Coaching is Essential to Christian Leadership

Coaching is Essential to Christian Leadership

By: Dr. Troy Davis

There is no linear method for Christian Leaders who deal with valleys within their Christian faith. A Christian leader's evolution develops through mental stress, how mentors/ leaders interpret biblical principles concerning emotional stress, and what that leader interprets as truth. Rather than chalking up a Christian leader's challenging season as a process toward leadership development, we could attempt to approach it through the lens of cognitive behavior.  

My evolution as a Christian leader took me through a valley that therapist identify as depression. However, my mentors semi-addressed my valley as a faith challenge under the cloud of biblical principles, rather than addressing my human frailty as a leader with diminished faith. The wisdom to differentiate one's duty to the Christian order while recognizing one’s inner vulnerabilities (self-actualization) is a key competence for Christian leadership.

Having a coach who can help leaders navigate the relationship between their psychological fortitude, spiritual journey, and self-actualization is a step in the right direction. Leaders who can recognize their altering states of behavior are blessed with foresight.  

Shared Foundations

Psychological counseling and professional coaching have shared principles in the transformation of human behavior. Williams (n.d.) believes psychology began as the investigation of consciousness and mental functions such as sensation and perception. While Passmore (2021) conclude that coaching is defined as a collaborative, solution-focused, results-orientated, and a systematic process in which the coach facilitates the enhancement of performance, life experience, self-directed learning, and personal growth of individuals and organizations. The shared principles such as introspection, cognitive behavior, self-perception, and understanding patterns are mirrored in psychology and coaching.  

Psychological Insights in Coaching

Passmore (2021) further believes a person’s self-awareness and destiny are interwoven, and "focused attention" is a powerful constructionist tool that influences how we view ourselves, which, in turn, will influence the actions we decide to take and the circumstances from those actions. Psychological concepts strengthen coaching and are pivotal for personal growth, self-awareness, and identifying behavioral change that are identified in behavioral patterns.

Palmer and Whybrow (2019) asks, how do people block themselves from achieving in their lives both socially and professionally, and subsequently from reaching coaching goals? One technique a coach uses to identify self-awareness, or change is incorporating a self-assessment tool such as the Meyer-Briggs Type Indicator (MBTI). Individuals' forgotten/ hidden strengths may appear as thin traces in their stories. No matter what profession or genre, leaders function out of their personality trait.

Coaching as Applied Psychology

Christian leaders are motivated by their call to duty from God. They intentionally construct or modify their behavior within their social, professional, and sometimes personal lives around their religious beliefs. From this belief construct, abilities are extracted, human gifts are realized, and barriers or challenges are overcome. Hendricks (2014) suggests, when you live with intentionality, you have a purpose. You’re on a mission! You select where you devote your energy. You don’t just live randomly or passively. Although you can’t control the future or what happens to you, you can head yourself to your North Star.   

For example, we can measure a Christian leader’s motivation by assessing him with Maslow's hierarchy of needs. From that information, we can identity patterns of cognitive behavior in hopes to address valleys to strengthen their resolve. Coaching applies psychological insights and highlights barriers that prevent Christian leaders from achieving their goals.

Complementary Perspectives

As the Christian leaders continue to develop towards reaching their projected ministry goals, coaching will boost their confidence when implementing their vision. As Christian leaders retain a well-versed coach, gleaming from this intersected knowledge will improve their interpersonal growth.

Such tools as cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), cultivating mindfulness, psychological assessments, and focusing on their strengths, will benefit the Christian leader on their journey towards spiritual and mental development.

Ethical Considerations and Best Practices

English (2019) suggests, for coaching to become a recognized profession, coaching must have professional standards, definitions, ethical guidelines, ongoing research, and credentialing. As the coach uses models to syncretize their coaching style, instituting boundaries and best practices will ensure professionalism. Having the client sign a consent form gives the coach permission to have sessions and set boundaries. using psychological methods. By adopting professional coaching, Christian leaders can avoid rogue counseling afforded by inexperienced leaders. 

In seeking to understand what the coachee is looking for, English (2019) affirms that a mixture of the following are important factors. First, training in psychology. Second, having experience in, or understanding of, business. Third, establish a reputation as a coach with listening skills, objectivity and professionalism. Lastly, have a level of intelligence about the coaching field expressed by integrity, and confidentiality.

Conclusion

In First Thessalonians 5:13, Apostle Paul writes: Now may the God of peace sanctify you completely and may your whole spirit, soul and body be kept blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.  Christian leaders have a distinct call of God on their lives, but understanding the connection between their psychological fortitude, their call from God, and their self-awareness enables them to fully live out Luke 10:19.

Christian leaders will go through different levels of spiritual and cognitive development. Coaching is the redeeming paradigm in grace. Leadership within the Christian organization can be unstable; coaching can be innovative in identifying growth patterns that will benefit both the leader and the organization.        

References

English, S., Sabatine, J. & Brownell, P. (Eds.). (2019). Professional coaching: Principles and

  practice.

Hendricks, B. (2014). The person called you: Why You’re Here, Why You Matter & What You

  Should Do With Your Life. Moody Publishers.

Palmer, S. & Whybrow, A. (2019). Handbook of coaching psychology: A Guide for practitioners

 (2nd ed.)

Passmore, J. (2021). Excellence in coaching: Theory, tools and techniques to achieve

  outstanding coaching performance (4th ed.)

Williams, P. (n.d.). The whole person: Other fields have tackled the quest of what spirituality is

  and what it is not. Choice, Vol 3(4)

.