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1-2-14 Shinkawa Cho, Higashi Kurume Shi, Tokyo 203-0013


What helps me get my goals accomplished? Developing my own action steps, action steps that I’m motivated to take and that are SMART. I don't have the same success rate when someone else develops the action steps and when the action steps are not SMART.
 
I’m sold on developing my own SMART action steps. And when I work with others, I work to focus them on developing their own SMART action steps.
 
Question: How often do you focus others on developing SMART action steps?

• Consistently?
• Usually?
• Sometimes?
• Rarely?

Make sure you consistently focus others on developing SMART action steps. What helps me do this consistently is asking questions like:

• Specific: What do you mean by ___?
• Measurable: How will you know when you’ve achieved your action step?
• Attainable: How doable is this?
• Relevant: How will this action step help you achieve your goal?
• Timebound: When will you do this?

Question: What action steps will you take to ensure that you consistently focus others on developing SMART action steps?
 
*To learn more about focusing others, click here.

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1-2-14 Shinkawa Cho, Higashi Kurume Shi, Tokyo 203-0013


Want to encourage coaching in your organization? One way I encourage coaching is by developing sets of questions to be used in meetings and workshops. As a result of using sets of questions in meetings and workshops, staff have shifted toward asking questions and away from giving advice.

In the planning sessions I'm facilitating today, participants are using the following sets of questions to help others reflect:

Set 1

1. What’s your mission?
2. What’s it take to carry out your mission?
3. What’s already been accomplished?
4. What helps you?
5. What hinders you?
6. What are your options?
7. What will you do to achieve your goals?

Set 2

1. What is your mission? What are your goals?
2. How would you categorize progress on your goals? Why?
3. To what extent do your current action steps help you address your goals?

Set 3

1. What topics did you talk about in your tactical meeting?
2. What action steps are you going to take before your next meeting?
3. What did you learn by trying out different roles?
4. What will help your team work together better?

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1-2-14 Shinkawa Cho, Higashi Kurume Shi, Tokyo 203-0013


Want to empower people? Want to develop leaders? Want to help others become better problem solvers and solve their problems? If so, try this one thing. It’s free. You can do it anywhere. And those you talk with like it.
 
What is it? It’s the 80/20 Rule. The 80/20 Rule says that in each conversation, you should listen 80% of the time and talk 20% of the time.
 
Question: How often do you talk 20% of the time?

• Consistently?
• Usually?
• Sometimes?
• Rarely?

Make sure you consistently follow the 80/20 Rule. To do this, you’re going to have to keep the other person talking. What I do to keep others talking (so I can listen) is make inviting statements (Tell me more about that.) and ask open-ended questions like “What’s a key challenge you’re facing?”
 
Question: What action steps will you take to ensure that you consistently talk a maximum of 20% of the time?
 
*To learn more about listening, click here.

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1-2-14 Shinkawa Cho, Higashi Kurume Shi, Tokyo 203-0013


We all want to accomplish our goals. To accomplish our goals, we need to take action steps. I’ve found that the SMARTer the action step, the more likely I am to accomplish it. A SMART action steps is:

• Specific
• Measurable
• Attainable
• Relevant
• Timebound

“Get in shape” is not a SMART action step, and it’s actually not that easy to accomplish. “Walk for 30 minutes 3 times per week for 1 month” is a SMART action step, and it’s actually easier to accomplish than “Get in shape.”
 
Question: How often do you empower others to develop SMART action steps for each of their goals?

• Consistently?
• Usually?
• Sometimes?
• Rarely?

Make sure you consistently empower others to develop SMART actions steps for each of their goals. If the person you’re talking to develops general action steps, help them SMARTen them up by asking questions like:

• Specific: What do you mean by ___?
• Measurable: How will you know when you’ve achieved your action step?
• Attainable: How doable is this?
• Relevant: How will this action step help you achieve your goal?
• Timebound: When will you do this?

Question: What action steps will you take to ensure that you consistently empower others to develop SMART action steps for each of their goals?
 
