You Might Need a Coach

Hey, this is Tim Pratt Jr. and I want to welcome you to the Student of Life Podcast. Listen, we're going to get into so many transferable truths throughout the content of these episodes that I believe God is going to use to help you apply, because he's going to reveal what's already been there the entire time. Enjoy. Yo, what's up?

Today's your host, Tim Pratt Jr. We're going to be talking about coaching today, basically like leadership, personal development, business. Agile, you know, I'm an Agile Delivery Manager, Senior Agile Delivery Manager. Uh, but just the value of coaching this— so if you've been tracking me on any of the leadership podcasts, you, uh, podcast, let's just say, uh, you know that I'm real big on coaching. And I believe I did a, a podcast a while back, man, it had to be almost a year, a year and a half or two ago. It was kind of like, I believe, like one of the first within those first 10 or 15 episodes that I did with creating this. And maybe it was even longer than that because I think I've been doing this— I've been blogging for almost 6, 7 years. And I think I launched my podcast like a little bit over 2 and a half years ago.

I don't know.

You can go fact check me. But I know it was one of those early podcasts. But hey, you live, you learn, you evolve. And I wanted to jump on here kind of to piggyback off of the last episode dealing with the leadership development plan. So like I said, coaching is near and dear to my heart. And it's something that I do want to dive into today. Uh, so I'm at 3 points, 3 points. Uh, not gonna really get into any scripture references, uh, today, uh, but 3 points that we're gonna track with, uh, when it comes to coaching, or why you should look into getting a coach, whether it's your fitness, whether it's your, like I say, leadership, management, uh, whether it's a personal development, a financial coach. And this does not mean, you know, take the place of counselors and therapists and certified financial planners and so on. But like I say, just why you need a coach, why you should think about getting a coach. So for me, I have been a part of some coaching cohorts. So recently, over the last probably year and a half, uh, let me say, my daughter is 1, uh, she'll be 2 in October. So I was introduced to a coach, and I've had coaches, you know, mentors or whatever, like throughout my, uh, life. But, uh, it, it just reignited the value because of how it helped challenge me, uh, in my maturity as a leadership, um, Agile delivery manager, Scrum Master. It really challenged me in that area. And then I started looking at it in the context of ministry. So I started getting involved with cohorts in some of these intensive programs, uh, just strictly dealing with leading people in, in the agile space, you know, or whatever, like software development and so on. And I think like one of the last parts that I'm actually going to get into is either systems or enterprise, uh, because I really want to go through the framework on how to take the experience I do have and then a little that I, you know, the areas that I'm coursing weekend, and I just want to like sit with someone and allow them to challenge me in that area in an intensive, and then take that and get into like the 6-month coaching that come with it and really dig in and even take it deeper. Uh, so all that being said, like, it's like I'm rambling here. Uh, let's really get into just the meat of this episode. Like I said, on why I believe that you should really take this to heart, and I believe that it's going to really challenge you to look into being coached. Uh, so first— excuse me— first Let's take a step back. And a lot of us, like, we understand the value of coaching in a lot of different spaces, especially sports. Uh, like, you know, with me coaching my kids, you know, I coached my oldest son Cameron, I'm coaching my middle son DJ now, and I truthfully, um, recognize the power of helping people step into their potential no matter how skilled they are. Because truthfully, like, where my son is at, I mean, some of the kids just in his age now, I, I could never— probably they, they would mop the floor with me, just straight up, especially with some of the, the, like, the leg issues and stuff I've been having. But nevertheless, uh, that doesn't mean I can't add value to their life from a coach perspective. Now, uh, I'm not a basketball guru by any means when it comes to coaching, Uh, but there are things that I can still contribute from just, like I said, coaching standpoint of just understanding and knowing the game. Um, and, uh, but I don't do it every day. But just in this example, you know, you think about somebody that is dedicated to their craft and they would get with them, even if those players could run circles around them, that coach that's dedicated to that discipline could really help them take their game to even new heights, even though, like I said, they probably can beat them one-on-one or something like that. Especially when you take a coach who's been doing it for years, is because of what they see, what they understand. They're not just coming at you from a theoretical standpoint, but they have seen this over and over and over again. So they have a model, they have different frameworks they can learn about that person and take them through. Uh, so point number 1, and like I said, if you're a pastor or just a leader, and just really anybody can value, value from this— a lot of coaches out here, but you want to be careful. So You want to make sure that no matter if you're in business, whether you are in ministry, whether like, say, you're personal development, fitness, you want to make sure they have the right experience. There is nothing worse than hiring a fitness coach that doesn't know anything about fitness, that's never helped anyone on their fitness journey. Uh, now I know everybody has to start somewhere, and you know, that just takes time. You know, for me being a leadership coach, I had to learn a lot of stuff on the job and try to start coaching people throughout the organization. Then I