Unlock Growth with the COACH Model in Ministry
This past year, I was introduced to something called the COACH Model in ministry, developed by Keith Webb. I’d always thought good ministry leadership was about being prepared with the right information, ready to give the right answers when needed. This process taught me to rethink some of that.
Why the COACH Model in Ministry Works So Well
The COACH Model centers on asking open questions instead of handing over solutions. It pushes people to think through their own challenges and find their own way forward. It’s built on active listening and honest conversation.
James tells us to be quick to hear and slow to speak (James 1:19). That’s basically the whole model in one verse. When I sit down with a ministry leader, my job isn’t to solve their problems, although I naturally lean that way. My job is to listen well enough that they could work through them for themselves.
I’m still learning this process as a habitual ‘fixer,‘ but I’m getting better. The goal is to work through real challenges together, prioritizing their workload and building their confidence as they take on more responsibility.
What surprises me most in this process is how much more room is left for the Holy Spirit to work. Jesus promised the Helper would teach us and remind us of everything he’d said (John 14:26). I can watch this promise play out through the COACH model better than a generic meeting.
Celebrating Small Wins and Learning to Sit With Silence
One of the best lessons is to celebrate small wins instead of rushing straight to the next challenge. Then take some time to set a few SMART goals, providing clarity about their next steps.
Silence has always been hard for me; letting the other person think for a moment to formulate responses. I kept wanting to jump in with a suggestion the second a conversation went quiet. I have to learn that waiting gives people room to think. In turn, they’re able to respond honestly, because they’ve established the right words needed to describe a given situation or concern.
What the COACH Model in Ministry Taught Me About Leading Well
Another component to the model is to ask three simple questions when trying to solve a problem:
- What happened?
- What does that mean?
- Now what do we do?
That three question framework gives a marker of how far the leader has come and gives clear next steps forward. It also reminds us that follow-up matters just as much as the conversation itself.
As a whole, coaching reminds us that ministry works best when we trust people to find the answers God has already put in front of them. Asking good questions unlocks more growth in someone than any advice we could hand them.
Give It a Try
If you lead in ministry, I’d encourage you to try the COACH Model yourself. It’s a simple tool that helps your team grow spiritually and practically.
Join the Conversation, Share Your Thoughts
- How do you encourage reflective growth in the people you lead?
- What helps you balance listening and guiding as a leader?
- Could the COACH Model change how you approach your next ministry conversation?
