Christian Coaching Competencies

CCNI Competency #3 – Establishes and Maintains Agreements

Partners with the client and relevant stakeholders to create clear agreements about the coaching relationship, process, plans and goals. Establishes agreements for the overall coaching engagement as well as those for each coaching session.

  1. Explains what coaching is and is not and describes the process to the client and relevant stakeholders.
  2. Reaches agreement about what is and is not appropriate in the relationship, what is and is not being offered, and the responsibilities of the client and relevant stakeholders.
  3. Reaches agreement about the guidelines and specific parameters of the coaching relationship such as logistics, fees, scheduling, duration, termination, confidentiality and inclusion of others.
  4. Partners with the client and relevant stakeholders to establish an overall coaching plan and goals.
  5. Partners with the client to determine client-coach compatibility.
  6. Partners with the client to identify or reconfirm what they want to accomplish in the Session.
  7. Partners with the client to define what the client believes they need to address or resolve to achieve what they want to accomplish in the session.
  8. Partners with the client to define or reconfirm measures of success for what the client wants to accomplish in the coaching engagement or individual session.
  9. Partners with the client to manage the time and focus of the session.
  10. Continues coaching in the direction of the client’s desired outcome unless the client indicates otherwise.
  11. Partners with the client to end the coaching relationship in a way that honors the experience.

Christian Coaching Application

The emphasis of this competency is a clearly articulated agreement that performs two primary functions:

 a. It establishes the boundaries and guides the expectations of the coaching relationship as a whole.

 b. It also sets the framework for each coaching conversation.

From a biblical perspective, an agreement between two parties has been historically referred to as a covenant during which God was solemnly called upon to witness the transaction. (Genesis 31:50) While the emphasis on God’s presence as a witness has diminished, the spirit of “covenant” remains, upholding the integrity of our pledge to act in the best interest of our client.

Therefore, as we enter into agreement with clients, we pay careful attention to the needs and expectations of the client, give full disclosure of our faith, and explore the client’s assumptions or concerns. At the same time, we assess our professional ability and internal value system and how these might support or hinder the client relationship. The ultimate goal for the coach is to fully stand for our clients in a way that supports their growth without compromising the tenets of our faith. (Proverbs. 22:29; 22:21)

In addition, the CCNI credentialed coach:

  1. Establishes the “rules of engagement” for the coaching relationship addressing matters of faith as they relate to the overall coaching agreement as well as to the individual coaching sessions.
  2. Is comfortable referencing the client’s relationship to God and to his call and plan for the client.
  3. Contracts with client to choose if, when, and how they would like to incorporate prayer into the session.
  4. Requests permission of client to explore possible connections between topics and faith elements that can be considered during coaching conversation.

Possible Questions

  • How does faith play a role in your life? What role does it not play?
  • Who in your life warns you of pitfalls and places of growth in Christian practice?
  • What areas of spiritual growth are you most interested in?
  • In what way do you want to be held accountable to yourself and your Christian walk? How might you want me to support you in areas of faith?
  • What faith elements might be important to consider in connection with this session’s topic focus?