Frequently Asked Questions for Christian Executive Coach Gary Wood

What follows are just a few of the frequently asked questions for Christian Executive Coach Gary Wood.

I've been asked a lot of questions over the years, most serious, some more tongue in cheek. Hopefully this gives a little additional insight into who I am.

Why Do You Enjoy Coaching so Much?

Because good leaders’ matter. Our society needs them. And I love serving and seeing them do well.

It strikes me we seem to be in limited supply of those that aren’t feeling significantly strained.

I discovered years ago that I worked well with people. It felt natural to talk with them and most people generally felt relaxed and able to freely talk with me. We’ve been able to talk about deeper “stuff”, than what’s evident on the surface of our daily lives.

To me that’s important for leaders. The old saying that it’s lonely at the top, all too often seems to bear out.

People have valued someone to “get down to business” with, being intentional about life, work and leadership, doing better and thriving.

I believe I have a gift from the Lord to be able to work back and forth with an individual and be focused on him or her and their good, and not my self-interests. I get energy and satisfaction from this.

I really appreciate being able to make a difference in someone else’s life. I enjoy hearing; “You’ve been a big help to me, Gary.”

In addition, I not only like to be a help to people, I believe it is an assignment I have been privileged with from God. That’s big!

My personal mission statement has been “To serve the purpose of God in my generation.” It comes from the Bible and I have adopted it as my own.

To help a leader do better, means I’ve been a good neighbour; I've been in harmony with what I feel the Lord has given me to do.

If I can help a leader think something through and gain insight that leads to a decision and forward-moving action with good results, I’ve nailed it. That’s what coaching is all about.

What are Some of Your Key Strengths and Abilities?

I'll say right up, regardless of anything else, that God's grace in my life is critical to any abilities that I might display in coaching. Without Christ, I could provide nothing that would be of significant or eternal value to leaders who are serious about following the Lord.

• I think in pictures. I can see the relationships between various parts of the clients thinking.
• I can sense a flow, when things are coming together or moving apart.
• I can look at things creatively from any number of fresh angles.
• I don’t mind challenging a client to try something out in their thinking.
• I can ask questions that draw out deeper insights than might normally be accessed.
• I can hear something behind what was said. Maybe it’s reading between the lines. It’s certainly picking up on things that aren’t necessarily said.
• I know the process can be as valuable as the outcome.
• I can brainstorm easily.
• I can summarize rambling.
• I can be fully present and listen very well.
• I can help a client organize how they express themselves, so it’s clear and they are able to do something with it.
• I can blaze a new trail for a client to test out.

More Frequently Asked Questions for Christian Executive Coach Gary Wood

What Results are You Hoping For?

My goal of course in providing coaching, is to pursue the client's desired outcomes, not my own. Having said that, here are some things I am hoping for. 

• I want my clients to do well, really well.
• I want clients to come away from coaching and say, “Now that was one of the wisest things I’ve ever done in my whole life.”
• I want clients to be more effective as they navigate today’s changing personal and work environments.
• I want you to achieve more and better results with less effort and struggle, less stress and more personal satisfaction.

Do You Have an Ideal Client?

• My ideal client is ready to take prayerful and intentional action.
• Coaching is very much about action. They are not just coming to have a series of nice chats. They have a life to live and they want me alongside for this part of the journey, to help them live it to the full.
• They have gaps between where they are and where they want to be.
• They are ready to make an investment of money, time and energy in themselves because they know the results will be worth it.
• They are ready to admit the whole truth about themselves to themselves and do something about it.
• They want me to help them see themselves and their situation clearly. They want me to hold them accountable to do what they say they will do.

What's Your Recipe for Good Results?

(It works!)

• Turn up the heat to where you’re ready to change.
• Throw in someone who is committed to helping you reach your goals.
• Drop in your biggest challenge or largest dream.
• Add a lot of honesty in seeing yourself as you really are.
• Add generous measures of openness to learn, try and experiment.
• Add a heap of readiness to take action to achieve your goals.
• Add a pinch of stepping out into a less comfortable zone.
• Stir with faith, structure, accountability, acceptance and care.
• Voila. A great and satisfied you. Done to perfection.
• A business, ministry or life that is a model of fulfillment.

And that's it! Just a handful of frequently asked questions for Christian Executive Coach Gary Wood. 

Please contact me for a serious conversation about your situation as a leader, and how I might be able to assist you.