Coaching can be a daunting task, especially if you’ve never been coached yourself. Very few of us have been fortunate enough to receive any coach training. You might feel like you're standing at the bottom of a steep mountain, wondering how you're ever going to reach the summit. It's like looking at a blank canvas with a paintbrush in your hand, unsure of where to start.

Don’t let that stop you! At CREO we want to help equip you to get off to a good start because coaching is so valuable to the person receiving it.

With God’s grace and help, and a little bit of coaching guidance, you'll be able to confidently coach missional ministry leaders to transform the dreams God has placed on their hearts into reality.

A Simple Model

The 5C Model is a simple coaching framework I learned from an awesome ministry coach named Mac Lake. I’ve tweaked it to serve us. 

You can use this template as your coaching agenda every single time you coach someone. As you gain experience you will know how to tweak it and make it your own. Have fun!

Along with each word that starts with the letter “C” I’m giving you some powerful coaching questions to use . Don’t be afraid to ask a follow up question after they answer. If I’m stuck and don’t know what to do I just ask, “What else?”

I’m also giving suggested time for each “C” for a 60-min coaching session. Times will vary based on the need. The biggest mistake I make is to take too much time on the first two C’s and running out of time to either dig into what issue/challenge/opportunity the leader wanted to be coached on or to make a really good action plan before the session ends. Sometimes both suffer. I use the timer on my phone to keep me on track.

Remember: as a coach your job is to ask great, open-ended questions and then be a great listener. Your goal is to draw out what the Holy Spirit is already saying to them so it gets very clear to them, and then create an action plan to be obedient. Think of yourself as a sounding board, not a megaphone.

The 5C Coaching Model with Questions

1)  CONNECT – (5-10 minutes) Use this time to build rapport, especially in the first few   coaching sessions.

Q: How are you?

2)  CELEBRATE – (5-10 minutes) Use this time to review what’s happened since the last time you met.

Q: What has God done since we last met that you are celebrating?

Pray: Thank God for what He has done and pray for the Spirit to guide you both in the coaching session.

3) COACH – (30-45 minutes) Use this time to help the leader get clarity on what the Spirit is saying to them.

Q: How did completing your action plan from last time go?

Q: What would you like to focus on for the rest of our coaching session today?

Q: What challenges are you facing?

Q: What do you sense the Spirit is saying to you about this?

Q: What are your options?

Q: What actions do you need to take between now and our next coaching session? Take 5 minutes to create an action plan that is both specific and measurable.

4) COMMUNICATE –  (3-5 minutes) Use this time to make sure you know what’s next in the coaching relationship.

Q: How committed are you to the action plan you created?

Q: When and where will we meet for our next coaching session?

5) CARE – Use this time to review the session and pray for the person you are coaching.

Q: What was the most important thing you got out of today’s coaching?

Q: How can I pray for you?

 As a coach, your role is to cooperate with the Holy Spirit to draw out of the ministry leader what the Spirit is already saying to them so they can obey with confidence. This 5C Model is designed to help you do just that.

Let me leave you with one final tip for when you’re getting started coaching someone:

Create a Clear Coaching Agreement

A coaching agreement is important because it sets the framework for the coaching relationship. It establishes the expectations, boundaries, and goals for the coaching process. To create a clear coaching agreement, include the following:

Meeting frequency: Establish how often you will meet with your ministry leader. Depending on the goals and needs of your ministry leader, you may want to meet weekly, biweekly, or monthly.

Session length: Determine the length of each coaching session. Sessions typically last between 30 minutes to an hour, but the length can vary depending on the needs of your ministry leader.

End date: Set a specific end date for the coaching relationship. I would recommend three months, six months or one year. This will help provide clarity and accountability for both you and your ministry leader. You can always renew if you need more time.

By establishing a clear coaching agreement, you can ensure that both you and your ministry leader are on the same page and working towards the same goals. It also provides a structure for the coaching process and ensures that you are meeting regularly to make progress towards achieving the ministry leader's goals.

As a coach, you can be used by Jesus to help his people live out the vision he’s given them for ministry. It’s a beautiful part of the risky adventure of following Jesus.

Glen Stevens and his wife, Jill, have four adult children and reside in Fargo, ND. There Glen serves as the founder of Teleion Coaching. You can find more about coaching work at www.teleioncoaching.com.