Some Resources for Coaching

 Christian Coaching by Gary Collins (Navpress, 2001.) One of the first texts on Christian coaching, it is an easily read, common-sense introduction presenting the basics of coaching. With a background in counseling and clinical psychology, Collins emphasizes personal development issues.

Coaching Life-Changing Small Group Leaders: A Practical Guide for Those Who Lead and Shepherd Small Group Leaders by Linda J. Miller and Chad W. Hall (Chalice Press, 2007.) Organized around a discussion of key coaching skills, this book is for pastors and church leaders who want to incorporate coaching into their ministries. Focused listening and precise questioning are core skills. Chapters on incorporating coaching into ministry leadership and coaching in the church are particularly helpful.

Christ Centered Coaching: 7 Benefits for Ministry Leaders by Jane Creswell (Lake Hickory Resources, 2006.) Less a “how-to” manual than an explanation of ways coaching can aid ministry leaders, this book could help those trying to decide if they could benefit from being coached, or those considering making coaching available to others. The book is especially effective in relating the principles of coaching to scripture.

Leadership Coaching: The Disciplines, Skills, and Heart of a Christian Coach by Tony Stoltzfus (Coach22, 2005.) Written with the training of coaches in mind, this book provides many practical tips, skill-development exercises, and lots of examples. A key message is that a radical belief in people is at the heart of coaching.

Leadership Coaching: The Disciplines, Skills, and Heart of a Christian Coach edited by Sharon Ting and Peter Scisco (Jossey-Bass, 2006.) This handbook primarily addresses coaching in the secular workplace. It integrates discussion of coaching with other supervisory practices within the context of CCL’s leadership development framework that emphasizes “support, feedback, and accountability.” There are chapters on coaching women, cross-cultural coaching, coaching senior executives, short-term coaching tasks, and coaching teams. This book is intended as an add-on to the introductory chapter on “Formal Coaching” found in CCL’s Handbook for Leadership Development published in 2004.

International Coach Federation ICF (www.coachfederation.org) is a non-profit, professional organization that represents personal and business coaches. It deals with issues of standards and accreditation for coaches and serves as a resource for coaches and those looking for qualified coaches.

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