Setting the context is a skill that good communicators master. When the context is not set, the listener is wondering, "what are we talking about?" It is as if the listener wandered into the conversation halfway through. A good communicator starts with the context so that the listener can enter the conversation immediately. In this podcast, Brian asks Chad how he is so good at setting context.

Chad Hall and Brian talk about disciplines for getting clients.   Daily Stoke your positivity Coach somebody Immerse into your niche Reach out to someone every day   Weekly Visualize your week - Charles Duhigg wrote Smarter, Faster, Better Make an ask  Add value (from your immersion)   Monthly Read one really good book Show up somewhere monthly Develop one sales relationship skill Reconnect with your purpose

Create a Coaching Retreat for a Group   Brian welcomes Cindi White, ACC, (cindiwhite.com) to the podcast and discusses a recent coaching retreat that Cindi offered to women in ministry.   Cindi answers the questions: What I did well? What I did not do well? What I would do differently? What I learned? How I formatted the sessions?

Providing Hope as a Coach   Hope is in definite need in today's culture. Brian and Chad discuss the need and how coaches can provide hope to their clients.   What takes away hope?  Losing belief in yourself. Losing belief in your context. Low sense of your agency.    What can coaches do to provide hope? Coaching can create agency.  Coaching can make you believe in yourself. Coaching can make you feel better about your context.

Shifting toward Partnerships Scarcity to Abundance (about power) Fear to Freedom (builds on scarcity) Top-Down to Side by Side (Mutual accountability) Category to person Neat to Messy Angie Ward is an award-winning regular contributor to Christianity Today leadership publications. She is a highly regarded teacher and collaborative leader with experience in church, parachurch, and Christian higher education contexts. She holds a Ph.D. in Ministry Leadership from The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary. - angieward.net Angie's newest book I am a Leader: when women discover the joy of their calling comes out March 3rd 2020)

Being your own boss is wonderful, except when it isn't. Chad and Brian discuss the difficulties that must be overcome. -Lack of structure -Easy to overwork -Lack of security -Hard being productive in schedule gaps

Brian's guest on this podcast is Dr. Kathryn Helleman, Director of Institutional Assessment and Planning and Adjunct Professor in Christian Ethics at Winebrenner Theological Seminary.   Brian and Kathryn discuss the nature of ethical positions, dealing with reality, and how to coach around it. They deal with the questions: What tips you off that there may be an ethical position to coach around? When should your ethical position as a coach trump the coaching mindset that honors the client's agenda?

Brian interviews the always energetic Kyle Tubbs, New Church Starts Manager with the Cooperative Baptist Fellowship, on how his tribe has built a successful coaching culture. Kyle talks about how to communicate coaching as a value, diverse ways to put it into practice, where to find money to build coaching, and some areas they are experimenting with coaching. You can find more about Kyle at cbf.net.

Brian and Chad discuss ways to get to the heart of the matter in coaching. Too many coaching conversations just scratch the surface of the issue. The topic as well as the person need to explore at a much deeper level in order to create deep awareness, solid accountability, and a helpful learning plan. Brian and Chad give several do's and don'ts.

Brian interviews Maria Lester, the Credentialing/Program Accreditation Coordinator with the International Coach Federation (ICF). Maria uncovers some of the mysteries of how to gain Continuing Coach Education that works for renewing your credentials with the ICF.

Everybody has embedded theology. These are beliefs that we have that we aren't sure where it came from or even whether we truly believe it. A coach can bring this theology into our awareness and provide a safe place for us to give our own theology further consideration. In this episode, Brian is joined by Dr. Kathryn Helleman, Director of Institutional Assessment and Planning and Adjunct in Christian Ethics at Winebrenner Theological Seminary. Together they discuss how to coach around embedded theology.

The High Performance Pattern (HPP) assessment was created by Dr. Jerry Fletcher, a professor at Harvard. Since his death, the HPP has been championed by Coach Approach Ministries. The HPP honors the fact that everyone can perform at a high level, but the way they get to that level is unique to them. Everyone who has been introduced to this assessment has found it to be profoundly impactful. Brian and Chad began this talk about the HPP in episode # 177 and conclude their conversation here in episode # 179.

