Christian Leadership Coaching

I've had an increase in senior-level leaders asking for Christian leadership coaching. For me particularly, recent leaders have said they want:

• A longer-term engagement for support and development
• A professional who has been coaching a number of years
• A Coach who has lots of life and leadership experience
• A Coach who's been through stress and tough things in life
• A coach who can help them apply what they know and believe to the challenges they're facing

There is also a noticeable increase in executives engaging coaching for their senior team members. 

Christian Leadership Coaching Clients and the Trends That Concern Them in Our Introductory Conversation

In short, over the last while I've had:

• An uptick in demand for one on one Christian executive coaching that has stemmed from the after-effects on businesses and nonprofits as a result of the pandemic  
• An increased desire for a seasoned coach who's gone through challenging experiences and really does understand the demands and pressures on a leader at home, at work, and in leadership
• A serious want for someone with spiritual maturity to help them apply Biblical insight to their everyday leadership, even if in secular settings  

These last few years of coaching have been different from previous years. I’ve noticed that client anxiety has been higher, often mirroring the general marketplace. Probably for good reason.

In addition to the everyday issues of running a business, corporation, or nonprofit, there's also a growing list of other very big concerns. 

There’s all the big stuff ...

• The pandemic and its aftermath that seems to keep unfolding
• The sometimes dizzying pace of change
• Social turmoil
• Creeping extremism and desperation 
• Climate impact 
• The exodus of workplace knowledge and talent
• A shifting attitude in a younger workforce
• Technology and security concerns
• Stress, burnout and burn-on
• And more

Still ... work must go on. Because of so many conversations, I know what Christian leadership coaching clients have been thinking about and working through.

Issues Leaders are Facing in the Months Ahead

Practical questions flow from what's going on.

• How do I address post-pandemic stress that is hanging on in my team and employees? It seems to have morphed into higher, permanent anxiety level. 
• How do I keep up with AI, social expectations and trends, the next big tech advance, cyber-security etc.?
• What’s my understanding of, and response to, the latest big issue? How do I sort what's factual from the rest? What’s needed? What’s helpful? What’s the right thing for us to do? Do we do anything?
• How do we contribute meaningfully to addressing climate change? What's the opportunity as we do this?
• How do we try be socially responsible and navigate the constant stream of conspiracies, misrepresentations, and outright lies?
• How do I retain valued team members, who have the knowledge, skills, experience and maturity our organization needs?
• How do we motivate a workforce that doesn't seem to be striving for excellence and are willing to do only just enough? 
• How do I go about finding the best new people to infill our organizational chart? What do they want? How do I coach and develop them?
• We are experiencing a fatigue unlike years past, myself included. It seems unsustainable. What can I do for my team and myself?

It becomes still more personal. Executives want to expand their own capacity around things like this ...

Leadership Challenges to Face, and the Skills Needed to Address Them

In the course of providing Christian leadership coaching, most of the trending leadership challenges center around people. It's probably self-evident to the Christian who knows God's thoughts about people.

• Dealing with overload, burnout, and burn-on
• Being empathetic - the needs of individuals grow in complexity
• Communication skills - reflective listening, seeking feedback etc
• Strengthening human connection. Fostering genuine, caring relationships.
• Involving others while moving forward
• Decision-making individually and with others
• Coaching and developing team members
• Managing a hybrid work environment. Fostering autonomy with accountability
• Finding something “bigger” that the team wants to be a part of
• Being agile and adaptable. Being willing and proactive
• Critical thinking, and contextual problem solving
• Being conscious of personal, mental, and physical health
• Keeping the team healthy, engaged and fulfilled
• Responding wisely to tension and crisis
• Responding to the "just enough" mindset

I have no doubt that for the next while I will regularly be discussing these leadership challenges, and exploring the skills necessary around them, with my clients.

It could be that you are facing something unprecedented in your leadership. A crisis that threatens to knock you down. Here's a page that provides seven things that will help. These come from my experience coaching leadership in times of crisis.

D Stands for Disconnectedness

A few years back, the acronym VUCA was coined. Right away I felt there was something missing.  

• Volatility
• Uncertainty
• Complexity
• Ambiguity

It was an attempt to encapsulate what everyday leaders were having to deal with.

The missing piece is "D." I believe the acronym should really read, VUCAD.

The “D” may be so crucial to address, that all the others pale in comparison. I'll leave it to experts to define the actual costs of not paying attention to D. My suspicion, after coaching leaders and professionals for 26 years, is that the cost is high.

D stands for DISCONNECTEDNESS.

A LOT of leaders and professionals feel like they're pretty much on their own dealing with all the “stuff” I mentioned above.

They really do relate to the old adage, "It's lonely at the top."

Is this you? 

