Who Offers Them A Plan... GOOD NEWS! (and hard news...)
Wouldn't you just love it if you could see someone who would just tell you what to do when you were in a jam? If they were sage and savvy and could come through every time it would be well worth the investment.
GOOD NEWS! (and hard news...)
Here's the skinny. We DO have Someone we can go to for the plan! Our plan! Our personal best next steps!
The Holy Spirit IS our Guide! The coaching conversation helps us discern the plan God has for us.Ā Proverbs 4:11 says, "IĀ amĀ guidingĀ youĀ in the way of wisdom, andĀ IĀ amĀ leadingĀ youĀ on the right path."
Experience tells us it is not that easy though. So the good news is we DO have a Divine Guide, the hard news is we have to grow in learning how to discern. I don't know about you, but I swing that pendulum back and forth. Sometimes I am so sure that what I am sensing is the plan turns out not to work out. Does that mean I missed it? Or was it just a test? Other times I am paralyzed with concern or fear, or the cost seems too high and the decision ...
Donald Miller, StoryBrand & Coaching
Donald Miller first came on the national scene as the author of Blue Like Jazz. A movie was recently made of the book so you can catch that if you like, it's sad and may make some angry, but it's his story and was part of his journey to becoming a thought leader in explaining and understanding how people make decisions.
Today, Miller leads a marketing company called StoryBrand. He builds a premise for forwarding products that takes a refreshingly different, and surprisingly kingdom-minded, approach.Ā
We'll be taking a look at how the StoryBrand approach is in many ways similar to a good coaching session.Ā
In essence, Coaching is helping someone write the story they want to live.
What's your story? Are you who you want to be?
How about those around you? Those who look to you? Are you helping them write their stories?
Here's a quick overview of StoryBrand. (I found this on google, so I think it is okay to share it, but want to include a plug for the book by the same name, truly som...
Decisions Come From One of Two Places
In our journey of coaching people better by knowing their Myers-Briggs makeup our third letters are T & F, for Thinking and Feeling. (First, we had I/E for Introversion and ExtroversionĀ and then N/S for INtuitive and Sensor,)
Do you know your letters?
I'm an INTJ - Introverted INtuitive Thinker and Judger (more on the 4th letters next time). My husband is ENFJ, so I know a lot about the other letters since we differ on almost all of them.Ā
Let's talk about T & F. Thinking and Feeling refers to how we make our decisions. Thinkers make decisions from logic. I used to think Feelers made their decisions from emotion and that bothered me because emotions can change, but turns out I was wrong. Feelers make their decisions based on values. Let me explain.
Thinkers look at the facts. They calculate efficiency and cost for effect while factoring in variables to come up with what they feel is the best (most logical) option.
Feelers look at the values. They consider who will be affected and...
It's All About The Timing Orientation (N & S in Myers-Briggs)
People are so different! God designed us that way :) Learning to discern how we were designed and how others differ can be one of the most valuable insights we can have personally. (You can learn more in our Destiny by Design course!)Ā
Our focus today is the N and S orientation in Myers-Briggs. What does the N and S stand for? I'm so glad you asked.Ā
N = Intuitive (since they already used "I" for Introversion they chose "N" for Intuitive.)
S = Sensor
Here are the definitions.Ā
Intuitives are future-oriented. They think about what could be. Sometimes they live in a world of what could be, or even what should be. They are often dreaming or thinking of how things should change to move things toward a preferred norm. Intuitives may have a more difficult time living in the present, being content with things as they are, or sometimes even celebrating incremental change. They usually live in the future more than the present and want to implement change through innovation.
Sensors are pr...
4 Reasons I Don't Really Like Coaching...
Bet you didn't ever think I would have a list of reasons titledĀ "Why I don't really like coaching?"
(And why God has better plans than me.)
Here is the honest truth.
1) I would rather have someone tell me what to do. It's hard work having to discern on my own. It would just be easier to have a go-to person who would talk out loud to me and give me step-by-step instructions.
(Turns out God wants a personal relationship with me and for me to have a growing adult relationship with HIm.)
2) I want to be that person for others all the time. I want to tell them what I think. I often feel people are being too risky, or taking too long to move forward, or not counting all the costs... a dozen things. It would be way easier to just share my brilliance than to help them discern the next steps God is guiding them toward.
(But what if? What if their risk tolerance is higher than mine because God made them that way and He IS guiding them toward that choice? What if I am being impatient with t...
