Is there a blind spot in your character?
Have you grown apathetic in your spiritual growth during the pandemic? Record low church engagement indicates that you wouldn't be alone. Now is the perfect time to look for blind spots and recommit to being transformed into the image of Christ.

Written By Robert E Logan

Christian Coaching Pioneer, Strategic Ministry Catalyst, Resource Developer, Empowering Consultant : Logan Leadership

Character counts

The principle of not being able to pass on what you don’t have yourself applies to a habit of developing godly character. If you have relaxed on engaging with scripture, prayer, and/or involvement in church community, you are likely seeing the same pattern among your coaching clients.

As one of the behavioral expressions under the broader coaching competency of Abiding in Christ, character development amounts to a commitment to developing godly character and a basic maturity in Christ. Coaches who demonstrate this behavioral expression live lives that are generally in line with Scripture. It involves listening to God, considering what he is calling you toward, and then doing it. It’s not perfection; rather, it’s life with a general tilt toward loving obedience. 

Godly character is often demonstrated best under trying circumstances. How you handle difficult situations—and how you grow during those seasons—serve as one of the best tests and catalysts for character development. When under pressure, can you show grace? When in the wrong, can you repent? When facing difficulties, can you wait on God? 

abiding in christ character development

Why it’s hard to prioritize ongoing character development

James, the brother of Jesus, wrote, “Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says” (James 1:22). We grow in godly character when we take in what God is saying to us—whether in scripture or in prayer—and actively live that truth out in our lives. 

Cultivating a godly character is impossible without making connection with God a priority. To do this, we need to find ways to experience him and listen to his voice. We need to find ways to do this that align with who God made us to be. Often when people have difficulty engaging in spiritual practices, it’s because we are trying to do it in ways that don’t fit well with who we are… like David in Saul’s armor. 

Want to grow to be more like Christ? Start here

If you are serious about reengaging in your own character development, here are some great questions and practices to help you.

  • How do you hear from God? List all the ways you have heard God’s voice. Write down as many as you can. Then consider which of those might be helpful to make into regular practices as you try to listen to his voice. 
  • Talk with your coach or a peer coach, and walk through these questions together: 
  • Where are you finding success in connecting with God?
  • What does not work well for you? 
  • How has God wired you to connect with him? 
  • Given your current stage of life, what might be some helpful ways of engaging with God? 
  • What environments are conducive to connecting to God for you? 
  • Journal: When have been the times in your life when you have grown in character the most? What do you think contributed to that growth? What does that tell you? 

Coaching Tip: Ask a few people close to you the following questions. Then really listen to their answers. 

  • In which fruit of the Spirit do you think I could grow most?
  • In your experience, what is my biggest barrier to being open to changing? 
  • When is a time you have truly seen me repent or change? 

Resources

Character Development is one of 55 behavioral expressions critical to Christian coaching. If you are determined to offer the very best as a coach, we highly recommend Christian Coaching Excellence. In it, you will find detailed explanations of the 9 Christian coaching competencies and each behavioral expression as well as rating norms to help you determine how well you perform in them, proven ways to grow in each, coaching tips, and more.

If you want an accurate picture of your competence as a coach, there is no substitute for the 360° Christian Coach Assessment. This online tool is the only assessment for Christian coaches that is backed by thorough qualitative research. It clearly and accurately identifies your coaching strengths and areas for improvement. Learn more HERE.

Photo by Aaron Burden on Unsplash

Cover Photo by Freddy Kearney on Unsplash

Discover the 5 Best Ways to Grow as a Coach

You are busy with many other responsibilities. How can you take your coaching to the next level instead of just continuing to dabble in coaching? We can help you discover a clear path to move forward in your journey toward coaching excellence.

Accelerate Your Journey to Become the Best Coach You Can Be

By Robert E. Logan and Gary B. Reinecke

You aren’t willing to settle for just okay—not when your calling is as important as empowering others through coaching. But how can you accurately gauge your own effectiveness? Why not try an informed approach to coach development? Instead of working harder, work smarter.

Coaching through chaos  

Change is happening at lightning speed. It’s hard for leaders to keep up and stay on mission. Coaching is more important than ever.

Too many ways to grow as a coach? Try this instead.

You have all these areas you want to grow in as a coach. But you know if you try to do everything at once, you won’t be able to do any one thing well. It can feel overwhelming. How can you go about making genuine, lasting change in your coaching skills? Here’s a way to slow down enough to make sense of the chaos and start putting the pieces together. 

