Leading by coaching

Mike Bonem Feb. 22, 2019

my saved content

VIEW AS
A PDF

“Our staff members have never been taught how to supervise others.” It’s a common cry that I hear from senior pastors and executive pastors of large churches. Sometimes they also acknowledge that their own training in this critical skill is lacking.

Why do I label this skill as critical? Because the work of the church is done by the people that are being “supervised.” And why is “supervised” in quotes? Because I believe the word is part of our problem.

Supervision has connotations of control and power. It suggests that those who are being supervised don’t have enough knowledge to do the job on their own. That’s why I prefer coachand coaching.

While a coach may also have some degree of power or superior knowledge, the mindset is different than that of a supervisor. Consider these three attributes of a good coach in sports:

1. Coaches care about their players. 

They genuinely want each individual on the team to thrive. Players are not interchangeable parts. A good coach sees them as people who are made in God’s image and treats them accordingly.

2. Coaches expect improvement. 

You can care about players and, at the same time, push them to be their very best. In fact, to not expect their best is uncaring. So good coaches work individually with players to help them take one step at a time to reach their full potential.

3. Coaches want the team to win. 

Coaches care about individuals, but their ultimate responsibility is the success of the team. This statement may sound similar to a supervisor’s mindset, but there’s a difference. 

Coaches and supervisors both make hard calls about people. But the foundation of care and attention from a coach means that tough decisions are easier to understand and swallow.

Whether you’re working with paid staff or volunteers, the message is simple: less supervising and more coaching is a winning formula.

Photo source: istock 

my saved content

VIEW AS
A PDF

Mike Bonem is an author, consultant, speaker, church leader, businessperson, husband and father. He has an MBA from Harvard Business School and a breadth of experience in ministry and business, including 11 years as an executive pastor, consulting with Fortune 100 companies, and leading a start-up business. This article was first published on MikeBonem.com. Used with permission. Learn More »

• What can Christian leaders learn from a 20-something YouTuber? Quite a lot… (by Zac McGowen)
• Steps to Launching Your Personal Workplace Ministry (by )
• Perpetual disappointment (by Richard Blackaby)
• Working vs. waiting: living in the tension that transforms leadership (by Tim Tucker)

Free eBook

Steps to Launching Your Personal Workplace Ministry

Have you ever felt the pull to full-time ministry work as a missionary or pastor? If not, you can still make a Kingdom impact without quitting your current job. In this eBook, you will learn the four essentials that can change your perspective of work, your workplace, and most importantly, your heart.

Download Now