TransforMissional Coaching

“Ask me about how I’m doing, not just what I’m doing.”

As we coach younger leaders, that request comes up often, and for good reason. In a world where change is continuous and communication is instantaneous, paying attention to the inner life of a leader is even more important than helping them become more productive. The heart of our approach to “transformissional coaching” focuses on coming alongside leaders in a holistic and relational way. What do we mean when we use the word “transformissional”? Coaching, as we see it, enables transformation, which in turn leads to missional ministry. Great coaches come alongside leaders so that leaders can be transformed into the image of Christ and join Him on His redemptive mission in our world. Entering and experiencing the Great Commandment goes together with expressing and engaging the Great Commission. You can’t have one without the other. That’s why we coined the word “transformissional.”

At the heart of our transformissional approach to coaching is what we call our “4 C’s”…a way of helping us pay attention to what God is doing in the leader’s life. It looks like this…

As we listen, we discern how God is at work in four key realms:

1. Call—how the leader is becoming aware of their gifts, skills, experiences, ministry passion and fruitfulness so they can best live out God’s purpose and calling for their lives.
2. Character—how the leader is developing godly character as they grow spiritually and relationally. At the heart level where only God sees and habits level where everyone can see, character makes or breaks us.
3. Community—whether at a church or in another faith gathering, helping the leader understand effective ministry environments, authentic relationships, effective equipping strategies and practicing hospitality is vital for the health of the group as they “do life together.”
4. Culture—helping the leader engage their culture redemptively is essential. Most Christians know how to “do church” but don’t know how to “be a missionary”. Great coaches help leaders recognize the opportunities to “good news” those around them by creatively meeting needs and demonstrating God’s love in practical and verbal ways.

As we coach, we’re listening to what “C” we are in and then ask questions to help the leader discern what God is doing, discover the options of addressing those possibilities and then helping them choose the course they believe is God’s best steps for them. Often we’ll cover more than one “C” in a coaching conversation…but that’s usually what the Spirit is doing. He’s always at work shaping us to become more like Jesus and showing us how to join Him on His mission…and that’s the heart of transformissional living and coaching.