by Gary Reinecke | Jan 30, 2022 | Uncategorized |
The Most Important of All Christian Coaching Competencies
Abiding in Christ is the most important of all the Christian coaching competencies. What we uncovered in our original research, documented in Christian Coaching Excellence, is that it’s the one competency that separates good Christian coaches from great Christian coaches. As we abide in Christ, we help our clients abide in Him, partnering with the Holy Spirit for greater significance in our coaching relationships, life, and ministry effectiveness.
I’ve mentioned in previous blog posts that I have taken this competency seriously. Primarily because in my initial 360-degree Christian Coach Assessment in November 2009, abiding in Christ was my lowest score. More recently, I’ve had a growing desire to experientially understand what spiritual formation entails and how it connects to spiritual direction. This is where the two worlds intersect–Christian coaching and spiritual direction, with abiding in Christ as the common denominator.
As a result, I am participating in a three-year cohort in the doctoral program at Fuller Seminary. Additionally, I have enlisted the services of a wonderful spiritual director who has given me the gift of listening prayer, friendship, and support. Through that relationship–and a triad I meet with every other week–I am beginning to get a glimpse into the nuances of abiding in Christ that only comes through the crucible of life and ministry. It goes beyond head knowledge into the more subtle places in our souls.
Back to the point.
Abiding in Christ deals with the extent to which a coach seeks the Holy Spirit’s guidance at each stage of the coaching process and how much a coach depends on God in discerning the needs of those being coached.
As we approach the Lenten season (March 2 – April 16), let’s not miss the opportunity to instill a renewed desire to know God as we prepare for Jesus’ resurrection. It is so easy to let this season–and the opportunity to increasingly know God–slip our attention. It is all too easy to find ourselves celebrating the Resurrection without acknowledging what comes before: Lent, a reflective and repentant seasonal journey on the church calendar.
In coaching, as we abide in Christ, we will begin to sense a higher purpose in our coaching, a lighter weight to carry, and a deepening of the souls of those we coach. The benefit to our clients? They will, hopefully, begin to think more about God and less about themselves. One among many, many benefits.
How to develop your ability to Abide in Christ?
There is not a simple answer to this question. I mentioned how I am zeroing-in on this competency above myself, but that is just my approach. Your approach will be unique to you. If this is an area that surfaces as a growth point for you, then I would suggest you consider the Coaching Excellence GrowthTrack.
I am extending the registration date through February 15. This cohort offers a unique combination of the 360° assessment, personalized one-on-one mentoring, and webinars aimed at raising your effectiveness as a coach. We will use the newly released book Christian Coaching Excellence to guide participants along their coaching development journey.
If you are looking for a way to increase your coaching effectiveness, this is a great opportunity! And, an added bonus is the 10 hours you can apply to your coach mentoring requirement with ICF!
Pursuing ICF Certification?
Our goal is to make this the best 10 CCEUs (Continuing Christian Education Units that qualify for International Coach Federation Coach Mentor credits) you can get! Learn more at ChristianCoachingTools.com.
Registration for this cohort closes on February 15th. Do you want to explore this opportunity further? Read more HERE. Register HERE!
May God bless you as you listen to His direction for your life and ministry in 2022!
The post How to develop your ability to Abide in Christ? appeared first on InFocus.
by Gary Reinecke | Jan 23, 2022 | Uncategorized |
Back in 2007 I was launching InFocus. I remember a conversation with one of my founding board members, Linda Miller, who is a world-class coach and highly regarded in the coaching world both inside and outside the church. She is a pioneer and was influential in the establishment of the International Coach Federation (ICF). When we met, she was fully engaged with coaching for the Ken Blanchard Co. (her title, if I remember correctly, was “Global Liaison for Coaching”). She graciously accepted my invitation to be on the board, and I remember a question she asked me as I was expanding my coaching practice. She asked, “Where are you on your certification?”
- First, I was unaware that certification was a thing.
- Second, I was curious what was involved.
So I researched ICF and began my journey to become a credentialed coach. Over the next decade I accumulated the necessary hours of training, documented coaching hours, and navigated many exams to demonstrate my skills as a coach. In 2018 I received the highest level of certification as a Master Certified Coach.
The reason I share this is to point to the need to get better and better as a coach. Is certification necessary? That’s a question only you can answer (and one I am more than willing to discuss with you if you are interested). What I would encourage you to do is to take your coaching development seriously. The question Linda asked me was like a jolt to my system and the catalyst I needed to begin my journey.
For me, it has been a worthwhile journey as I have honed my craft through the process. In addition, I’ve taken advantage of the 360° Christian Coach Assessment which provides “teeth” behind your coaching development by providing a baseline of your strengths and weaknesses in comparison to other coaches.
Last week I mentioned that I partnered with Dr. Bob Logan to bring you the Coaching Excellence GrowthTrack. This cohort offers a unique combination of the 360° assessment, personalized one-on-one mentoring, and webinars aimed at raising your effectiveness as a coach. We will use the newly released book Christian Coaching Excellence to guide participants along their coach development journey.
If you are looking for a way to increase your coaching effectiveness, this is a great opportunity!
And, an added bonus is the 10 hours you can apply to your coach mentoring requirement with ICF!
