Introduction to Transformational Coaching

Coaching has become a significant part of Personal and Executive Development in recent years and provides substantial benefits for people who are seeking to make changes in their lives. Some coaching is a simple change process of establishing and achieving personal goals. For other people the coaching process results in higher order change that transforms the way people live and work.

Transformational Coaching

There are two ways that people learn. The first is linear incremental learning in which people learn skills and abilities by building stepwise on previously learned skills. However while learning new skills what does not change in this type of learning is the person. Transformational learning occurs when the person changes their view of themselves and the world in which they live. They may not learn a new skill but they will learn to offer their skills in more effective and efficient ways. Spiritually this type of transformational learning is called, enlightenment, conversion or being born again.

Skill and competency development is often a linear incremental process that is common in many forms of coaching. As people develop their skills they incrementally learn new techniques and competencies to improve their performance. For example, a Preacher may be trained in a variety of competencies to improve their preaching. Transformational learning when a person experiences a leap of awareness. For example, a Pastor may discover their identity as a Preacher which transforms the power of their preaching. While their preaching skills may not change, parishioners may describe the persons preaching as having more authority and conviction.

Transformational learning typically occurs when people clarify their values and identity and awaken to a deeper sense of personal purpose. These new understandings have the power to transform people's lives. In our coaching we use a series of appreciative inquiry based strategies that we call the Appreciative Way to empower people to transform their lives.

For more information about our appreciative approach to transformational coaching please see:

• Appreciative Coaching
• Coaching Services
• Coaching Agenda
• Coaching FAQs

Coach Training

In addition to providing Coaching, the Clergy Leadership Institute also provides appreciative inquiry based Coach Training for those who would like to develop their coaching skills. Our Certificate in Appreciative Coaching program is especially oriented toward training clergy to coach: peers, staff, and volunteers; and psychologists who are interested in coaching clergy and consulting to congregations.