Why Every Pastor Needs a Coach

If you took a look at a cross-section of high performing individuals in our culture today – people like athletes, entrepreneurs, thought leaders, even pastors – one of the most common traits you’d find is that they have a coach!

The reason why is simple:

Because growing leaders make a strategic decision to invest in themselves.

And one of the best ways you can invest in yourself is to invest in a coach who will help you see and create the future you were made for, and help you overcome the forces of delay, doubt, and distraction which work hard to keep you tethered to the status quo.

How Coaching Has Impacted My Life and Leadership

It was a coach who first introduced me to the idea that I was MORE than a pastor.

I was in my first year of pastoral ministry – in my late 20’s – with three young kids at the time. We would add two more just a couple of years later.

He was a member of my church, around 65 or 70 years of age. His name was Don.

One day Don reached out to me and explained how he was a coach who worked with organizational leaders, entrepreneurs, and even a few pastors, to help them grow in their life and leadership.

He asked me about the goals and dreams I had – not just for my pastoral ministry – but also for my life and family.

And what kind of plan I had for my own personal growth.

Umm…plan? I didn’t have a plan for my own personal growth. Why would I need one?

Then Don shared something that I had never thought of before. He said…

"If you want to achieve greater levels of success in your life, you need to become the kind of person who is capable of achieving that success."

What he meant was that if I wanted to achieve the God-given potential that I was capable of, I would need to grow myself and develop into that potential. It wasn’t going to just happen on its own.

Then Don asked if I would be interested in working with him in a coaching program to help me do just that.

I’ll admit that I was a bit skeptical at first, and unsure about the time and financial commitment that would be required.

But then I realized this…

If I wasn’t willing to invest in myself and my future…who would?

Six Things a Coach Can Do For You

Through my coaching relationship with Don over many years, I discovered first-hand that there are six things that a coach can do for you:

1. Believe in you and help unleash the potential within you
2. Be a sounding board – a safe place for you to share your frustrations, dreams, and passions
3. Create clarity around the dreams, values, and passions that are most important to you
4. Help you get unstuck and take permission to live the life you were made for
5. Open your eyes to see new opportunities and create an abundance mindset
6. Uncover the pathway to achieving your God-given goals and dreams

Don died last year at a ripe old age. At his funeral, I had the privilege of sharing a few words about what he meant to me. Honestly, I could have talked for a long time.

As I reflected on the many “gifts” Don had given me through my coaching relationship with him over the years, I realized that the greatest gift was how he helped me cultivate an abundance mindset.

This abundance mindset opened up a whole new world of possibility within me. And it also grew my faith and trust in a limitless God who created a huge potential within me.

That’s one of the reasons why I’ve committed myself to sharing what I’m learning and experiencing, to help others uncover the pathway to the life, impact, and income they were made for.

Is Coaching Right for You?

Are you a pastor at a crossroads right now…Not sure which direction to go?

Maybe you have unfulfilled dreams and passions that you’re not sure what to do with?

Or you wish you could find a way to create more income for your family?

What if you could have someone to talk things through with? Someone who’s been there. Who understands what it’s like? And someone who believes that you really can live out your greatest calling?

If that sounds good to you, I invite you to apply for a FREE 30-minute coaching session.