Christian Business Concepts
Christian Business Concepts
Coaching To Improve Employee Performance
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What if the most effective coaching techniques weren't found in the latest business bestseller, but in the timeless wisdom of Scripture? This episode explores how biblical principles transform employee coaching into a powerful ministry that simultaneously boosts performance and honors Christ.
Harold Milby begins with a spotlight on Buy On Purpose, an exemplary Christian-run company donating 50% of profits to local charities while maintaining competitive pricing in the office supply market. Their commitment to integrating faith into business practices sets the stage for the episode's focus on biblical coaching.
Drawing from Philippians 2:3-4, Harold explores how Christian business leaders are called to servant leadership that develops others through intentional coaching. He shares six essential skills that align with biblical values: active listening (James 1:19), empathy and compassion (Colossians 3:12), clear communication (Proverbs 15:4), encouragement (1 Thessalonians 5:11), goal-setting (Proverbs 16:3), and adaptability (Galatians 6:9).
The episode provides practical guidance through a six-step coaching process: assessing current performance, setting a growth vision, giving constructive feedback using the "sandwich method," developing skills through mentoring, monitoring progress while celebrating milestones, and addressing setbacks with grace. Throughout, Harold emphasizes how faith integration transforms coaching from a mere management technique into a ministry that reflects Christ's love.
Most powerfully, the episode reminds us that coaching isn't just about improving metrics—it's about seeing employees as whole people created in God's image, worthy of investment and development. By approaching coaching from this perspective, Christian leaders foster workplaces where performance excels because employees are valued, encouraged, and guided with both truth and grace.
Ready to transform your coaching approach? Listen now, then share this episode with fellow business leaders who want to lead like Jesus while achieving remarkable results.
Welcome to the Christian Business Concepts with your host, harold Milby. Christian Business Concepts is dedicated to guiding companies and business owners in becoming effective, efficient and successful through God's Word and godly principles. Now, here's your host, harold Milby.
Speaker 2:Thanks, kelly, and welcome everyone to this week's Christian Business Concepts podcast. I'm your host, harold Milby, and I'm so glad that you've decided to download and listen to this podcast. I'm excited that you've decided to make a part make us a part of your growth plan, your personal growth plan and you're a part of the CBC community. You know I'm just so excited. I'm praying for you and I'm praying that the biblical and godly principles that we discuss here today is going to help you find true godly success. I pray that you'll be encouraged, enlightened and empowered by today's topic. Now, before we get moving on to our next segment, I just want to give a big shout out to the country of Rwanda for the many CBC podcasts that you guys have downloaded. We're so appreciative of all of you there in Rwanda and we are praying for you. And thanks to all of you that listen on a regular basis, even if this is maybe your first time listening. We want to welcome you to Christian Business Concepts Now.
Speaker 2:In today's business spotlight, I want to let you know about a company called Buy On Purpose, that's, buy B-U-Y, buy On Purpose. They are a Christian-owned and Christian-run company. You know we've talked about the difference before of being Christian-owned and then being Christian-run. That's another podcast, so you can feel free to find that podcast and listen to that. But you know, but they're based here in the United States and they're basically they're an online retailer of office supplies and they were started and founded by a man by the name of Simon Lee, who is a very devout Christian, and he was really inspired by this divine vision that he felt like God had given him to integrate his faith into his business practices. Their mission statement states to honor God by providing quality office supplies while donating a significant portion of profits to local charities, reflecting a commitment to Christian stewardship and community impact. Wow, what a great mission statement. It's a tall order, obviously, but I got to tell you they are really reaching and stretching themselves and their business to fulfill this mission. You know they really their charitable giving. You know it's probably really a hallmark of Buy On Purpose's Christian ethics and its commitment to being a good steward. You know they donate 50% of all of their profits to local charities. Now, that's putting your money where your mouth is right. You know the company really emphasizes integrity in its business practices and it aligns all their decisions they try to align with their Christian values such as like honesty and fairness and service, and this includes providing high-quality office supplies at competitive prices while maintaining a real strong focus on customer satisfaction. When they try to source products, this is a very serious thing for them because even their sources, even their supply chains it's important to them to have ethical actions and ethical plans when they're trying to source all their products as well. So they really are a Christian-run company and we are so appreciative of this company, buy On Purpose. If you need office supplies, why not support a Christian-run company like Buy On Purpose? So we encourage you to do that and we thank Buy On Purpose for giving us a great example again of how to find true godly success, and we're excited about that. We're really happy for them.
