By Kailene Coffin
As Christians, we see the “coaching process” occur in many areas of our life. Typically, we see this as discipleship in our churches and small groups. As teachers and Christian educators, coaching and discipleship are very similar and go hand-in-hand. In fact, discipleship and coaching do have several areas of overlap:
1. They are both a process, and we must enter them intentionally
2. Both help us change and instigate growth
3. Both require collaboration with others.
Let’s discuss this further:
1. They are both a process, and we must enter them intentionally
For a coaching experience to succeed, both entities must be invested and agree to enter the process. You do not just accidentally fall into a coaching process, just like you do not accidentally fall into discipleship. Both take an intentional step and commitment to the process.
When only one party commits, the process is not nearly as productive, and this goes for both discipleship and coaching. My dad used to say, “You can’t want it more for the other person, than they want it themselves.” There has to be an intentional agreement between both parties.
2. Both help us change and instigate growth
In discipleship, our life’s goal is to be more like Christ. Becoming like Christ is not something we can achieve, check off our to-do list, and “arrive” at the destination because it is an ongoing transformation. This mirrors the coaching process: As teachers, we never “arrive” and get to check off our list that we have become the most supreme master teacher of all time. We always have something new to learn. Choosing to enter into a coaching cycle means you desire to grow and value another person’s support in your process. Coaching and discipleship are truly about supporting others through intentional growth and change.
3. Both require collaboration with others.
I will be the first to admit that it would be easier and more comfortable to stay in my classroom, make my lesson plans, and use the tools and ideas that I have always used. Just because something is comfortable does not mean it is correct. For example, think about the process of working out. This process is far from comfortable because you must push your limits and tear down your muscles to build them back up. Tearing muscles does not sound comfortable at all!
However, when you are in that process, you see results and progress.
Another thing that is not comfortable is letting coaches and other teachers into our classroom. Though this isn’t comfortable, this also produces results.
Proverbs 27:17 says, “As iron sharpens iron, so does one man sharpen another.”
This picture of being sharpened is what we should desire to be as teachers and as Christians. We do not want our skills and effectiveness to be dull. A dull ax will take much longer to cut down a tree, just like teaching without coaching makes it harder to grow your craft. I encourage you to invite others into your classroom to be coached and observed.
In discipleship, we are being transformed into Christ by intentionally seeking a relationship with Him, keeping ourselves in the process, and being in fellowship with others. With coaching, we open our doors to allow others to help support, inspire, and train us. Sometimes it may be uncomfortable, but like working out, it is always worth it because of the growth it produces. If you seek to grow or desire for your teachers to grow, I encourage you to seek out coaches and opportunities that exercise intentionality and collaboration.