Remove Distractions for Focused Coaching

Remove Distractions for Focused Coaching

Chances are, if you are reading this blog – you have been coaching leaders for a while. You probably have a designated space for coaching appointments either in your office, or a quiet place in your home or your favorite “third” space e.g. Starbucks. You might be a pastor, church planter or denominational leader. Where-ever you meet with people or conference by phone; eliminating distractions is paramount.

Here are some common distractions that people endure during a typical workday:

  • e-mail
  • phone calls
  • people interruptions
  • multi-tasking (self-inflicted)
  • mind-wandering

The list goes on and on, but the environments in which we coach either enrich or detract from our ability to focus. Reality is, distractions are costly: Length of Distraction + 23 minutes & 15 seconds = True Length of Distraction. All well and good. But what can you and I do to combat & win the battle over distractions:

1. Create an uncluttered, “conversational” environment.

2. Shut-down devises – not in use.

3. Communicate to pertinent people (administrative assistant/family members/colleagues) your coaching hours.

4. Stop multitasking – you are not as productive as you think!  See How Distractions At Work Take Up More Time Than You Think.

5. Be present: there are many ways to do this. One way I’ve found helpful is a standing desk with a wooden, adjustable stool – see image above. Standing gives me the flexibility to walk around or shift my weight. A wooden stool is not built for comfort and forces me to stay alert! And is good for my back.

These are just a couple of tips to stay engaged during a coaching conversation. What suggestions do you have? Please share your wisdom below – I would love to hear your thoughts.

InFocus is launching it’s first Developing Coaching Excellence Collective to give you an opportunity to sharpen your coaching skills. This is uniquely designed to assist leaders who coach disciplemakers and church planter/multiplication leaders. In addition, since certification is a priority for some, the 10 hours are applicable to the International Coach Federation credentials including the

  • Associate Certified Coach (ACC),
  • Professional Certified Coach (PCC)
  • Master Certified Coach (MCC).

If this is a need you have and would like more information, please click here.

What is one action you will take today to minimize distractions to focus?

Here are a couple of related resources to develop your coaching excellence!

Coaching Skill Builder

Coaching Effectiveness Profile

Join us for an overview of the COACHING Church Planter Collective

Join us for an overview of the COACHING Church Planter Collective

The World Cup is in full swing now. 6 teams have already qualified, but 10 spots are still up for grabs. It will be an exciting week as each of the groups finish their final round of games to determine who will advance to the Round of 16. My favorite group is Group F with Mexico (6 points), Germany & Sweden (tied with 3 points) and S. Korea (0 points). The final two games will be played on Wednesday this week with the top two spots, still to be decided.

Ironically, Germany who lost to Mexico in the opening match could come out on top of their group with a win over S. Korea and a Mexico loss, versus Sweden. Germany’s coach, Joachim Low, has led the Germans to the final in the last two World Cups – with one championship in 2014. Repeating as World Champions is a massive challenge that only countries have ever managed e.g. Italy (1934–1938) and  Brazil (1958–1962).

The pressure is immense. As the game evolves every four years, coaches and players must adapt. This is the challenge Germany face under Low; but if it can be done, Germany will figure out a way.

The same can be said for your ability to support leaders who are planting churches. New methods come and go, cultural attitdues towards church and issues of faith are always at stake in a world that is in a state of change – remember my previous blogs explaining VUCA: Volatile, Uncertain, Complex & Ambiguous. But principles last the test of time. In training church planting coaches I’ve found that a principle-based approach, for the coach to follow, can help coaches support planters as they navigate the life-cycle of a church plant regardless of the model they are implementing, the context they are planting or the challenges they face.

  • How long have you been coaching church planters?
  • Has it been a while since you attended coach training?
  • Do you want to work on your coaching skills to support church planters?

You might be interested in the COACHING Church Planter Collective to revisit or be introduced to a principle-based approach. I would appreciate your feedback on a good time to hold the informational webinar based on the three options available, please click here so that we can schedule the best time to meet as a group, or individually. Look forward to connecting with you!

International Coach Federation (ICF) Coach Mentor Requirement available!

An added value is to apply the 10 hours in the COACHING Church Planter Collective to your ICF Coach Competencies, Mentor Requirement. More information will be available in the overview.

