Meet Kent: Bridges Alumni, Coach, Author and Originator
What's an originator? I'm glad you asked. (I may have made up the word.) An Originator is someone who creates original content. They have their own IP (Intellectual Property - I didn't make that one up.)
Kent originated the REST assessment and offers it for free! I would encourage you to take the assessment, but first let's hear his coach training story.
How did you first hear about coach training?
Honestly, two things were happening. First, I had been hearing about the coaching paradigm for a few years and had some respected friends who raved about it, including some friends who had trained with Bridges Coaching, and it piqued my interest. Being a voracious learner and practitioner, I get excited to learn new leadership skills. Second, I was kind of frustrated with old ministry paradigms. I wanted to see people get breakthroughs, but realized the old discipleship paradigm of “telling” doesn’t work with every personality. Additionally, had been thinking about doing coach training fo...
This Just In - Commentary On Coach Training
In the Bridges Life Coach certification course, we use a variety of adult learning techniques, and one of them is online discussion. We share different questions throughout the learning process so the trainees can interact with the material and process it by restating it, or sharing how it applies in their own life situations.
Among other things, we share about topics like why it is often hard to trust that God has a plan, what it looks like to actively listen in a real life situations, or how to ask empowering questions.
The following comment came from a list-building question requesting input on honest reasons we like to retain control. The trainee's words are in blue and italics.
I take control because apparently I know what's best for everyone!! I never knew I was such a know-it-all all when it comes to other people's lives! But it is out of concern and wanting what is best for them.
I love the honesty here! Whether we acknowledge it or not, most of us do think we know what...
What's Changed? (Think of last year this time.)
People don't often stumble into change.
Goals are rarely met without a plan.
"Situations" usually need attention to be resolved.
THIS IS WHERE COACHING COMES IN!
Whether you are the one who needs forward movement OR you want to truly help others on their journey, coaching and/or coach training is likely just what you need.
Personally, we've all been there - excuses, blame, or minimizing lead our thinking patterns regarding any particular area, and we just don't do anything. Maybe we wouldn't even define it as being "stuck", maybe we don't like that word, or we haven't even thought about being intentional in a certain area. We just carry on with our lives as usual.
Maybe you have family members, co-workers or friends that either talk about a certain area all the time, but aren't doing anything about it, or they avoid a certain area, and you wish they would talk about it and do something.
Coach training helps will ALL of these arenas!
You can be a conduit for change!
Next c...
This 3 Minute - 6 Question Quiz WILL Help!
Give yourself 1-5 points as directed for each line.
-I have a desire to help those around me move forward in their faith. [1= not really, 5= very much so]
-There are a couple of people in my life who keep talking to me about the same things over and over. [1= not a thing for me, 3= once in a while, 5= there are people I avoid for this reason]
-It seems like people want me to fix their problems or at least tell them what to do. [1= no one around me has stuff they are dearling with 5= There is so much stuff!]
-My schedule has plenty of margin. [1= I have time on my hands 5= It seems like there are more things I would like to do than I have time for.]
-I ask people insightful questions that consistently move them toward "Aha" moments. [1= I'm not sure 5= I wish I felt sure]
-i regularly care for people without carrying the weight of what they are going through. [1= It seems at times I care more for them than they care for themselves 5= Is that even possible?]
Tally your score and h...
2 Essentials For A Growth Mindset (okay - maybe 3) [Part 1]
A growth mindset does not come naturally for most, maybe even all, of us. Let me explain.
What comes naturally is excuses or blame. When faced with adversity, the common go-to is to reason is that we got the short straw and should be pitied or rescued from what we are facing. It's most common to think things are not supposed to be the way they are.
I don't mean to minimize difficulty, especially when it is traumatic, but the truth is that God always offers a plan. He is the King of making a way out for us. He has provided what we need to move forward.
A growth mindset, by definition, includes ... (you guessed it) growth. The opposite of growing is being stuck. When we make excuses or blame shift, we are choosing to remain stuck and not move forward.
A growth mindset is not only used for when facing difficulty, but also for any goals God has placed in our journey. A growth mindset requires us to take initiative and move forward to the destiny He has for us. Sometimes that destiny i...
