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Coaching a group rather than
an individual has its own problems and opportunities.  Even in the same organization, you (as coach)
can not assume everyone is on the same page or wants the same outcomes, even if
they say they do.  Moreover, as a coach,
your job is not to consult, advise[1] or
mentor; your job is to help your clients unlock their potential and move up, move
over and/or, move out.

Overall challenges:  The best job security is incumbency; you
don’t get re-elected (or get great Committee assignments) if you don’t play
well with others (other Members, your Conference, your Party, the electorate);
the “wants” of your electorate, party and contributors may not be congruent;
quid pro quo is often morally and politically challenging; two-year terms do
not allow those offended by your actions much time to forget; and, running for
re-election is an all-the-time thing.

Overall opportunities:
Incumbency has inherent powers to help you focus; your party wants you to be
re-elected (safe seats are cherished party treasures);  the power of your vote is often greater than
you think; your staff is a great asset; raising money to get re-elected is
usually easier than raising money to get elected in the first place; as a MC,
you can have a significant impact on our society.

Questions:

1. Do you believe 2009 is a time for extraordinary
   thinking and action, or just another recessionary year, albeit a serious
   one, in your life?
2. If something IS different today, how can you
   re-think acting as a group to rise (above partisan politics) to the
   occasion (of our national troubles), preserve your political pedigrees and
   offend the fewest possible voters while still setting the stage for consensus?
3. And, if you can agree that some things REALLY ARE
   DIFFERENT, is this also an opportunity to change the Washington game in a positive way?
4. What “sacred cows” are unassailable, and why?
5. What real game changes can your group of 435
   mutually agree on, or at least get a sustainable majority vote for?
6. With virtually every “local funding initiative”
   now being labeled as “pork” by someone, how can you serve your districts
   while giving minimal ammunition to potential opponents (and members of the
   radical wings of your respective parties) in the next election?
7. If your group of 435 reaches a majority, or
   miraculously consensus, on some of these key issues that you all agree are
   the “right things to do,” but represent unpopular decisions, are you ready
   to sacrifice (or at least risk) your career for the greater good of the
   country?
8. If you think these notions are too ambitious, or
   the group doesn’t want to explore options that extensively, how can you
   appear “better,” or at least less offensive, than the previous Congress
   and/or specific Members of Congress?
9. How do you think the country would react to
   Congress having a coach and, if that would be a positive, should we
   promote the fact as a harbinger of changes to come?
10. Can we work on that?

[1] In all fairness, I have to disclose that form 1970
until 1976 (and briefly in 1992), I was a media consultant, what is now called
a “political strategist,” and worked more than 40 races with 20+ wins.  I worked for both Republicans and Democrats
(back then you could do that) and like to think I gave my clients their best
shot at being elected.