*To learn more about coaching others on taking action, click here.

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1-2-14 Shinkawa Cho, Higashi Kurume Shi, Tokyo 203-0013


Sometimes I get stuck. I have a problem, and I can’t find a way to solve it. Then, I remember to brainstorm my options, to think outside the box. In short order, I’m unstuck and on my way to solving my problem. Brainstorming works for me. And I’ve found that brainstorming helps others.
 
Question: How often do you empower others to brainstorm options?

• Consistently?
• Usually?
• Sometimes?
• Rarely?

Make sure you consistently empower others to brainstorm options. To help others brainstorm options, I like to ask “What are your options?” and “What else?”
 
Question: What action steps will you take to ensure that you consistently empower others to brainstorm options?
 
*To learn more about coaching on options, click here.

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1-2-14 Shinkawa Cho, Higashi Kurume Shi, Tokyo 203-0013


You want to achieve your goal. And you want to take action now! Ever feel like that? I have. I like the energy, but I don’t necessarily like the results.
 
Why? Because when I take action without reflecting on my current reality, I forget to take into account things like family plans and my overall workload. What happens? I achieve things I don’t want (like family disharmony and personal fatigue), and I don’t achieve my goal.
 
Question: How often do you empower others to explore their current reality? Read More...

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1-2-14 Shinkawa Cho, Higashi Kurume Shi, Tokyo 203-0013


You’re coaching Toru. You have 30 minutes to help Toru achieve his goal. To use this time effectively, make sure you are clear on Toru’s goal. Otherwise, you’ll waste Toru’s time by asking irrelevant questions.
 
Question: How often are you clear on the other person’s goal?

• Consistently?
• Usually?
• Sometimes?
• Rarely?

Read More...

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1-2-14 Shinkawa Cho, Higashi Kurume Shi, Tokyo 203-0013


Through Christian coaching, you can empower others to pursue God’s call. To get an idea of how you can empower others even more effectively, complete the following self-assessment that addresses coaching beliefs, skills, and process. Read More...

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1-2-14 Shinkawa Cho, Higashi Kurume Shi, Tokyo 203-0013

1. Empower others to strategically pursue God's calling
2. Lead by asking questions

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1-2-14 Shinkawa Cho, Higashi Kurume Shi, Tokyo 203-0013


Ask questions to help those around you to focus, think through problems, and reach their goals. For example:

If your co-worker wants to more effectively disciple others, ask: How do you disciple people now? What’s causing you to want to improve? What’s “more effective discipleship” look like? What can you do? Read More...

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1-2-14 Shinkawa Cho, Higashi Kurume Shi, Tokyo 203-0013


Want to help others prioritize? Ask questions that provoke reflection. Read More...

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1-2-14 Shinkawa Cho, Higashi Kurume Shi, Tokyo 203-0013


“This coaching series has helped me clarify God’s calling,” says Tomoko, a leadership developer based in Cambodia. “I like my personal mission statement: Empowering Christians to pursue God’s calling. Read More...

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1-2-14 Shinkawa Cho, Higashi Kurume Shi, Tokyo 203-0013


You’re coaching Tomoko, a leadership developer based in Cambodia who wants to clarify God’s calling. She’s made good progress. She’s developed a mission statement, identified 6 goals she needs to accomplish in order to carry out her mission, and reflected on what’s already been accomplished for each of her goals. During her last coaching session, she reflected on what helps and hinders her in achieving her goals. Read More...

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1-2-14 Shinkawa Cho, Higashi Kurume Shi, Tokyo 203-0013


Tomoko, a leadership developer based in Cambodia, has been working for several weeks to clarify God’s calling. In previous coaching sessions, she’s:

• Identified 4 problems and 3 opportunities she’s passionate about & blessed by God to address.
• Developed a mission statement.
• Identified 6 goals she needs to accomplish to carry out her mission.
• Reflected on what’s already been accomplished for each of her 6 goals. Read more...

Read More...