Pursuing ICF Certification?
Our goal is to make this the best 10 CCEUs (Continuing Christian Education Units that qualify for International Coach Federation Coach Mentor credits) you can get! Learn more at ChristianCoachingTools.com.
Registration for this cohort closes on January 31st. Do you want to explore this opportunity further? Read more HERE. Register HERE!
May God bless you as you listen to His direction for your life and ministry in 2022!
The post Coach development resources for experienced coaches in 2022 appeared first on InFocus.
by Gary Reinecke | Jan 16, 2022 | Uncategorized |
Two New Coaching Insights for 2022
2022 is upon us and I imagine that, like many of us, you have a fresh, new vision for the year ahead. The Lord is using this season to refine and sharpen my own vision for coaching, helping others to become better at coming alongside new disciples, leaders, and teams to follow Jesus during a very challenging time in our culture. As I reflect on 2021, I recall story after story of leaders who are learning to navigate a very fluid season in the local church. This could be, perhaps, the most challenging season in our lifetimes.
Most recently, I was “zooming” with a group of leaders who are courageously leading their congregations during this time. We were discussing an upcoming retreat (which had been postponed from the fall) and each leader shared their “Why?” for the retreat–the real need they wanted to address. Almost in unison, they said, “To be in a space with other leaders to connect, face to face!”
I echo that sentiment!
Most leaders I speak to are living in the tension of trying to please two (or more) groups of people in their church. Inevitably, this is stressful and unsustainable. Moreover, leaders need the comfort and security that comes with being part of a community. One of my goals this year is to encourage my friends, neighbors, and clients to take the initiative to connect in meaningful ways.
This is one reason I am excited for the year ahead!
Two new coaching insights worth considering:
- How can we create learning communities of substance during this season while continuing to battle a pandemic?
- What do leaders who have completed foundational coach training need next in their development?
Without going into too much detail here, I want to share two resources with you in light of these questions.
Coaching Excellence
I partnered with Dr. Bob Logan to bring you the Coaching Excellence GrowthTrack. This cohort offers a unique combination of the 360° assessment, personalized one-on-one mentoring, and webinars aimed at raising your effectiveness as a coach.
Pursuing ICF Certification?
Our goal is to make this the best 10 CCEUs (Continuing Christian Education Units that qualify for International Coach Federation Coach Mentor credits) you can get! Learn more at ChristianCoachingTools.com.
This cohort closes on January 31st. Do you want to explore this opportunity further? Schedule a Zoom call with me – CLICK HERE!
May God bless you as you listen to His direction for your life and ministry in 2022!
The post Coach development resources for experienced coaches in 2022 appeared first on InFocus.
by Gary Reinecke | Jan 8, 2022 | Uncategorized |
Introducing a FREE six week series (Wednesdays at 8am PST starting January 12, 2022) specifically designed for ministry leaders!
How is your health today compared to this time last year?
Did your plans get derailed (again!) by the demands of life and ministry?
Do you feel empowered or defeated, proud or ashamed of the state of your health?
Do you have a vague sense of what you wish to change, or do you have a solid plan in place for your physical, mental, and spiritual well being in 2022?
Putting a microscope to our own habits isn’t always an easy or comfortable task. But doing it in a safe space with other sojourners can take the edge off (and take us off the edge!). Creating a plan is the first order of business, and we want to help you do just that. You are invited to the Healthy Habits Workshop – it’s completely free and designed specifically for ministry leaders!
Here’s what one pastor recently shared about his health journey:
If I am going to take care of people, the only way I can do that is if I am taking care of myself. Too many times pastors are at the beck and call of staff, congregants, and anyone who has a need, putting ourselves on the back burner.
When I began to give attention to my health I had so much more energy, my sleep was better, I was able to be more alert and present with people everyday.
It took me from a place of feeling mentally oppressed, to feeling like I could make a difference in people’s lives.
In this free six-week series specifically designed for ministry leaders, you will have time and space to:
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- Discover your “why?” Why do you even care to be healthy? What difference will it make to the quality of your life and ministry? What has God called you to, and how can you powerfully step into that with your mind, body, soul and strength?
- Evaluate your current reality and discover some simple approaches to shore up areas that are holding you back and draining your energy.
- Learn basic strategies to upgrade your physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual well-being. It will touch on the personal aspects of creating habits that will help you sustain what you begin. Ultimately, this is a great way to kick-off 2022.
I will be partnering with my colleague Micah Dodson (Thrive Church Planting), along with Gina Reinecke (OptaVia Health Coach) to help you create a plan to help you thrive in 2022.
HEALTHY HABITS WORKSHOP SERIES
WEDNESDAYS, JAN 12, 19, 26, FEB 2, 9, 16 at 8:00am PST/11:00am EST
TO REGISTER, EMAIL US AT admin@infocusnet.org
Workshops are presented in a Zoom format in weekly, one-hour sessions. The workshop is limited to 15 members to maximize interaction among the participants. We do not promote any organization or program, and we are not affiliated with a particular religious group. The presenters are volunteers who provide information and support. They are not licensed to give any medical or psychological advice in health, wellness, or other fields.
TO REGISTER, EMAIL US AT admin@infocusnet.org
