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- The Parliament Vol. 1, No. 14
The Parliament Vol. 1, No. 14
What Do YOU Want to Focus On?
Thomas Greek
October 11, 2024
COACHING PROMPT OF THE WEEK
“What do you want to focus on during this conversation?”
This prompt is a great opportunity to relinquish some of our positional authority when working with our team members. Rather than driving the conversation, consider asking your employee what they would like to take away from your time together. This works great in a one-on-one meeting to discuss performance or development, in a mentorship capacity, and even when a team member seeks you out for help with a problem.
Their tendency may be to defer to us as their leaders, but using this question can help put them back in the position of being authors of their own stories! Here are some additional prompts you can try to keep the conversation going:
What have you been thinking about lately?
What are you curious to learn more about?
Is there a specific obstacle or challenge you’d like to address?
Remember that coaching isn’t telling! Coaching is about staying curious and making space for those in our care to become confident authors of their own stories.
IN CASE YOU MISSED IT
Sometimes a little really does go a long way. When we're looking to make changes in our lives, it can be tempting to shift into overhaul mode. Whether it's a weight loss goal or taking on a new hobby, our desire can be to go "all in." But we don't always have the time, resources, or capacity to do that.
This is a dilemma that comes up with my clients all the time. And the good news is we don't have to make radical shifts to realize meaningful progress toward our goals! A little extra effort - that one extra degree needed to go from hot to boiling - can make all the difference in the world when paired with some persistence.
What are some ways you can give just a little bit more to get even greater results?
Want more leadership & coaching tips?! Check out our YouTube channel, and while you’re there, be sure to subscribe!
“All of humanity's problems stem from man's inability to sit quietly in a room alone.” ― Blaise Pascal
A few years ago, my partner and I moved on to a small hobby farm. Just under 3 acres. Nothing fancy. We moved because we needed a change. We had lost multiple loved ones in short order. Our once undeveloped neighborhood had grown to capacity. And of course the pandemic and all its chaos was in the mix. We needed space!
It has ended up being one of the best decisions we’ve made as a couple for many reasons. One that I’ve begun to really appreciate recently is the sense of solitude I’m able to feel on the farm. We’re never truly alone thanks to our various fur and feathered friends, but I do find myself leaning into moments of being the only human in the space. Taking the time to just breathe, with no agenda other than being in the present moment.
I try to cultivate a sense of being bored, which lets my mind wander and dream, and a sense of being boring, where I’m not trying to be of interest to others and simply allow myself to ‘be.’ There’s something about allowing time for introspection and reflection that gets lost in today’s fast-paced world. Pascal's quote implies that if we were better able to understand ourselves, our motivations, and our biases, we might be better equipped to address the challenges we face as individuals and as a society.
What if next time you’re tempted to stare at a screen, you stare off into space instead?
RECOMMENDED READING
BE A FORCE MULTIPLIER!
Discuss the concepts of 212 degrees with your team. What are a few ways you can make your product or your work environment better by pushing just a little harder and going the extra step? See if you can come up with three ways to improve your workplace!
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