Leadership Coaching: The Disciplines, Skills, and Heart of a Christian Coach

by Tony Stoltzfus

Leadership Coaching is an essential tool for anyone who wants to learn to coach or improve their coaching skills. Written by a top Christian coach trainer, it is filled with real-life stories, practical tools and application exercises that bring coaching techniques to life. Part I is an in-depth look at how coaching fits with the purposes of God. Starting with key biblical concepts about how God builds leaders, this book goes beyond proof-texting to present an integrated, values-based paradigm for leadership coaching. Part II uses a hands-on, interactive approach to show you how to coach. Utilizing the seven key elements of effective coaching as a framework, each facet of the coaching relationship is explained in detail. Then follow-up Master Class sections help you internalize the key concepts and try them out in real life. Leadership coaching is a great introduction to a powerful way of helping others grow.

Genres: Leadership, Christian, Business, Nonfiction

318 pages, Paperback

First published August 4, 2005

About the author

Known for his wealth of practical tools and engaging writing style, Tony Stoltzfus has authored 21 books, launched several training organizations and is a founding figure in the Christian coaching. He's coached leaders worldwide through their most painful experiences in life for over 25 years.

Tony's full line of books and training aids is available at Leadership MetaFormation, a training organization that uses innovative, experiential learning methods to help you engage God from the heart.

Visit The Heaven Experience to enjoy his latest work, a journey to heaven that combines scripture and science for a breathtaking, mind-bending look at heaven and the incredibly good God behind it all.

Reviews

[Tony Stoltzfus · Rating 5 out of 5]

Actually, I wrote this book!

[Todd]

This is the textbook for the coach training I received. I recommend it for anyone interested in learning how to be a better friend and/or just ask better questions, but especially if you're interested in growing in the skill of coaching.

[Jay Winters · Rating 3 out of 5]

Book Closing: I started reading this book as a follow up to a coaching seminar that I had been to, to keep some of the ideas that were presented at that seminar clear and in-focus for me. Essentially, that's the best way to use this book. Stoltzfus himself recognizes that leadership coaching is "like basketball" - and while a conceptual understanding of basketball might be helpful, the best learning is going to come on the court.

That said, the book does an excellent job of hitting those fundamentals and ideas in a way that isn't tiresome to someone who has already been through the training.

I recommend this book to anyone who has been to or is planning to go to some other training on the subject of "Leadership Coaching" or "Christian Coaching".

Book Opening: I recently attended the Florida-Georgia District Coaching Clinic and this book came along with the seminar. I really enjoyed some of the ideas about "coaching" as opposed to leadership styles that have more to do with "management" or even "counseling". No tool is perfect, and coaching has some weaknesses as well, but the strengths I found have been useful in several scenarios. So I'm getting deeper by reading the book.

[Jonathan Wylie · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book is very detailed. I am thankful that I read it. Not that I think I will ever become a coach but because it has great advice on asking good questions. I enjoy talking to people but I realize my problem now. I talk to much about myself and do not listen to others well. I am going to use this book as a resource over the next two months to start learning how to ask people better questions and then train my heart to care about their answer and not just think about the next question.

[Christine Wingate · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was an excellent introduction to life coaching. Even for those who don't particularly want to be a formal life coach, the underlying principles are ones that can transform even everyday conversations. I especially enjoyed the author's detailed explanation of good listening, questioning, and goal-setting strategies, and I found myself applying some of those strategies in conversation even before I'd finished the book. The book itself is engaging and relatively easy to read, with plenty of examples and practice exercises scattered throughout.

[Larry · Rating 5 out of 5]

Used as the text book by Bridges Coaching. I learned a great deal from this book to grow me as a coach. Even if you aren't looking to be certified, these principles are great for you as a parent, co-worker, boss, spouse, friend, mentor, you get the idea. The scattered exercises throughout the book are helpful in putting to use the tool or teaching presented. I will be rereading this on occasion to continue to absorb the principles taught by Tony.

[Thea Smith · Rating 5 out of 5]

For any Jesus followers who are involved in or might like to be involved in coaching & inspiring others to, an absolute must have on your bookshelf. But only when you’ve read it, highlighted bits, written notes in the margins.

[Peter Twele · Rating 2 out of 5]

Ok, I only got to page 40 and decided I had read enough. He covers the material, but Stoltzfus' writing style just didn't captivate me ... far too repetitive, and not engaging. There are other books on this topic which are much better written.