Coaching Leaders to Build Team Unity

The most vocal of the political divisions within many churches may have died down at this point, but it’s still pretty black and white out there with little room for constructive conversation. One of the best ways for leaders to fight division is by modeling unity.

5 Steps to Increase Ability to Focus

There’s a lot going on in the world. Everything is designed to get your attention and there is very little that you can do anything about. It’s stressful and frustrating and makes it hard to focus. But focus you must and so must your coaching clients.

Help Ministry Leaders Make the Most of their Online Presence

Everything thing is done online these days and it’s not always good. But that is where people go first so its important your ministry leaders get it right. Here are 5 ways to make the most of online ministry.

The Essential Skill of Mental Flexibility

The world just keeps getting more complex. It’s hard to keep up. Mental flexibility is more important than ever. The good news is that mental flexibility is a skill that can be taught and honed. Here’s how…

Coaching leaders in times of rapid change and transition

The last few weeks have demonstrated a key principle of change: Change happens FAST, transition is slow. It takes time to understand what has changed, to develop new rhythms, and to build the new normal. These are not easy transitions. With a few waves of a pen, the world has undoubtedly been thrust into a season of transition. And the changes are far from over.

7 Questions to Boost Creativity

Has your client been doing the same events for years even though they are getting diminishing results? They are in a ministry rut. Here are 7 questions you can ask to boost creativity for more effective ministry. 

When Your Coaching Client is Wounded

Sometimes new—or old—wounds hold clients back. Here is what you can do to help and what to do when you can’t.

Coaching Through Decision Fatigue

The world is changing at breakneck speed. For many ministry leaders, new innovations are seen as roadblocks to their mission and vision. Constantly navigating around them is exhausting. Here is how you help those leaders keep moving forward.

Drilling down for insight

Giving feedback is a learned skill.  Helping someone grow in this area can be a game changer. But you must slow down and remain present and ask reflective questions.

Building Cultural Awareness for Effective Coaching

If you are working to make your coaching client list more diverse, the best place to start is with a refresher in cultural sensitivity

Coaching for Resourcing 

Fighting a scarcity mindset by helping clients see God’s provision.

A Military Strategy for Coaching Ministries?

Big changes are needed to halt the decline of the Church in America. However, even small changes can be met with heavy resistance. Many pastors have tried to implement healthy changes and admit that it feels almost impossible. Here is a strategy that might help.

The Organized Coach

If you are coaching more than a handful of people, you know it can get hard to track all the moving parts. Here’s how you can keep it all organized.

Helping clients define discipleship

Here’s a great exercise I picked up from Dave DeVries. If your client wants to make not just disciples, but disciplemakers– people who can make other disciples– here is an exercise to try… 

Avoiding vision whiplash 

If your coaching client’s ministry is constantly evolving their staff and congregation may be experiencing vision whiplash—and it’s painful. Here’s how to help…

What to do when your client is stuck 

You have a coaching client who just isn’t moving forward on their goals. It happens to all of us. These 7 principles will help you troubleshoot and realign to gain momentum.

Before you give up on your coaching ministry

Something feels off in your coaching ministry. Attendance is down, excitement has waned, things feel stuck and you’re wondering if it’s just not going to work. Before you close up shop read this.

 Revitalizing energy for coaching

If you aren’t seeing results, your energy for coaching will become depleted. Let’s look at how well you are empowering the people you are working with.

Choosing the right coach

Many—if not most—of the people who have tried coaching and say it doesn’t work have all made the same mistake: they chose the wrong coach.

An Exercise to Define Your Ideal Client

Whether you are just starting your coaching practice or you have been at it for a long time – knowing your ideal client is so very important.

How to tell if you are a great coach

Anyone can say they’re a great coach. In fact, read through coach bios online and it sounds like they all are great. But you know that’s not always the case. How can you know where you really stand?

What sets you apart from other coaches? 

What makes you unique as a coach? Hint: It’s not your area of expertise.

Principles for a thriving staff

Senior Pastors carry the responsibility to guide their church toward healthy growth. It’s a big red flag if their staff is failing to thrive. 

How is your follow-up question game?

You know that good coaching requires good questions—and you may already be good at asking those. But what about follow-up questions? Even those with strong coaching skills can sometimes fall short when it comes to a skill commonly called piggy-backing. 

How to Make Change Stick

As a coach, you know change is hard. That’s why people need the help of a coach when making real change stick.

Working with Clients to Declutter Time

Spring is here… and so is spring cleaning! But have you ever thought of spring cleaning applied not just to your house and garage but to your time? Your calendar? Your list of responsibilities?