The Coaching Agenda

Within the field of Coaching, often as a way to distinguish coaching from psychotherapy great emphasis is placed on the idea that coaching is free from the Coach's agenda, unlike psychotherapy where the therapist provides the agenda. We think this is an erroneous distinctions on several levels:

Firstly, competent psychotherapists always used the client's agenda as the basis for providing psychotherapy. Secondly, we believe as coaches and psychotherapists it is impossible to be agenda free.

We are all unique and have our own biases and perspectives on life and how life should be lived. Rather than trying to maintain an illusion of being agenda free, competent coaches are explicit about their coaching agenda and how that agenda may be of benefit to the client.

Our Coaching Agenda

• Our agenda is to help you create your agenda and live the life you desire.
  Because you are personally responsible for your life, we help you as the client to set your coaching agenda.
• We coach with integrity and consistency with our values.
  If your agenda or goals violate our values we will discuss the conflict with you. If we cannot find a place of shared value we will help you find alternative coaching or resources for you to achieve your goals. Our values are best stated in our Ethical Guidelines for coaching.
• Our practice is based in the Appreciative Way
  We are committed to living and working appreciatively. Please see Appreciative Coaching for more information about coaching from an appreciative perspective.
• The outcome of coaching must be an increase in love, freedom, competency, and justice.
  We coach from an understanding of life that is formed by our Christian faith and as it is expressed in contemplative spirituality. We do not require that our clients share these beliefs nor do we impose these beliefs on our clients. We do however expect that the fruit or outcome of our coaching is that our clients grow in their ability to love, have a greater sense of personal freedom, and competency in their desired skills. We also expect that the coaching outcome will be just, that is, the pursuit of the Client's goals will not leave others disadvantaged.

For more information about our coaching services please contact Rob Voyle.
 
Click to obtain and review a ".pdf" copy of our Coaching Letter of Agreement

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.