Posts by Mark Howell
Coaching FAQ: What Is the Role of a Coach?
Another very frequent question is what does a coach actually do? Better, “What is the role of a coach?” It’s a great question…and it’s actually where you should start in building an effective coaching structure. Here’s the sequence: Determine in advance what the role of a coach is. Clarify what a win for a…
Read MoreCoaching FAQ: What Are the Essential Ingredients of an Effective Coach?
One of the most frequent questions is, “Do you have to have led a small group before you can be a coach?” It’s a fair question. But I think it’s really part of a larger question. “What are the essential ingredients of an effective coach?” is a much better question. Here’s what I’ve found to be…
Read MoreCoaching FAQ: How to Jump Start Coaching When You Launch Small Groups
Yesterday we talked about the trouble many of us have when trying to add coaching retroactively to an existing small group system. What to Do When Your Leaders Don’t Want Coaches offers a simple three step approach to that issue. Today I want to talk about the flip side of that predicament: How to jump…
Read MoreCoaching FAQ: What To Do When Your Leaders Don’t Want Coaches
One of the most frequent observations (nice word for ‘complaints’) is that coaching doesn’t work because existing group leaders almost always reject retroactively assigned coaches. If that’s an observation you’ve made…you’re not alone. If not a no-brainer, it is a fact of small group life. I often point out that it’s a form of survival…
Read MoreSkill Training: How to Develop More Leaders
Help! I can’t find enough leaders! I don’t know about you…but that is the most common complaint/concern I hear when I talk with small group champions. And the most common question I hear is “How can I find more leaders?” I’ve written a number of articles in answering that question. You can see them right…
Read MoreTop 5 Articles on Finding More Small Group Leaders
“I can’t find enough leaders” is easily the most common concern for small group champions everywhere. Here are five of the most popular articles I’ve written on identifying and recruiting small group leaders (okay…there’s actually seven): 5 Keys to Finding More Leaders Design a System That Identifies Potential Leaders Leader Recruitment Nuts and Bolts Finding,…
Read MoreIntroducing: Steve Gladen and SmallGroups.net
Like very few others, Steve Gladen is a name in small group ministry that you probably already know. But you may not know about some of what he’s doing. Here’s my best shot at an overview: As the Pastor of the Small Group Community at Saddleback, Steve’s given leadership to a small group ministry that’s…
Read MoreThings I’ve Learned Never to Say
I’ve learned there are some things I should never say. That’s true in life, too. But right now I’m talking about small group ministry. There are just some things that you should never say. I think most of the things you should never say are pretty obvious. But some of them might surprise you. From…
Read MoreTop 10 Articles on Small Group Coaching
Over the last several years I’ve written a number of articles on small group coaching, an essential but challenging grouplife building block. Here are my top 10 articles on coaching: How to Build an Effective Coaching Structure (part 1) How to Build an Effective Coaching Structure (part 2) How to Build an Effective Coaching Structure…
Read MoreTop 10 Reasons to Take the Summer Off
After last weeks Top 10 Reasons Taking the Summer Off Is a Bad Idea, I thought I’d better provide equal representation. Here’s my best shot at the flip side: After a full year together, it’s definitely time to move on to a new group of friends. My summer schedule is so jam-packed with my family…
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