Paul Used Questions Too...
Chapter 2 of Philippians starts with a list of questions.
Does your life in Christ give you strength? Does his love comfort you? Do we share together in the spirit? Do you have mercy and kindness?Ā
This verse always makes me pause and think. Does my life in Christ give me strength? In all honesty, sometimes I don't feel strong. I feel like I am not up to all that is on my plate or on my mind...
Then I look at the comfort question - I'm challenged there too. I'm one of those people who doesn't spend too much time thinking about how I feel, but then I spiral into overwhelm because I didn't read the warning signs...Ā
What Paul could have done was just make statements. That would have gone somethingĀ like this:
You should be strong because life in Christ gives you what you need. You should feel comfort and share in the Spirit, as well as have experience receiving and giving mercy and kindness.
I'm quite sure that if that verse was presented like that I would not pause and think t...
What Jesus Could Have Said... a one chapter snapshot
Jesus loved to ask questions. He often replied to questions with questions or used questions to teach.Ā
Questions get people thinking.
Let's take a look at just one chapter of the Bible and see how Jesus used this tool.Ā
Luke 20 finds Jesus in the temple teaching.
In Luke 20:3 Jesus is answering a question about where His authority comes from and He says, "I will also ask you a question. Tell me: When John baptized people, was that authority from God or just from other people?"
Jesus could have simply answered the question. He could have said, "My authority comes from God, who is my Father. He and I are one with the Holy Spirit."Ā
Why do you think He didn't just say it clearly like that?
He goes on to tell a story of a vineyard owner and his son.
(Side note: Jesus often told stories and then just walked away - I would have probably taken great pains to explain the story and make sure the listeners "got it".Ā Do you think He just trusted the Holy Spirit to reveal the meaning?)
...What Kind Of An "Aha" Are You Looking For? Core Competency #7
Coaching Core Competency #7: Evokes Awareness
Have you ever heard people talking about an "Aha" moment? They look different for different people and even different for the same person at different times.
Here are a few I can think of:
- "Oh, that's what I should do!"
- "I see now, I am believing a lie, that's what has been holding me back!"
- "Yeah, I need to wait on that."
-"What if I just started with one small step?"
-"Maybe I should get some help with that."
These are all actually "Aha" moments I have had personally. Here are a few more:
"I see a pattern here... IĀ have thought that before."
"Oh! God wants to reveal Himself to me in a new way here!"
"I think I just need to try it and see if it works."
Aha moments are most often preceded by two things: a powerful question and space to talk it out.
The Coaching industry uses the words "powerful questions", at Bridges we often say "empowering questions" and lately I have been taking it a little further and saying "insightf...
Guest Blog: Applying Working Genius To Your Real LifeĀ
My daughter Natalie has been leaning into the Working Genius model and wrote this blog with a real-life story and application. If you are an inventor, galvanizer, or discerner this will be of special interest, but don't just think personally - you coach, work with, and have family members who are inventors, galvanizers, and discerners too! Hope you get as much out of it as I did!
[That's Natalie and her husband, Mike, in the picture.] Here's her blog:
Have you been reading the genius blogs and wondering how can this apply to real life? What if I am the only participant at my workplace or in my family who is interested in this topic? Especially if your genius is not galvanizing.Ā
Fear not, I am a galvanizer. Wait discerners, donāt go anywhereā¦ this blog is actually for you. As an inventor and galvanizer, I am attracted to discernersā¦ my husband, several former bosses, and many of my closest friends. Often times I have felt that I cause them distress, sometimes communicated clearly ...
'23 Reflection Questions & '24 Vision Questions
I wrote some end-of-the-year questions for our church and wanted to share them here as well.
Check out these thought-provoking questions and conversation prompts for this holiday season! Use them on your own, in a family group, or at your New Year's party.
2023 Reflections:
- What one event stands out to you that marks this last year ā maybe something you are grateful for, something you overcame, or a little of both?
- What relationships were significant for you this last year?
- When did you have the most fun?
- Was there a verse or phrase that was especially meaningful?
- What fruit of the spirit marked your year? (Love, Joy, Peace, Patience, Kindness, Goodness, Faithfulness, Gentleness, Self-Control).
2024 Vision:Ā
- What brings you joy and how could you do more of it in this next year?
- Who is one person you could invest in this next year and how could that make a difference in their life?
- What accomplishment would you like to start or complete this next year?
- Where is one pla ...