It's Tuesday at 2:00pm! (PST Time: I live and work from Southern California)
I was teaching a class of graduate students at a l local university, and I was asked how Life Coaching is different from Executive Coaching. I spent 3 hours walking through the difference, and talking about the wholistic approach Life Coaching takes in addressing all domains of a leader, not simply the business side of executive coaching.
Some of you may not know that I do Life Planning with strategic leaders around the world. CLICK HERE to learn more.
While teaching the class, I was reminded how powerful some of the tools we use are in simply determining where we are today, answering the question "how did I get here?", and in figuring out where we're going.
Over the next 4 weeks, I want to share a couple of these tools with you, one at a time. I'd like to encourage you to take a few minutes to do each one, and then figure out what you can learn from each of them.
If you need help, don't hesitate to ask.
The premise of Life Planning is this: If we want to figure out where we're going, we have to look back and learn from where we've been. Or, more simply: "Perspective before Planning" (Tom Paterson).
TOOL #1: 4 HELPFUL LISTS
This is a really basic tool that gives some great perspective. There's a similar tool that is used in business called a SWOT (Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities, Threats). The 4 Helpful Lists applies more personally and helps you address all areas of your life.
I've used this tool with executive leaders, with my family, with leadership teams, and I use it personally. There are many applications. Here's the idea:
To help determine, "Where am I now", take some time to answer these questions:
* What is RIGHT?
* What is WRONG
* What is MISSING?
* What is CONFUSING?
Write down the first things that come to your mind. Here are some examples...
What is right? My relationship with my spouse and kids is good; My financial situation is good; My church role is good. These are things you want to OPTIMIZE.
What is wrong? I'm not happy in my job; I need to get out of debt; I need to restore a relationship. These are things you need to CHANGE.
What is missing? I need to get to the gym regularly; I need a regular date with my spouse; I need a challenge in my job. These are things you need to ADD.
What is confusing? I don't know what to do about my boss and my job; I feel stuck at our church; I don't know how to change my personal habits. These are things you need to CLARIFY.
I want to challenge you to take a few minutes today to answer these questions, and to write them down. Something happens when we put these on paper. Create a simple template and identify some things in each category. These can be from any domain of your life: Personal, Family, Faith, Community or Vocation.
You will then identify some things that need to be addressed.
* When you identify the things that are RIGHT, you celebrate those things. It reminds you of good things and makes you grateful!
* When you identify the things that are WRONG, it helps you focus on the things that need to be addressed now. These are things that you shouldn't ignore and should pay attention to.
* When you identify the things that are MISSING, you can create a plan to add them into your life. Don't overwhelm yourself with 20 things. Find one or two that you've been thinking about, and find a way to add them slowly into your habits and routine.
* When you identify the things that are CONFUSING, you are able to plot a course to define these. You might ask for help from someone, you might step back to get a different look at it, you might do some research. You do you need to do to find clarity.
WHERE ARE YOU NOW?
That's the question I'm asking today.
Do the 4 Helpful Lists, and share some of the things you learned in the process.
"Confidence comes not from always being right but from not fearing to be wrong." Peter T. McIntyre
"The first step to personal growth, is the ability to make an honest assessment of where you currently are."
"Leaders think and talk about the solutions. Followers think and talk about the problems." Brian Tracy