Speaker 2:Now let's jump into today's topic. You know, as Christian business leaders and you've heard me say this before in different ways but we're called really to be leaders, but not just leaders, and you've heard me say this before in different ways but we're called really to be leaders, but not just leaders, but we're called to be leaders with integrity and humility and really to have a servant's heart. You know, you can look at Philippians 2, verses 3 through 4, and see that you know, and part of that is coaching. It's a real coaching is a vital skill that really aligns with these values, enabling you to guide your employees towards growth and productivity and even fulfillment in their work. I think that's so important to have employees that feel fulfilled at what they're doing, and it really helps to bring a lot of satisfaction and really bring, you know, greater efficiency through your employees when they feel that, when they sense that, and so I think that's, you know, important for us to take a look at, because what we want to try to do today is talk about how we coach to improve employee performance, because, you know, when you're coaching people, yes, you want to help them, yes, you want to encourage them, but the bottom line is is that we need to coach our employees to bring about a better performance and to help them to, you know, bring their A game, if you want to say it that way, and so that's what we want to look at today, that's what we want to talk about, and, you know, today I want to outline some really essential coaching skills that I think are noted and rooted in biblical wisdom, and I want to provide you with some actionable steps to really enhance your employees' performance. You know, while you coach them, reflecting Christ's love and leadership.
Speaker 2:You know, tom Landry, the great football coach, said a coach is someone who tells you what you don't want to hear. Who has you see what you don't want to see, so you can be who you have always known you could be. So great quote from Tom Landry. So let's talk about a few essential skills that you need to have for great coaching.
Speaker 2:First of all, you need to be a really, really good listener, and when I mean a good listener, I mean an active listener. You know, the Bible says in James 1 and 19, everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry. You know active listening, where you try to understand the employee's needs, you understand their challenges and their aspirations, and you do this without interrupting them when they're trying to talk. And when you do this, it really builds a lot of trust. It shows respect for their perspective. It shows respect for their perspective and I think you should practice reflective listening. One great way to do that is by paraphrasing what you hear. In other words, you might say something like you know, it sounds like you're feeling overwhelmed by the project's timeline. Is that what I'm hearing by the project's timeline? Is that what I'm hearing, you know? So you want to be able to create this safe space, to open, to have open dialogue.
Speaker 2:When you have one-on-one meetings with your employees, they need to be able to feel like they can talk to you. They need to feel like that they can bring things to you. You know Winston Churchill said courage is what it takes to stand up and speak. You know courage is also what it takes to sit down and listen, and he's right. He's right about that. We need to be an active listener.
Speaker 2:Another skill that I think is super important to be a great coach and have a great effect on the productivity and the efficiency that your employees are showing is empathy and compassion. You know, colossians 3 and 12 says Therefore, as God's chosen people, holy and dearly beloved, clothe yourself with compassion, with kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. You know, understand and share in your employees' emotions. Offer your support rather than judgment. You know what this will do is this will really create a caring environment where that there's going to be growth, and you know you need to acknowledge their struggles. That doesn't necessarily mean that you allow people to bring in all their personal issues into the job, into the work, but you can have empathy and compassion for that person and what they're going through, you know. An example might be that you know, hey, I can see this has been a tough has been tough for you or a tough day for you. You can pray with them. You can pray with them if they so desire, if they're willing to do that. But you can spend time and you can pray with them. There's nothing wrong with that if they allow you to do that. But I just think it's important that you're reinforcing a faith-based company and I think part of that is to show this empathy and compassion and acknowledge their struggles, verbally, acknowledge it, you know. Communicate with them on a regular basis, but make sure you have that opportunity to show them empathy and compassion.
Speaker 2:All right, moving on, a next skill that I think is really important is clear communication. You know, proverbs 15 and 4 says the soothing tongue is a tree of life, but a perverse tongue crushes the spirit, you know. So you want to communicate very clearly. You want to communicate goals, you want to make sure you get their feedback. You want to communicate very clearly what your expectations are and you want to make sure that you do everything that you can to avoid any kind of confusion, Because really, at the end of the day, what you're trying to do is inspire them to action. Right, that's what you're trying to do. So you have to have very clear communication when you're trying to do that, and I suggest using what's called the sandwich method, the sandwich method. So you start with positive feedback and then you may address some areas for improvement and then you end with encouragement. So, in other words, an example might be you might say you know, hey, you've shown great initiative, let's work on time management and I'm confident that you will excel with this slight adjustment. So that's what you've done. You've kind of sandwiched the improvement, the expectations that you have. You've kind of sandwiched that in between some positive feedback and then, on the flip side, some encouragement. So that's what you want to do. You know, tony Robbins great, really great motivational speaker said that the way we communicate with others and with ourselves ultimately determines the quality of our lives, and I agree with that.