Brian interviews David Cooke, the director of CCLC (Certified Christian Leadership Coach) for CAM. David recently wrote one of our newest classes, Coaching Spiritual Growth.   The Gospel of John, chapter 15, talks about abiding in Christ. This is a description for us of spirituality, which encompasses more than the spirit, but also the body and our emotions.    Here are some bullets of the conversation: Not a formula, but a relationship with Jesus and others - move past individuality - coaching is a good step Exploring discontent (# 6 of 10 stops from Barna's book, Maximum Faith) Discovering the next step of obedience (try to move forward on Barna's scale)    You can contact David at [email protected].

The High Performance Pattern (HPP) assessment was created by Dr. Jerry Fletcher, a professor at Harvard. Since his death, the HPP has been championed by Coach Approach Ministries. The HPP honors the fact that everyone can perform at a high level, but the way they get to that level is unique to them. Everyone who has been introduced to this assessment has found it to be profoundly impactful. Brian and Chad talk about the HPP in this episode and conclude their conversation in podcast # 179.

Scott Gress is a professional coach who teaches leaders when to ask and when to tell to get great ministry results. His new book is called A Christian Coaching Guidebook: How to Come Alongside Others for Ministry Results. You can buy Scott's book at Amazon.com. Find out how you can hire Scott to coach, speak, or train at http://www.scottgress.com

The tables are turned this week, as Michael Cheuk, the editor of Christian Coaching Magazine (www.christiancoachingmag.com) interviews Brian on the topic of How Much Do I Charge for Coaching?

Brian and Chad dig into the ICF competency of Designing Actions and geek out on its focus on learning.

Brian interviews Rev Debbie Foster, who is a pastor to pastors, and takes a coach approach to EVERYTHING in her ministry. She makes this bold statement early in the podcast: "I wouldn't still be in ministry today if it weren't for the coach approach to my work." Here are a few bullet points to the interview: Centering in Trust - establishing intimacy - safe space Transition from technical work to adaptive work - more questions, less answers, physically move out of the spaces we are in. Metaphors, painting pictures, allow failure to inform Holding up the mirror - saying what I hear - asking tough questions Making space for the Holy Spirit

Brian was reading Tim Hicks book, Embodied Conflict, and came across the term "Maybe Capacity". Hicks writes:   We can create a type of understanding that allows for the coexistence of mutually contradictory accounts, what might be called a “maybe capacity,” a looser attachment to hypothesis formation that allows us to be receptive to, and to convey our openness to, each party without fully subscribing to their account or to our own internal responses to their account.    That is kind of a mouthful. Brian and Chad break the "Maybe Capacity" down to a level that every coach can use.   Here are some highlights: Get comfortable with not knowing Ask questions that are wide open at the beginning Create a "frame" for the client to design actions  Let the Client assign the meaning and action to the issue (and yet keep them in a maybe capacity)

Brian interviews Ken Kessler about his role in creating a coaching culture in his denomination. Ken is the Director of the Coaching Network for the Baptist General Association of Virginia (bgav.org) They discuss the dynamics of creating a coaching culture. 

Brian and Chad discuss the easy trap of turning a coaching conversation into an interrogation. Too many questions! They explore other ways to create a conversation without the overuse of Powerful Questioning.

Merlin Switzer is the Founder and CEO of Switzer Associates (switzeronleadership.com). He is certified as a PCC coach with the International Coach Federation, and he is our guest today on the Coach Approach Ministries Podcast. His calling is to coach leaders, especially senior leaders and business owners. He believes that if he can impact a leader, there is a rippling effect throughout the organization. The higher the leader is in an organization, the greater the impact.