[Graeme MacDiarmid · Rating 4 out of 5]

Really appreciated the consistency in the content, and heart for the people we serve in coaching. Lots of content to learn from and explore over time and seasons of life. Great book. Dependable, and approachable.

[Ieva · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good book on coaching. Good insights.

[Kyle Haack · Rating 4 out of 5]

Helpful resource for leading and coaching.

[Vickie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Over all a good book with several good points

[Ben Gomez · Rating 3 out of 5]

Read for school. Better than I expected. Author has the worst haircut I’ve ever seen.

[Mary · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very insightful. I really appreciated the perspective.

[Jaketha · Rating 3 out of 5]

Here's an excerpt:

God initiates change in our lives - He has a personalized change agenda for us and is always speaking and arranging circumstances to bring it to our attention.... The Holy Spirit is pretty skilled [too] at getting our attention.... In coaching, we say:

Change is more a function of motivation than information.

Prioritizing motivation over information makes an enormous difference in how we do one-on-one ministry.... When we believe the most important factor in change is motivation, we ask questions and encourage people to come up with their own solutions, because we know that buy-in and motivation are highest for steps that we develop and choose on our own. That's why the coaching approach of listening and asking questions is more effective at fostering change than the advice-giving approach. Coaching prioritizes buy-in and motivation over giving people the right solution.(p. 15)

[Trish Johnson]

LIFC 304 Leadership Coaching

KEY
"Being a transformation coach begins by being transformed."
Leadership Coaching, The Disciplines, Skills, and Heart of a Christian Coach

" I've developed a training philosophy based on the idea of disciplines, skills and heart. While all three are needed for maxium effectiveness, the heart of a coach is the foundation." page 2

The three most important disciplines of beleiving in people are listening, asking questions, and keeping responsibiloity with the client. page 55

[John Rossitto · Rating 5 out of 5]

I found this book of great benefit to my own life. It offered new scriptural insight in a number of passages. Tony offers a broad range of training skills to learn and practice. He provides a very basic business model, encouraging the coach for further training and a level of professionalism in the form of certification. I will be rereading this so as to become more skilled and am referring it to church leaders and youth pastors I come in contact with. I highly recommend This book.

[Jon Port]

Awesome approach in believing others are capable of solving their own problems. Coaching is a goal oriented, coachee focused, and relationship based method to using listening and question asking to help others form action plans and reach their goals. The ideas are the coachee's, unlike other uses of the word "coaching" that are floating around...which I call "coaxing", not "coaching." I have something underlined or earmarked on every page.

[Cassandra Noelle · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book has revolutionized the way that I view all my relationships; coaching, counseling, friendships, etc. Certainly gave me a lot of ideas and I plan on practicing and implementing the things that I've learned. This will be one of those books that I keep close-at-hand always for easy reference.

[Cheryl · Rating 5 out of 5]

The absolute best book on Christian life coaching I've read so far!!! I LOVE this book. For a full review, please visit my blog Leadership Coaching book review

[Dkovlak · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a very good book. There are lots of new concepts for coaching. This will definitely improve our coaching techniques as long at it is practiced and used. Old habits must be broken and new habits learned. The person who uses these techniques will definitely become a better Servant Leader.

[Richard Fitzgerald · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is an excellently written instruction manual for leadership coaching from a Christian perspective. The principles are clearly laid out. The examples are relevant and clearly explained. The exercises guide you through the understanding of how to actually coach.

[Tony · Rating 1 out of 5]

The book had biblical undertones, but was not written with that mindset. It was part of a course that assisted me in being better at active listening. It was useful. Like with many products we should, "Eat the meat and spit out the tones".

[David · Rating 3 out of 5]

A solid book on coaching. This is the sort of book that is worth returning to, as it is essentially a course on coaching. If you are wanting to learn how to coach people in your work or ministry, check it out.

[Larry · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a great book and one that I am having a few other guys reviewing. It's one that I would highly recommend for all leaders. Great mentoring book to learn how to skillfully craft questions.

[Juan Carlos · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is one of the best training books I´d ever read on christian leadership coaching. It is transformations, experitencial, and well written

[J.C. Thompson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great book. Very practical information on coaching in ministry. I picked this one up based on an Amazon recommendation and am so glad I did.

[Stephen]

A must have book for all leaders

[Hadassah Tate · Rating 3 out of 5]

Good and found it effective when put into practice. Overall very helpful for ministry.

[Adam Fleming · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the best book in the business. The only reason I don't give it five stars is that I reserve those for the top 100 novels ever. Which I haven't gotten to posting yet.