transitioned to ministry, and now I'm trying to transition into, like, small business and, you know, medium-sized business and things, and just help coach people one-on-one. I love it. I mean, if I could take anything that I would love to do every day, all day— uh, well, I'm not gonna say all day, every day, but I would say 80% of my day— I would love to just coach people one-on-one and small team coaching. It's not coming in with all the answers. It's just truly being dedicated to your discipline and having like a competent knowledge of it where you can be able to take people on a guide. You can take people through a framework or arc and really just help them become better. For example, if I never ran a business before, if I never have led in ministry in any kind of capacity, Yes, I can read books. Yes, I can sit up on someone, but I don't have any real-world experience. So how can I really coach you? So you want to make sure people have the right experience to fit you. Um, my therapist, you know, told me one time, he was like, sometimes you don't need that coach or that person that's finished with the book. Sometimes you need a person just a few chapters ahead in life. So in other words, if I'm in chapter 3 or 4 in the book and it's a 20, uh, chapter book, Maybe I just need someone that is a 7 or 8. They're not necessarily just an expert, but they can coach me because you have peer-to-peer coaching. You don't always have to think of it in terms of a professional coach. Now, I recently have went and got, you know, credible certifications and just training in actual agile coaching and leadership. And like I say, one of the last things I want to do is get a professional at enterprise level, not just in agile, but coaching uh, like I say, out outside of that agile and technology space. But a lot of stuff transfers, to be honest. Uh, like, so you have life coaches out there as well. Uh, so you, you want to make sure that you find somebody with the right experience. You want to have someone that has, you know, struggled in that capacity. They have applied what they are trying to impart in you. Impartation. You, you want them to have, uh, what is it, some dirt? You want them to have— you want them to smell like mud, to be honest, because you don't want someone just talking to you from, like I say, just regurgitate— uh, I'm sorry, regurgitating content, or just like, hey, you know, you should try this and try it. And it's like you're a test dummy to them. Like I said, I know everyone has to start somewhere, but you, you, you want to make sure that, like, okay, what are you credible for? Because you, you— somebody fresh out the game, truthfully, they still should have some experience in what they're doing. I mean, if I never dribbled a basketball, I never threw a football, How can I go try to coach a player? So at first, I mean, I can even get out there and just volunteer, you know, coach a peewee football team and give away my time and learn. Then now, okay, at least I have something where I can say, hey, you know, I haven't— I haven't coached at a, um, a junior high or high school or college or, of course, you know, professional NFL level— but level, I'm sorry, level— but at least, you know, stepped out here in the peewee where I've dealt with kindergartners through 6th or 7th grade. So you want to make sure that, like I say, what type of experience are you looking for? But based on where you are in your career, your life, you might need someone that has that college and pro-level experience. Like I said, you might can't afford to say, oh, I like— I need to see your resume, your portfolio, and how you have— I need to see your clientele. So the right experience, you want to make sure this person has the right experience. I mean, when it comes to just pure leadership, servant transformational leadership, I can study that stuff all day. You can fact-check me with my wife and people that I'm associated with. Project management, yes, I love it. Well, I'm not gonna say I love project management, I like it, but I am a pure agilist to heart. You have to have some planning and roadmaps and things like that, and, you know, control. But I like to say I like the adaptive value and I like to help people. I, I want to help people. We live in a knowledge age, so my My goal at work is just truly to sit with people and help them see a perspective when I have that coaching hat on. Now, when I'm actually asked to step up and contribute from like a team player standpoint, that's different. But what I'm learning is that I have to kind of navigate between that coaching stance, you know, am I a teacher, am I a mentor, am I a guide, am I a facilitator? I've really had to grow in these areas, and you can name a few others. You know, some say expert, I hate that word. Call it. I don't know if I ever call myself that, you know, whatever. I just like to say the lead learner, the lead learner. Uh, so make sure that the person has the right experience that you're looking for. Uh, point number 2: can they get results? Can they drive results? Now, this is something that I had struggled with for a long time in my career. I knew a lot of the right things to say. I knew I could get results, but I was so afraid to speak up because I was so afraid of failure. And I was living in insecurity of like, man, if I fail, if I don't get them the results that they see as necessary, then I'm done. Like, that's what I used to tell myself. Like, I'm not going to speak up or challenge really anything or even try to help this person get the necessary results because I'm gonna be fired. I'm gonna be out of there. And man, when I looked at how many people make mistakes and how many people fail forward, I was like, wow, why did I waste so much time thinking that? So what I'm trying to say is that you want to— you want a coach that can help you get results. You want someone that can take you and put you on a plan that you— that you're trusting them in a way and saying, okay, they're coming to me, they're going to help me grow in my leadership. If I'm trying to become a better leader, or lead myself out