Here are a couple of related resources to apprentice church planters:

COACHING EFFECTIVENESS PROFILE

COACHING INTROVERTS

COACHING EXTRAVERTS

LEADERSHIP MULTIPLICATION PATHWAY STORYBOARD

Learn About the Church Planter COACH Collective

Learn About the Church Planter COACH Collective

One of the more fruitful experiences of my development as a coach was was to work with a coach mentor.  In fact, this last year I worked with two different coach mentors. “How was this helpful?” you ask.

  • Reason #1: fresh insights
  • Reason #2: new perspectives

They caused me to rethink my process. Plain and simple.

If you desire to grow and expand in your coaching – find a coach mentor. Someone who is a step ahead. Or has a different approach. Or new perspective. But most of all, find someone that can challenge you in areas that will help you empower leaders from the grass-root church planter to the leader of a multiplication movement.

InFocus is excited to give you an opportunity to sharpen your coaching effectiveness as you coach church planters and mentor other coaches in your network to do the same. 

Are you interested in learning more about the Church Planting COACH Collective? I would appreciate your feedback on a good time to hold the informational webinar based on the three time slots available, please click here so that we can schedule the best time to meet as a group, or individually. I look forward to connecting with you!

Learn about the two coach mentor options:

Option #1 – Missional Coach Development

  • Customized coach mentoring to develop your coaching effectiveness as you coach church planters and mentor leaders in your network, using a coach approach.

Option #2 – ICF Coach Competencies, Mentor Requirement

  • Customized coach mentoring for coaching church planters is available which can be utilized for your ICF, Coach Mentor Requirement for your ACC, PCC or MCC.

Here are a couple of related resources to cultivate a church planting movement:

CONTINUOUS MULTIPLICATION STORYBOARD 

CONTINUOUS MULTIPLICATION COACHING GUIDE WITH STORYBOARD

 

Learn about the Church Planter Collective

Learn about the Church Planter Collective

Are you interested in learning more about the Church Planting Collective? I would appreciate your feedback on a good time to hold the informational webinar based on the three options available, please click here so that we can schedule the best time to meet as a group or individually. Look forward to connecting with you!

  • Here is the Fall schedule for the group sessions*:
  • Session #1: September 10, 2018
  • Session #2: October 8, 2018
  • Session #3: November 5, 2018
  • Session #4: December 3, 2018

CHURCH PLANTER PATHWAY STORYBOARD 

CHURCH PLANTER PATHWAY: COACHING GUIDE (https://www.infocusnet.org/product/church-planter-pathway-storyboard/)

 

Check-out the Church Planting Collective

Check-out the Church Planting Collective

Missiologist, Ed Stetzer concludes:

“Church planters who meet with a mentor or coach plant larger and more effective churches than those who do not.” 

Think back for a moment. When you have succeeded, fulfilled the mission or “hit the ball out of the park”; what was required?

  • Hard work – for sure!
  • Discipline – yes!
  • Modeling – always!
  • Expert advice – you bet!
  • Relational support – absolutely!

When I was in high school, all of those played a role in developing my soccer game. I trained hard, both on my own and with the teams that I played. I watched what I ate and made sure I had enough sleep. I mimicked moves of the players I admired. I listened intently to experienced pros. And I had people that I looked to for relational support. It paid off in high school and eventually led to a college scholarship at a nationally ranked, Division I school – San Diego State University.

These same qualities: hard work, discipline, modeling, advice and support are necessary for church planters.

The Church Planting Collective provides an environment where these qualities are nurtured.

Who do you know that would benefit from, and contribute to a Church Planting Collective ?

Here is the Fall schedule for the group sessions*:

  • Session #1: September 10, 2018
  • Session #2: October 8, 2018
  • Session #3: November 5, 2018
  • Session #4: December 3, 2018

*All times are: Mondays @ 3:30pm PST (4:30pm MST/5:30pm CST/6:30pm EST)

Attend a free webinar to hear an overview of the Church Planting Collective. Please indicate your availability by clicking here so that we can schedule the best time to meet as a group. Look forward to connecting with you!

Here are some related resources below:

PARENT CHURCH PLANTING STORYBOARD

PARENT CHURCH PLANTING COACHING GUIDE