What I learned from Bob Harrington about Coaching Church Planters @ Exponential ‘10

In Mark 8:27-30, Jesus was COACHING! In I Thessalonians 2:11-12, Paul was COACHING!

There are 5 ways people learn: 1) Dictating: tell what to do; 2) Teaching: give info so knows what to do; 3) Mentoring: sharing experience so knows what to do; 4) COACHING: coming alongside, asking questions to draw out answers and decisions and 5) Releasing: letting people go assuming know what to do. A Mentor is one who’s gone ahead and pours back into someone else, but a COACH is one who comes alongside and draws out. Mentoring and Coaching are VERY different! Consulting and COACHING are also very different. A Consultant is an expert role, sets the agenda, gives solutions and is content-driven. A Coach has experise in asking good questions, helps articulate goals and is process-driven.

The 5 R’s of Highly Effective Coaching are 1) Relate: ask about personal/church life; who vs. what; 2) Reflect: share top struggles; 3) Refocus: top 3 areas where need help; 4) Resource: ask for insight in these top 3 areas and 5) Review: review top ideas, suggestions and GOALS!

There are 4 types of effecting Coaching Relationships: 1) One-on-One: where special attention is needed, helpful for emerging leaders; 2) Triads/Trios: increased care and attention, peer-to-peer maximized; 3) Clusters: requires group dynamic leadership, time intensive for individual focus, involves 4-7 leaders; and 4) Groups: involves 8-16 leaders.

Most Church Planters are doing something they have NEVER done before! They need guidance from a Coach who’s done it before. They need help and accountability to be all that they can be! They need a Coach who knows them well and can encourage them to be the best. Church Planters don’t know what NORMAL is; they need someone who does! They feel all alone and need an unconditional supporter. Coached Church Planters are far more successful!

Six Key Things for Coaching Church Planters:
1. Planter must find & receive a Good Coach. Coach should have planted a church himself, so when necessary can serve as a mentor too.
2. Coach needs basic training in the science of coaching and how to utilize effective coaching strategies.
3. Establish a Coaching Covenant/Contract: weekly call 45-60 minutes during pre-launch and for 12 months after launch (emails and resource material beyond that).
4. Coach should visit location and launch team before launch and within 12 months after the launch.
5. Chemistry: planter should know coach really cares for him and that coach will be there for him in a crisis. If chemistry not good, planter needs different coach. Challenge: Planters have never been in a situation before where they were their own boss! Esp. in finances and time management!
6. Predictor of Success: coach with personal success in church planting will sense success or failure. He will often become the key link between the planter and the personal support, guidance, and mentoring that marks the difference between success and failure in a church plant.