What Do Passivity, Fear, and Indecision Have In Common?
Most of us understand that to move forward, we have to ... well, move forward. We have to take steps in order to achieve movement on whatever path is before us.
What is harder to come to terms with are the ingrained beliefs (poisons)that can hold us back from said movement. Let's explore these thoughts together. See if you can identify which, if any, of the following thoughts you have had personal experience with.
- If God wanted it to happen, He would ______________. Maybe it is a vocational shift of some sort, and you are waiting for it to come to you. Maybe it's about a relationship you would like to see go deeper, but you are holding back till the other person makes a move. You get the picture. You want God to make something happen. (Of course, there are cases when one is called on to be patient, but let's make sure it is God doing the prompting and not simply a lack of initiative on our part.)
- Antidote: Look at the desire in your heart and ask God for grace to take the ini ...
We ALL Do It! (But take heart...we can help with that!)
You know what I mean right?
We all "set" goals for the new year, or at the very least consider some things we would like to upgrade. Maybe yours are about physical things like working out or eating differently, or perhaps they are more ethereal things like reading more or journaling, or finally, maybe they are relational like calling family more or having people over for dinner.
Whatever you have been thinking of adding or deleting from your life change rarely happens without serious planning!
Intentionality is what Bridges Coaching is all about. It's even in our name - we help build Bridges to what could be - together! What could be in your life? What's the obstacle you need to build a bridge over?
If you need help choosing a worthy personal goal - we can help with that!
If you need assistance turning that goal into bite-sized actual steps - we can help with that!
If you need help maintaining your progress - we can help with that!
OR MAYBE YOU WANT TO HELP OTHERS - we can hel...
Why Take Coach Training? (Isn't it just for professionals?)
It's a good question. By definition "Coach" training should be for coaches only - right?
Let's start there. What is a coach? The concept connects with moving from here to there - like the Old West stagecoach or Cinderella's coach. For our purposes, we use the word coach to mean helping a person get from where they are to the destination(goal) they choose.
When you think about coaching that way - Coach Training is really for anyone who wants to be conversationally helpful when talking to anyone else.
- Parents talking to children or adult children.
- Pastors discipline parishioners.
- Employers interacting with employees.
- Adult children dealing with aging or elderly parents.
- Small Group Leaders with their groups.
- Siblings. Friends. Family.
Really, any conversation can level up to being impactful with the conversational tools offered in coach training.
The two primary building blocks in any good Coach Training are Active Listening and Asking Powerful Questions (or lately we...
6 Key Components In Quality Coach Training
What actually happens in Bridges Coach Training? Here we go!
You'll meet online 3 times for a group class with all who are in your cohort at the beginning, middle, and end of your training. In between those gatherings, you will meet with your peer partner and your facilitator, also likely online - which makes distance not a problem and eliminates travel time. Our low ratios of trainer to trainee are unparalleled.
1) We start with a clear definition of coaching.
There are many definitions, and different concepts, about what "coaching" really is. A fair amount of our trainees came to us because they felt they were good at guiding people to what they should do. Sports Coaches do that. Leadership Consultants often interchange the word "coach" with what they do.
At Bridges Coaching, we align with the International Coaching Federation (ICF) and Christian Coaches Network International (CCNI), whose definitions do not include any form of telling others what to do, but rather providing a...
Honest Ownership May The Most Important, and Most Neglected, Step
So, you've named your thing. You have decided on a goal, or named an obstacle you want to remove. Congrats!
The good news is that you can't move toward something till you name it, so good on ya! Yay!
But wait, there's more. Let me explain.
I can't tell you how often I have identified (named) a goal or an obstacle and felt strongly about it, only to see it fall by the wayside without a healthy assessment and then a plan for forward movement.
Here are a few examples from my life or others:
- That's it, no more sugar for me until I lose X pounds. What's wrong with me that I can't control myself?
- I see now that I keep thinking I am not enough, this pattern of thinking has cost me too much sideways energy. I can't keep facing life through this lens.
- Okay, I know God wants me to make that move! (or do that project, or start or finish that thing) This is going to be great!
- Here's the thing, this angst won't change until I talk to that person. I just need to do it.
Often there is...