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1-2-14 Shinkawa Cho, Higashi Kurume Shi, Tokyo 203-0013


Considering getting coaching? If so, be sure you know what coaching is.

Question: What is coaching?

To get an answer to this question, do 3 things: Read More...

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1-2-14 Shinkawa Cho, Higashi Kurume Shi, Tokyo 203-0013


You’re coaching Mark, a math teacher at an international Christian school in Korea. He wants to clarify God’s calling. In previous sessions, he identified the problems/opportunities he’s passionate about and blessed by God to address. He also drafted a personal mission statement: Equipping Christians to live for Jesus. Read More...

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1-2-14 Shinkawa Cho, Higashi Kurume Shi, Tokyo 203-0013


“What I want to do is to develop a personal mission statement,” says Mark, a high school math teacher at an international Christian school in Korea. “I’m fairly clear on the problems/opportunities God is calling me to address. Having a mission statement will help me focus on these problems/opportunities.”
 
Question: What can you ask Mark? Read More...

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1-2-14 Shinkawa Cho, Higashi Kurume Shi, Tokyo 203-0013


You’re listening to Carla, a 43-year-old office worker. She’s experiencing significant change, including a new home, a new pastor at church, and her youngest child starting high school. Carla tells you that as a result of the changes she’s experiencing, she’s more sensitive to her own needs and the needs of others. Read More...

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1-2-14 Shinkawa Cho, Higashi Kurume Shi, Tokyo 203-0013


You’re coaching Bob. He shares that he’s turning 47, his oldest child is now a freshman in college, his best friend recently moved to the United Kingdom, and he’s thinking about changing careers. As Bob talks about what’s he’s experiencing, it becomes clear that Bob wants to clarify God’s calling in his life. He wants to develop a personal mission statement and to design goals to achieve that mission statement.
 
Question: What can you ask Bob to help him get started? Read More...

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1-2-14 Shinkawa Cho, Higashi Kurume Shi, Tokyo 203-0013


Your client wants clarify God’s calling. Asking questions will help. Here are 10 questions you can ask. Read More...

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1-2-14 Shinkawa Cho, Higashi Kurume Shi, Tokyo 203-0013


People grow as they take responsibility by defining, committing to, and achieving goals. I know I grow when I take responsibility. I’ll bet you do, too. As a coach, you can empower others to take responsibility. Read More...

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1-2-14 Shinkawa Cho, Higashi Kurume Shi, Tokyo 203-0013


Leaders grow as they take action to achieve their goals. Taking action is more about being motivated than about having information. If I’m not motivated, I won’t take action—even if I have good information. Read More...

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1-2-14 Shinkawa Cho, Higashi Kurume Shi, Tokyo 203-0013


What's a good way to cultivate a coaching culture? Having staff members ask each other a prescribed set of questions. Doing this results in staff members coaching and receiving coaching—without being trained in coaching. Read More...

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1-2-14 Shinkawa Cho, Higashi Kurume Shi, Tokyo 203-0013


As a Christian coach, you're free
Because God is at work in each of His people (Romans 8:28-29), you’re free. Because God is at work, you’re free not to give suggestions or advice to God’s people. Read More...

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1-2-14 Shinkawa Cho, Higashi Kurume Shi, Tokyo 203-0013


To encourage and empower others, listen
I like being listened to. When someone really listens to me, I feel heard, understood, and affirmed—and consequently, encouraged and empowered to pursue God’s calling. How about you? How do you feel when someone really listens to you? Read More...

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1-2-14 Shinkawa Cho, Higashi Kurume Shi, Tokyo 203-0013


How can you encourage others?
Everyone needs encouragement. You. Me. Everyone. How can you encourage others? Here’s a starter list: Read More...

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1-2-14 Shinkawa Cho, Higashi Kurume Shi, Tokyo 203-0013


Need to focus? Get coaching!
I like daily conversation. It flows freely, covers a range of topics, is not too focused, and is relaxing. How about you? But when I want to achieve a goal, I need a focused conversation. Read More...