder what a coach does? Here’s a couple of things that a coach is not.

• Coaching is not therapy or counseling. A counselor tends to focus on feelings related to past events and helps the client in processing those feelings to a place of closure.
• Coaching is not consulting. A consultant offers their skills to diagnose the situation and offers recommendations to the client to consider. Coaching is an extension of the consulting process, but is not simply more consulting.
• Coaching is not mentoring. A mentor passes along knowledge, experiences, and skills from their own journey as a model for the client to learn from. A mentor is often someone who is older and further along in their personal journey.

There is great value for pastors and churches through the coaching process. The next time you wonder who to call for advice, consider calling on a Ministry Coach.