ABOUT STEVEN COOPER
I’ve been coaching people for a long time. I’ve interacted with many leaders in business, in the church, and in the non-profit world. Most leaders are alone. This was my experience too. I still remember the day I realized “No one knows it’s their job to ask me how I’m doing.” Leadership is lonely, and that loneliness is costly. I had to take significant, proactive steps to make sure that I had what I needed. I have suffered through so much personally and professionally. For leaders, these two worlds overlap and affect each other. But even without extraordinary misfortune, the normal challenges of leadership is enough to overwhelm. Stress and anxiety because of the never-ending to-do list, the pressure of achieving and then reporting progress, and the uncertainties that inevitably characterize your team members… there is so much that leaders carry.
Coaching means you don’t have to be alone in leadership. Having a safe voice from the outside is a life-line. A relationship with someone outside brings out more of your potential. It brings out more of the best of who you are.
I spent 15 years in the business world, then another 15 years in the church & non-profit leadership world. My business experience was primarily in sales, peaking in me selling global data networks to multinational corporations. I provided multi-million dollar bandwidth and application solutions all over the world, helping people and companies to solve communication and user problems by leveraging technology. At that level, I was also managing organizational hierarchy, corporate politics, and how my solutions affected a company’s overall direction. Even in sales, I became an advocate for my clients and a coach to help them lead change. For my career, sales was about understanding people and caring about them and the organizations they represented. As my career developed, I was managing more resources and understanding the more sophisticated needs that troubled companies and organizations. I was very successful.
I transitioned from the business world and for the last 15 years have been a pastor. I have led churches and served on the board of directors for another non-profit organization from its founding (www.generatehope.org). I’ve led through significant transitions, leadership transitions, growth, consolidation, and building campaigns. I’ve cast and executed vision, strategy, and goals. I’ve led staff and teams of leaders. I’ve overseen and directed finances to propel the mission of my organization.
I found in my own life, without outside help, I was only able to hit 60% of my full potential. I have accomplished amazing things, but there have always been things I couldn’t do on my own. I’ve wrestled with a fear of failure, and the inability to act without the approval of people around me. Coaching has been a game-changer for me. It has helped me understand all my gifts, and live up to my potential. I’ve had leadership and professional coaching for over 10 years.
Different leaders need different kinds of help. We all have strengths and weaknesses. My process focuses on 3 inter-related things: 1) Vision (Where are you going?) leads you to clarity so you go farther, faster. 2) Plan (How will you get there?) leads you to focus so you experience that less is more. 3) Heart (Do you have the energy to get to the end and thrive on the way?) leads you to go longer stronger so you can then strengthen yourself and your organization. My coaching clarifies your vision, focuses your plan, and re-energizes your heart.
I share this part of my own story so that you can get to know me a bit. Most of the time, people aren’t interested in a coach, they are interested in results. I offer a process that will make you a better leader, someone who can live and work with more confidence.
On the personal side, I am married (26 years) with 4 children (ages 23, 21, 18, 16). I live in (and love!) San Diego, California.
I have in-person clients in San Diego and Orange County. Across the country I have clients via zoom and telephone. Should we work together? Click here to set up a free 30-minute conversation and let’s find out.