Brian and Chad discuss the "typical twelve" responses to distress. These are responses coaches should avoid. Advising: I think you should leave the room the second he raises his voice. One-upping: You think that’s bad? Let me tell you about the rages my husband gets into. Educating: I can recommend a really good book that describes what happens in the brain when you’ve been traumatized as a child. Analyzing: It sounds like you have internalized your father’s rages so that your husband’s raised voice triggers that old fear. Storytelling: Did I ever tell you what I did on my honeymoon when my husband yelled at me? Minimizing: Well, at least he doesn’t hit you the way your father did. Sympathizing: I feel frightened when I hear how angry he gets. Interrogating: How often does he go into one of these rages? Reassuring: I’m confident that you’ll find a way to resolve this together; the two of you have been through a lot. Avoiding: Let’s talk about something else, OK? This topic is quite upsetting. Diagnosing: It sounds like you have some typical codependent personality traits. OR It sounds like he has dysfunctional anger syndrome. Judging: It sounds like you’ve made a poor choice in a spouse.

Three types of coaching models are described in this episode, along with clues that might indicate the need for a different model. Also, Chad gives one thing he doesn't like about Abraham Lincoln.

Brian interviews Brian Tracy on how to lead as a coach. Brian Tracy planted the Evangel Assembly church 24 years ago. He has a multiple staff, including a worship/youth pastor, guest services pastor, children's outreach, office manager, and a part-time assistant children's program. The whole staff is trained in coaching.   

Brian and Chad talk about coaching change, transition, and transformation.

Brian interviews Linda Miller on How to Give Feedback. Linda has worked for the last 18 years with the Ken Blanchard Companies as their Global Liaison for Coaching. She is one of the founding partners with CAM.   How to Give Feedback S - Situation B -Behavior I  - Impact N - Next Steps (Moving forward)

Brian and Chad discuss four types of coaching practices. 1. Life 2. Leadership 3. Ministry 4. Missional

Michael Cheuk, editor of Christian Coaching Magazine, christiancoachingmag.com, interviews Scott Eblin about his 3rd edition of The Next Level and the benefits of his Life GPS worksheet.  You can gain full access to Christian Coaching Magazine by paying $15 per year. Your subscription helps with the cost of the production of the magazine and supporting Michael as he creates a great interview each month.  

While standards and boundaries sound boring, this podcast is anything but that! Standards are personal expectations you have for yourself. Everyone has standards about such things as appearance, mates, vehicles, organization, and so on. Standards can be too high or too low. This can cause conflict. Boundaries are what we allow other people to do to us or around us. Boundaries have to be expressed and enforced. Not everyone is going to like your boundaries. Chad and Brian break these down and discuss how they interact.

Travis Guse is a certified strength coach. Travis talks about how his journey came through strengths and how he uses strengths in his coaching. You can find out more about Travis at www.strengthssolutions.org.

Chad and Brian take a break from talking about coaching to talking about something they both have in common -- growing up rural and how that shaped their perspective.

Bob is the Director of Equipping and Spiritual Formation for Ecclesia. bobhyatt.info or [email protected] “Content-rich” coaching is when you know how to do/have done what the client is doing. For younger leaders suffering from all clarity, no perspective. They aren't aware of what they shouldn't be doing and ought to be doing.  For older leaders with no clarity and all perspective. They see all the trees and it becomes incapacitating. They can't bring it to a focus.  For those with specific questions about ministry. Protect the boundaries of the coaching relationship and step into that place of "tell me what to do."     

Without diving deep into the sport of professional basketball, Brian and Chad take a look at the lessons we can learn from Steve Kerr, the head coach of the Golden State Warriors, who have won three championships in five years. Kerr doesn't yell or pace the sidelines. He listens and observes much more than he speaks. He creates an open and trusting atmosphere among some of the highest paid and talented athletes in the world. There is much we can learn from Steve Kerr and apply to our coaching and leadership.

Jane Creswell, MCC is a Co-founder of Coach Approach Ministries.   She spends most of her time working with corporations to create a coaching culture but her covert mission is to bring Christ in those companies.   Under Coaching Presence coachfederation.org/pcc-markers Coach partners with the client by supporting the client to choose what happens in the session. Coach partners with the client by inviting the client to respond in any way to the coach’s contributions and accepts the client’s response. Coach partners with the client by playing back the client’s expressed possibilities for the client to choose from. Coach partners with the client by encouraging the client to formulate his or her own learning.

