What is Coaching?
Coaching is helping another achieve their purpose by executing strategies that maximize their strengths and overcome their obstacles. Paul summarizes it this way: “… to equip God’s people so that the body of Christ may be built up.”
From Dan:
“I knew from an early age that I was called to ministry, though I always felt it would look different than what I was seeing in the church at the time. So I was a bit surprised that I found myself pastoring for nearly 3 decades. But after the second of three churches, I realized that I pastored more like a coach than a CEO in a time when the CEO style was being touted. My greatest joy was to help others find who they were and then develop that calling in them. I have no doubt that principle is what contributed to the exponential growth in each of the churches I have led.
“In 2003 I made a deliberate decision to develop skills around my passion for developing others’ passion. But I was struggling with, ‘why would someone use a coach?’ I heard a simple question in my heart, ‘Why does Tiger Woods have a coach (he was at the top of his game at that time)? And why isn’t his coach playing?’
“That’s when I understood that there are those who are gifted to PLAY the game and there are those gifted to MAXMIZE another’s game. I realized that, though I was fortunate to have led growing churches, my gift was to help persons more gifted than myself maximize their impact. My true call was to coach; the biblical word is ‘exhort.’”
So whether it’s a single leader, an executive team or an entire leadership team, Dan helps leaders become the best God created, equipped and redeemed them to be (Philippians 3:12).