Speaker 2:All right, the next skill that we need to have is in encouragement and motivation. You know, 1 Thessalonians 5 and 11 says encouragement and motivation. You know, 1 Thessalonians 5 and 11 says therefore, encourage one another and build each other up, just as in fact you are doing. So you need to inspire your employees. You need to recognize their strengths, recognize their potential, make sure you align their work so that it helps them to have that sense of purpose. So align it with their sense of purpose. And you want to just regularly affirm their efforts. You know you can say something like, you know your dedication is making a real impact and so that helps them. That helps them, it stretches them, it motivates them and encourages them, and that's what you're trying to do. So you want to make sure you have that skill set of encouragement and motivation.
Speaker 2:And another skill is goal setting and accountability. You know Proverbs 16 and 3 says commit to the Lord whatever you do, and he will establish your plans. So collaborate with your employees. Again, we talked about setting goals. Well, set smart goals. You know S-M-A-R-T specific, measurable, achievable, relevant and time-based. And then you hold them accountable, but you do it with grace. You know, don't wait for them to make a mistake and then you just bring the hammer down. You know, have grace and review their progress, whether it be weekly, whether it be biweekly. I don't think you want to review things much past two weeks, but I would say you want to review their progress on a weekly basis and then you support them through that, maybe adjust the goals if it's needed. Pray for wisdom, pray for guidance to help you, you know, help them develop their plans that they need to have, whatever it may be, or to help you to help them make those plans that you both agree on, all right.
Speaker 2:The next skill is adaptability and patience. Oh yeah, you know this is one thing that we just love to talk about, isn't it? Patience. You know Galatians 6, 9 says let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up. You know you've got to adapt your coaching style to those people's individual needs, and then you've got to exercise some patience as these employees grow at their own pace, right. So you've got to tailor your approach because some people may need very detailed guidance, while others really need some autonomy. They don't want you, you know, giving them direction all the time. They want to drive the car well, so to speak. You know they want to drive, they want to be in the driver's seat, and then I think it's always important that you celebrate small victories. Make sure that you celebrate small victories, and I think those things are important if you're going to be adaptable and you're going to show patience, all right.
Speaker 2:So how do we coach people? Those are some of the skills that we've been talking about, that you need to have. But what can we do to coach people to improve their performance? Well, first of all, I think what you have to do, you have to assess what their current performance is. You've got to know where you're starting from. You know you've got to have a baseline and the only way to do that is you have to assess what their current performance is. So you've got to begin by observing. Maybe do a performance review, make sure that you ask open-ended questions, like you know, what do you feel is going well and where do you see the challenges? That's a great question to ask an employee and really begin to assess them.
Speaker 2:You know the Bible says in Proverbs 27 and verse 23,. It says Be sure you know the condition of your flocks, give careful attention to your herds. Now, don't misunderstand me. I'm not trying to compare people to sheep, you know, and a flock, but what I'm saying is that we need to know our people. We need to know them, we need to know where they're at in this level of performance, and then we need to begin to observe and then take an assessment and assess them. So that's the first step that you have to take if you're going to coach them, you know, to improve employment I mean performance.
Speaker 2:So step two is to set a vision for growth. You know you need to collaborate with them and develop a plan that really lines up with what their role is and what their personal goals are, and this ought to be rooted in prayer and get God's mind on it as well, which is what we should be doing with all of these decisions. Jeremiah 29 and 11 says For I know the plans that I have for you, plans to prosper you, not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future, but we need to have that plan. We need to have it. It's amazing to me that the business owners that I see that lack plans for employee growth and to try to bring them up higher and try to encourage them to be better next year than they are this year. You want them to grow, so you need to be able to help them and set a vision for growth.
Speaker 2:The third step is you've got to give them constructive. Now make sure you get that Constructive feedback right. You've got to offer some very specific things, some very actionable feedback, but you do it in a spirit of love. You know, again, use the sandwich method to balance that critique with encouragement. So make sure you do that. You know Ephesians 4.15 says, instead speaking the truth in love, we will grow to become in every aspect the mature body of him who is the head, that is Christ. So you know, you can say things like hey, you've built very strong client relationships, but let's kind of refine your reporting accuracy a little bit. Yeah, you know, your effort is really valuable to us and this is going to elevate your impact. So, again, that sandwich method, all right.
Speaker 2:The fourth step is to develop skills. Help them to develop skills through training and mentoring. Those are two areas that you can utilize to help them develop the proper skills. So you want to identify whatever those needs are. Maybe it's time management, maybe it's technical skills, but you pair that employee up with maybe some mentors, a supervisor or even yourself depends on your situation and then make sure you provide some good resources. I think the resources is very, very important, and maybe enroll them in some workshops, or you know something like that. You can do some great things that way.