of a job, or I'm trying to grow in my management, if I'm trying to grow in my project management skills, if I'm trying to once again grow in my finances, I'm trying to grow in my personal development, I want— I'm trusting in them to some degree that yes, I still have to do the work as a coachee, but that coach, they're going to help me create a plan and we're going to be able to track and see and measure those results, measure that success. Are they really helping me step into becoming the best version I can be? Because if they can't help you get results, they can have the right experience, but they can't help you get results, then it's, it's pointless. Kind of going back to that sports analogy, um, you know, if I take someone and yeah, I kind of teach them the framework and I could teach them from a standpoint of, um, the logistics of the game, but I can't help them become better in certain areas of their game and then teaching them how to navigate that in-game speed and guiding them, then they're, they're just not going to be, um, they're not, they're not going to be results-driven in the game, if that makes sense. They're not going to be producing in the game. So I want to take that experience and say, okay, now how do I take this and also help this person, uh, get the results that they need? Same thing in business. You know, Michael Hyatt, I believe he said it, uh, best. Uh, if you hire a true business coach, if you're an enterprise coach, or like, like I said, a real deal professional, um, professional coach that's accredited and not someone out here just self-proclaimed— and I'm not saying, you know, some people don't need all of that, they, they, they are about their life— but for the most part, you want to fact-check, man. You, you want to see um, the fruit of their labor is what I'm trying to say. But he was saying it's one of the best investments that you can ever make because they are committed to seeing you reach your highest potential if you truly buy into that coach. So can they really truly help you navigate and get to things faster, like not reinventing the wheel? Going back to the coach, um, that I said that I had, you know, a few coaches I had, it's like they help expedite me in certain areas. I didn't have to make those mistakes. Because like, I would— like, it's like my line of thinking, like, when I'm, when I'm going through things and when I would like to bounce things off a coach, whether it's a professional coach or peer-to-peer coaching or my manager, just my leaders, I, I mean, you know, it's a multitude of counselors, uh, but it's like they help me consider things or like challenge me in this space. Like, man, wow, I didn't think about that when I was thinking about going down this path, but it might be worth making an investment because a lot of times when we put money involved in it, we're getting a coach or bring somebody in. Like I said, whether it's our ministry, business, or just our personal development or whatever, professional development, a lot of times when we put skin in the game, uh, we'll be more committed versus wasting people time. So you want to be— you want to make that investment, and you want them to basically help you, uh, you want them to make it somewhat easier and faster for you to get results is what I'm trying to say. So they have to be able to help you get those results that you need in life and whatever you're trying to accomplish. And then last but not least, and oh my God, you know, we can't talk enough about this in just the agile space, framework, framework, framework, framework. I mean, it, so depending on you in the context of your life, Uh, that's going to kind of determine the way, uh, how that coach approaches you with the framework based on the context of what you're trying to accomplish. Uh, like for example, sometimes people are coached well in one-on-one settings. Like, it's basically like, hey, you know, you need a lot of one-on-one settings, let's focus on this area. Some people do well in facilitated groups. You know, you'll see coaches create mastermind sessions or mastermind classes. Now that's an actual popular popular thing, but it's up to that coach and the combination of knowing you and figuring out how you're wired and, and making sure y'all have had that handshake. Like, you know, will they be good for you? Will they challenge you but at the same time respect you? Are they sensitive to the areas that you need but at the same time can still tell you the truth? You know, can show you the areas that, like, you know, you need to improve, but at the same time not breaking your soul or breaking your spirit. But you still want them to be able to challenge you but champion you as well. Uh, and in a certain capacity, you want them to encourage you, but at the same time, like I say, not hesitant to correct you, because it's all about, uh, taking you through the right framework to get the, like, the necessary results that you need. So one-on-one coaching, for example, you know, we learn this thing called a coaching arc, you know, how to guide someone if we actually have that stance on it. Now it's two different philosophies that I've studied when I went through ACC and then when I went through more of— I can't think of it right now, but I'm not going to say it. But it's a BA coaching model because it's— I'm just not going to say it. But so two different things, two different frameworks. But at the same time, I've seen a lot of things that overlap where, you know, one of them is like, no, you should make a suggestion. You should always help that person arrive to it through powerful questions. Then you have another one where it's like, no, you can switch and navigate through those roles and make suggestions. Sometimes be careful with them, but you can put on that expert head. Sometimes you might put on the teacher head or the guide, or like I say, mentor. Uh, it just depends on what you're comfortable with and, and understanding, being fully present in that. And so that's going to dictate a lot of kind of how that coach navigates you through that framework, and it could change.