Shallow "business" relationships with little real "personal connection" characterize the experience of too many leaders this decade.

The org chart shows one thing, but the person on the other end of the direct line connection is often weak, inexperienced, self-absorbed, on a personal agenda, or simply too overwhelmed to respond in any kind of empathetic, supportive way.

This is why so many high-contribution leaders and organizations invest in coaching. They know the value of direct support, coaching, and having a thought partner. 

Coaching is a Collaborative. I Support Leaders

Any coaching, not just Christian leadership coaching, is about getting clarity and gaining momentum. At its best, it’s also about support and encouragement. We all need it. Leaders and executives are no different.

I’m meeting with you several times a month. I do everything I can to create a real and supportive relationship. In this type of coaching environment, you experience the best setting to work on those things that matter to you and your organization.

The Benefits of Christian Leadership Coaching Move Outward

The “connectedness” we experience as Christian leader and coach, moves outward. It goes from the two of us, out to you and your team.

• Connectedness cares about the other person, whether they are up, down, or sideways on an org chart. Connectedness takes a moment to ask about really important stuff, things like personal well-being, family, or a recent setback or victory.
• Connectedness respects, cares about, and celebrates the other’s wins and contributions. This is what separates the really great leader you loved working alongside, from that “other” leader you once worked under.

In the daily volatility, uncertainty, complexity, and uncertainty, you and I are connected. The client and coach. That is a powerful connection. I’ve experienced it over and over again, across all these years of working with leaders just like you.

This is what our Creator had in mind - that we deeply encourage one another and come alongside. And THAT somehow makes the daily responsibilities, and grappling with big issues easier to navigate.

As we coach together, you grow even stronger, and that spills over into your team. 

We Have a Shared Perspective for Coaching

In Christian leadership coaching, you and I share several things in common. This helps us look at any personal or professional situation from a unique perspective. 

We hold a common God-Centered Worldview. 

We might be discussing something mentioned above, a vision for the future or a strategic initiative, but we both come with the same framework, and a common language for thinking about the big picture or the topic at hand. 

A Christ-Centered Reference for Ethical Behavior

We hold a common Christ-Centered ethic. There are lots of hard issues to contend with. You are concerned about your behavior and how it plays out in all of your life, work, and leadership. I share that desire to operate from a Christ-centered ethic as well.

A Desire to Continue to Grow Spiritually

We have a desire to grow in our relationship with God. Coaching is not a Bible study, nor a discipleship ministry. Still, you will often initiate spiritual conversation, and discuss how to apply truth to some facet of your work or personal life.

A Naturalness in Speaking About Biblical Truth

It's natural that Christian leaders weave biblical reference into a conversation. It is only natural to anticipate God sparking these conversations so that you can respond to the realities of everyday life and leadership, solidly standing on a foundation of biblical truth.

A Belief that God Cares About Us, Our Work and Our Team

God is not distant. From His creation of humanity, He has always been vitally interested in seeing people do well, and taking the lead role in forming their character. I suspect you tackle tough "people" problems from a compassionate place of understanding.

And where you might be super-critical of your own performance, I coach you how to step back and go easy on yourself, to allow God to do His work. 

The very work we do is part of God's greater plan. Our work is good and has His interest. It is part of His "assignment" for us. Christian leadership coaching helps maximize your part in it. 

Here is a summary of key beliefs that I hold. 

Our Coaching Calls are Confidential

Bottom line? You're dealing with a lot of big stuff. And I suspect it isn't going to diminish. 

As you know, there are some things the leader can only talk to very few people about. Others would have a hard time understanding.

• They might be too quick to open their mouth and come up with a fast "fix," or maybe worse, a harsh judgment. 
• They might take something that was purely thinking out loud, or dreaming about possibilities for the company, and turn it into something that it isn't. And we all know how that works.

Note: Our conversations are private and confidential. 

It takes time to gain clarity and discern a wise direction forward. That's the benefit of a "seasoned" coach who's "lived life," and worked with many hundreds of men and women, just like you.

On this life experience of Gary Wood page, I give a candid but tongue-in-cheek overview of some of my life experience. It may "ring true" with your own experience. I've been there. I get it.

Recap

On this page we have discussed:

• The leaders I serve are trending to longer-term coaching engagements
• What the leaders I serve are most anxious about right now
• Existing issues that create the context for Christian leadership coaching today
• Skills and thinking my clients feel they need to navigate today’s leadership
• How predominant feeling “disconnected” is for so many leaders
• How the benefits of coaching you or your team keep rippling outward to others and the organization as a whole
• Our shared perspective as followers of Christ
• The importance and centrality of confidentiality in our coaching work together

If you are having a rough day with the intensity of your situation, or if you feel like you're on the edge of burnout, try reading these encouraging words of Scripture.