Speaker 2:Then step number five you want to monitor their progress, monitor their progress, celebrate their success with them. You know. Schedule a regular check-in, you know, just to kind of track that progress. You know, offer them support. Maybe you've got to adjust some strategies if you need to. You know Proverbs 1, 6 says, being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Jesus Christ, you know. So again, you want to make sure that you monitor their progress, acknowledge those milestones, whatever they may be. You may want to create those milestones, let them know what they are and then you can assess that. You can monitor that progress. You know. You may say you know, hey, you've really improved in being punctual, you know, and that's really boosted a lot of the team morale. Great job, and you can celebrate. You know, and that's really boosted a lot of the team morale. Great job, and you can celebrate. You know, with the team, and you can do that when you celebrate as a whole team, it really helps to build camaraderie within your organization, all right.
Speaker 2:Step six address the setbacks, but do it with grace. You know, if performance kind of dips a little bit, maybe look at some root causes. Maybe it's something personal, maybe it's an outside force. But make sure you investigate root causes but do it with empathy and create a corrective action plan what I like to call a corrective action plan but do it without condemnation. You know the Bible says in 1 John, 1 and 9, it says if we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us of our sins and purifies from all unrighteousness. We have an example. That's what Jesus did for us. Let's make sure that we walk not in judgment, but we walk in empathy with our employees. You know, offer your support. You know you can say things like hey, let's work together to overcome whatever this challenge may be, and then pray for them, pray for strength, pray for focus.
Speaker 2:Now you've got to think about integrating your faith into your coaching. Uh, you know we're talking about Christian business owners, christian business leaders. You want to integrate your faith into your coaching. So you want to lead by example. You know you want to. You want to model Christ-like behavior. You know Jesus models humility and integrity and love Christlike behavior. You know Jesus models humility and integrity and love. And that's what we need to do, you know, and pray for guidance, seek God's wisdom and get God's mind on it, especially during coaching sessions.
Speaker 2:You know James 1 and 5, it says if any of you lack wisdom, you should ask God. So encourage them to grow spiritually. And you need to put your faith in action and you begin to pray for God's wisdom and use whatever that is that God may beginning to share with you. Because God, you know, the thing of it is, don't go to God asking him for something if that's not something that you're willing to hear God on. Make sure that you listen to what the Lord is saying, because I tell you, I've had employees that I didn't know what I was going to do with if it wasn't for God's direction, when I spent time in prayer saying God, how do I handle this situation? Because God will speak. God always speaks to us and I think that is so, so important.
Speaker 2:And so pray for guidance, get God's wisdom and, especially when you're coaching them, and really encourage them. Really encourage them to grow, not just in their career, not just professionally, but to grow spiritually, you know, help them to see their work as a ministry. Help them to see that they are aligning their work with Colossians 3.23, which says whatever you do, work it with all of your heart as working for the Lord. Share that with them. Let them know that. You know, I believe that as Christian business leaders, your coaching role is a ministry that's going to help to empower your employees. I believe it's going to reflect God's love and I believe that by honing in on these skills that we've talked about you know the active listening, the empathy, clear communication I believe that you can foster a great workplace where performance really thrives I mean really, really thrives and brings a great efficiency to your business. But it also is being done through faith and through your love for the Lord and love for your employees. So commit yourself to regular self-assessment on your own to see how are you doing, how well are you coaching, how effective are you? And if you don't feel like you're as effective as you'd like to be, then I would encourage you to spend some time in reflection and find out what the issues are. Come back to this podcast, maybe write some of these skill sets down and some of these steps that you need to take to be effective in coaching your employees to improve performance.
Speaker 2:Lord, we come before you right now in the name of Jesus. We thank you, lord, for each and every person that's been listening to this podcast. Lord, we pray that you'd help them in a great and mighty way to become really effective coaches in coaching their employees to a higher level of performance. Lord, I pray for them. I pray, lord, that they see their employees as more than just employees, but they see them individually, as people that you love and that you care about and then help them to operate towards these people as individuals and helping them and strengthening them. And, lord, I think they're going to see great performance and the level of performance rise. Lord, I thank you and I praise you for that In Jesus' name, amen.
Speaker 2:Well, thanks again for listening to this week's CBC podcast. I'm so appreciative of you being a part of that every week and I'm just going to ask you help us grow. You know the Christian Business Podcast ministry. Help us to grow. You know, go out there and share this podcast with three or four or five other people this week. Really, you know, the best way to do it is to put a post out there on your LinkedIn or on your Facebook with a link to this podcast and let people know hey, check this out, hey, listen to this. This was an encouragement to me and I just want to be an encouragement to you. So take a listen. So we really appreciate each and every one of you for listening this week. We're so glad that you decided to join us and we just want you to know that we're praying for you. We're praying that you find that true godly success. So that's all the time we have for for this week. So until next time, remember that Jesus is Lord and he wants you blessed.
Speaker 1:Thank you for tuning into this week's Christian Business Concepts podcast. Go to christianbusinessconceptscom for more information and resources. Be sure to check out other podcasts that will help you take your business and your personal life to a whole new level of success.