Triple Loop Learning was discovered by Chris Argyris, a Harvard Professor. We discovered it in Robert Hargrove's book, Masterful Coaching. The three loops are often called by different names, but one set of names are: 1. Action 2. Strategy 3. Identity

PCC Quality Coaching is Your Next Step.   Here are four cornerstone elements that support PCC level coaching:   PCC coaches have a balance between focus and exploration. (ACC coaches typically go one way or the other) PCC coaches are easy to talk to. (not judgmental, conversational, no agenda) PCC coaches create new awareness. (not "what are your options", creativity, risks, stimulant to client thinking) PCC coaches are really good at designing actions (ACC coaches typically only identify actions)

Terry Gurno is the CEO of Terry Gurno and Influence. He is an Executive Coach, Trainer, Author, and Leadership Artist. Terry shares his journey from the pastorate to being CEO of a company to starting his own coaching business. There are lots of learnings along the way. www.terrygurno.com

Lots of people like podcasts about questions, but there is one skill that is more important - listening. In this podcast, Brian and Chad discuss how to be better listeners.

Linda Miller has been with the Ken Blanchard Companies for 18 years! She is their Global Liaison for Coaching. She was also a founding partner with CAM. She shows us how to build trust in any situation.   You can build trust in four areas: Able Believable Connected Dependable

Brian and Chad approach the issue of questions from a different angle. What are some questions you should NEVER ask? Looking to the past - What have you got so far? What have you tried so far? Prescriptive - Have you ever thought about... Judged - Why did you do that? How stupid are you? Really?  Collecting information already discovered - Have you thought about anything that you could do about that? Bad timing - What could you do about that? (at the beginning) What about this is really important? (at the end)

This week we are going to feature an interview recorded for Christian Coaching Magazine by Michael Cheuk. In this interview, Michael interviews Dr. Chris Gambill about his experience with the Workplace "Big 5" Profile. He talks about what the Big 5 Profile is, and how a coach should use it.    Also, as a note, if you're interested in subscribing to Christian Coaching Magazine, you can do so by going to christiancoachingmag.com and paying $15 per year, which not only gives you access to amazing articles on coaching but also helps to support Michael in bringing added value such as this interview.

Often our coaching may feel closer to counseling as our clients show a need for an internal shift. Brian and Chad discuss the distinctions of counseling and coaching and how coaching often is the right approach.

Grace Dyson started coaching during her corporate years. She talks about how she positioned herself within the company as a coach, used coaching in her leadership style, and how she prepared herself to leave corporate and become a full-time coach. Her podcast is The Parent as Career Coach. www.lifedesigncareers.com

After eight years of coaching, Brian decided to look at his coaching hours log to see where his clients came from. With 90 unique clients, here are some observations. Not one client came from my website, reading my blog, or social media. Not one. Ever. My first twenty clients came from wherever I could find them. Eight of my first twenty clients were the key to all the rest of my clients. Working these networks produced multiple clients all at once. Chad and Brian discuss all the results on today's podcast. Based on a blogpost found here.

Angie Ward is an award-winning regular contributor to Christianity Today leadership publications. She is a highly regarded teacher and collaborative leader with experience in church, parachurch, and Christian higher education contexts. She holds a Ph.D. in Ministry Leadership from The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary.   Angie joins the podcast to talk about exploring deeply held assumptions. This is where the conflict really occurs.   3 levels of organizational culture - Assumptions are below the water. Artifacts Espoused vallues Underlying Assumptions Where can people find Angie? @indyaward, churchmatters.com, church chat podcast      

Brian and Chad discuss the GROW model for coaching and walk through each step. This is a deeper dive than you might have already taken. Goals (Future) Reality (Present) Options (What's possible? Discerning) Who, What, When, Will to do it (Designing Actions)

Jane Creswell, Co-founder of Coach Approach Ministries, joins the podcast to share her insights on the new PCC markers provided by the International Coach Federation.   Previous Jane Creswell podcasts #086 Learn Group Coaching from a Pioneer #017 A Missionary to the Corporate World #018 Introducing Coaching Into a Fortune 500 Company