Originally posted 12-03-2009. Reposted 11-16-2010.
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Lots of people ask me practical questions about coaching small group leaders. I can’t possibly cover everything about coaching in one blog post because I don’t know everything, and because it would take too much time for you to read. However, just to provoke some thought check out the Coach Checkup Checklist below. This is a tool I give coaches that helps them provide quality conversation and mentoring in each conversation they have with small group leaders.
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COACHING CHECKUP
As you support small group leaders who are building and balancing many aspects of ministry, do not forget to…INVEST!
- Intentional – Be intentional when you meet with your leaders. Do not make it a business meeting, but a meeting with a friend.
- Next Step – All you have to do is be one step ahead of your leaders. Simply tell them what their next step should be.
- Value – Value their feelings and the effort they make to step out and trust God by leading a group.
- Encourage – Care for your leader.
- Simplify – We can overwhelm our leaders by asking too must from them. Keep it simple! When we simplify the overall mission with clarity and purpose, they will grow individually and their members will too.
- Time – It is extremely imperative to focus on Quality time, not quantitative time. Be considerate of the leaders time.
Questions to Ask Yourself About Your Leader Interactions
- Was I intentional in my meeting to create a friendly environment?
- Did I effectively communicate the leader next steps?
- Did I value the leader’s feeling and effort?
- Am I encouraging the leader?
- Did I keep it simple?
- Was I considerate of the leaders’ time?
What excellent tips! I wonder just how many small group pastors actually visit with their coaches concerning how well and how often the coaches meet with leaders. Seems to be a very weak area among the pastors I’ve queried concerning this issue… they find themselves too busy to encourage the coaches to in turn encourage the leaders.
Thanks for the kind words Randall. I agree, many pastors neglect those important conversations with their coaches. I think it helps for pastors to think of themselves as coaches of coaches.
Good coaching checkup tips. I’ll pass them on. I meet with my coaches at least quarterly. I focus on three areas of their life: 1) Personally: What’s going on in your life, your family, your career. 2) Spiritually: How’s your relationship with God? What is God speaking into your life? Where is He taking you in His Word. 3) Missionally: What’s happening in the life of your group leaders? What are the wins they are seeing? What are their challenges? How are they doing personally, spiritually, and missionally? When we meet, coaches know these types of questions are coming. These questions communicate I care for them as a person and their spiritual life first and foremost. Then comes the missional questions. Accountability goes a long way.
Great stuff, Bob! Thanks for sharing!