Change.

As you evolve and that coach evolves, the framework can change. So sometimes it might look like, hey, you know, I'm gonna build you up and then I'm gonna bring you into more of a facilitated session with other people, other leaders. But it's going to come down to like how that coach sees it and, and how they want to navigate that space, uh, with the toolkits that they have. So do they use the right frameworks for you? Can they, can they lead you in that capacity? Like, can they put— do they have to put you through a necessary program? And can they track you in a way to say, okay, this— I can actually see how this framework is helping me become a better leader or a better manager or better in my fitness or just better in general, a better pastor. And I'm not just talking about like a pastor in the context of like, oh well, how can a coach make me better? Like, let's not overspiritualize it. I mean, there are things from an organizational and ministry operational standpoint that you have to be. Yes, the Holy Spirit is all-knowing, he's powerful, he's working through you, but there are things that you still have to do. The calling is from God, but he works through people. He, he, the Holy Spirit works through people to help you develop the necessary gifts that you have. So let's not overspiritualize, say, well, only God can make me better. I mean, yes, the Holy Spirit is working through you, but you can still benefit from a coach, and a spiritual coach, someone that understands the faith element. You wouldn't want no one that doesn't believe in God coaching you. So this kind of goes back to that, that handshake, you know, and you probably would. You might say, I want to talk faith. But for me, if I was a pastor and I hired a coach, I would want a faith-based coach. I would want them to understand the practical side of things, you know, that they have some success in, in the business, in the marketplace. But I also want them to understand the spiritual element of it as well, because I do believe more coaching needs to be in the ministry. I mean, I think the businesses are still trying to figure it out because it is one of those positions like, where's the value really in this? Because you have to have someone that's really dedicated to seeing the best in people. And that's where, you know, I live at. I believe that's why I'm balanced with my teams. Um, kind of right now, the way it's worked out, um, I have very good visionaries from, from my perspective, people that, you know, can cast vision and, uh, you know, basically kind of give high-level strategy. I'm around very good executors that leads development teams. Uh, so I don't, you know, I try to make sure they have what they need and I try to remove roadblocks for them, impediments. But if I can help make the people better that's working under them or with them just through pure one-on-one coaching and sometimes team coaching, I can continue to, you know, as long as it's not a personnel issue where the person is just like either incompetent or they just don't want to do the job or don't care. Um, yes, I'll try to make an attempt with it and I have had success at it and I have, I've failed at it in a certain capacity because it's just like, I'm like, man, I can't, you know, nothing is really working. And maybe I'm just not the right coach, or maybe this person just don't want to do it. Uh, but then again, like I said, I'm, it's that situational awareness, it's that, that mindset to say, okay, what do I need to do? And look at this from a system, a holistic point, not just the individual, but how does this fit in the system of things? And then zone back in and build that person up and continue to have these conversations with coaching that person. This is all a part of frameworks. Now, this is heavy on the agile space, but I believe that it works everywhere. I believe that it works everywhere. But like I say, all it does, it comes down to the level of coach that you feel that can help you be successful, that can help you get the results that you need. So listen, if you don't have a leadership coach, if you don't have a personal development coach,, or, you know, agile coach, uh, I, you know, I can recommend. I'm here. We can have a handshake agreement to say, hey, you know, let's talk and go from there. You can just hit www.timothyprattjr.org. You can contact me on there. It's definitely a form. I do have a, a, a mentoring coaching, uh, program, and I'm really going to beef that up even more. Uh, I'm getting into like a lot of different things in this space and actually looking to collaborate uh, with a guy out of California, man. I mean, they're really doing major things. I know it's nobody but God, uh, but XP Gathering, dealing with executive pastors, um, and I'm really looking forward to hopefully working with them and just collaborating and doing some regional stuff, uh, here. And just in the context of just coaching and leading in those spaces. And then of course, you know, just in my day-to-day life, uh, with my job, continue to hoping to just evolve and mature there, uh, and just get better and better at what I do. And just eventually learning how to coach up and coaching at hopefully one day like an executive level. Uh, but I love this space. I mean, I tell my wife all the time, preaching and teaching the gospel— yes, ministry is everywhere. I don't want to just— you know, I hate that we have a society now that's just so focused on the pulpit and the stage. Uh, but man, I love the aspect of truly coaching and helping people, uh, just see the big picture, but at the same time seeing the significance of their role. Like, like I say once again, having that individual view, team view, um, that program level view, and then that enterprise view, that whole systems thinking approach, uh, to coaching. So, uh, just creating the right containers, man, and helping people be great. I believe truthfully, man, if people are willing and I have the capacity and we're a right fit, I truly believe I can coach anybody to greatness through the grace of God. Uh, I, I do. Like, that's a belief that I have. Like, I believe that. I'm like, man, like, if you are trying to grow in your leadership, I strongly believe that I have the ability, uh, man, the God-given gifts in me and the patience to coach anyone into greatness. Uh, I, I, I didn't have that confidence at first. I didn't, man. Truthfully, 2 and a half, 3 years ago, I didn't have it. I've been doing it, but I had, I had not cocky, but just the level of confidence. I mean, I'm really called to this space and I want to be great at it. Um, so all of that being said, man, I, I hope you've seen some value in this and just kind of, if you took those notes, you know, like I say, do they have the right experience? Can they help you get results? And what type of frameworks can they take you through? Like, looks like whether it's financial, personal fitness, spiritual,, you know, business or whatever, like, can they help navigate you through the space? And, uh, can you truly— I mean, do— I hope you see the value now. Like, hey man, I might need to try a coach. And it's not a one-month thing, man. Like, try to do 3 months and see, you know. And it might be like a relationship of like every other month, you know. You, you have to set the stage, but know you're going to get— you're going to get out what you put in. You're going to get out what you put in. Like, this is just the truth. When I just started therapy, it was like, hey, I think we need to meet weekly, you know. Then it drops down like, oh, you know, we can meet biweekly. Then, hey, let's make sure we don't go no more than 30 days without, you know, meeting and syncing up. So in the short phase, you know, you just have to fill out— figure out what does that sacrifice look like for you and, uh, and helping in that person, uh, getting that space in your life to help you become better. Uh, so all of that being said, man, I hope you've enjoyed this. Uh, if you know anyone that's trying to level up, man, send this to them. Send, send this to them and like say, hey, like, I don't know if you ever considered coaching or seen the value in it, uh, but I'm gonna close with this. I was reading with Clay Scroggins, I believe it was a book with him, when Tiger Woods was like, I believe, at the top of his game and he hired a coach not to really come in and, um, tweak so much, but just it helped improve his shot when he was already at the top of his game. Just, hey man, I wanna help you improve your greatness. And, you know, most people look at it like, why in the world, when you're at the top of your game and you're clearly, you know, just dominating the game of golf, why would you bring in a coach? And he did it, and it sent him on even new heights. And so, like I said, it's a very faint theme because I don't want to prolong it, but, uh, like, you can read that. Oh man, I can just check out Clay Scroggins, whatever his latest leadership book as of now. Today is this episode, this podcast, this episode is getting published. I'm so sorry, but check it out. Clay Scroggins, man. And, but he talks about that in, in the value of a coach. And one of the chapters he has dedicated like why you need a coach. So all that being said, man, I don't want to keep rambling or whatever, but I really hope this encourages you. And man, just like whatever you do, be dedicated to leveling up. God bless. Hey, what's up?

I want to thank you for taking the time to listen to the Student Life Podcast today. If this content has impacted you in any kind of way, please take some time to share it on your social media feeds. And also, if you want to connect with me or just learn more about me, go over to www.timothyprattjr.org.

Once again, thanks.