January 2010
Harris Coaching and Consulting            
Thoughts for Leadership and Life


In This Issue
Getting Feed-Forward, not Feedback!
Resources - Energy Leadership
What is Coaching?

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Friends and Colleagues,

Fareed Zakaria, the editor of Newsweek International, had a very provocative editorial in the January 11, 2010, issue of The Washington Post - Al-Qaeda wants you to panic.  He notes that terrorism depends on the response of the onlookers. "If we are not terrorized, then the attack didn't work."  The attempt of the Christmas underbomber succeeded in that it has spooked lots and lots of people! 

Zakaria goes on to note that Al-Qaeda hasn't succeeded in carrying out any more attacks on the scale of 9-11.  Our system is working.  So he urges us to not get caught up in needless fear.

On the heels of Christmas, his words remind me of the angels' messages "Don't be afraid!"

But I think how often I limit myself by my anxieties about what people will think, about whether I'll fail, about whether I'll get lost in that foreign land if I don't know the language.  How about you?  To what extent are you letting your fears or anxieties get in the way, keeping you from even trying something new?

The main article in this month's newsletter tells about a creative way to get good ideas to improve your ministry.  It leapfrogs over fear and leads to new possibilities.  I hope you find it helpful.

Please think of friends who you think might benefit from this newsletter and send it to them using the "Forward to a Friend" button on the newsletter.  (please don't use the forward button on your Explorer or Firefox or other browser - that confuses the computers at Constant Contact) 

If you're intrigued by the idea of having a coach, please give me a call or send an email.  I'd love to help you identify and achieve that more that you know you can do.

Here's to a new year that is full of great adventures and opportunities!

Peace,
 
Bob




A Do-It-Yourself 360 - Feed-forward

Marshall Goldsmith, a leading coach and consultant, observes that most people hate the 360 evaluation process (where a person is rated by boss(es), peers, and subordinates.  He notes that

 "there is a fundamental problem with all types of feedback: it focuses on a past, on what has already occurred-not on the infinite variety of opportunities that can happen in the future.  As such, feedback can be limited and static, as opposed to expansive and dynamic."


In his book What Got You Here Won't Get You There, Goldsmith describes his feed-forward approach.  Here is my adaptation of his creative tool for getting good ideas about how to do your job better.


1.  Select 10-15 people who know your work well.  These might be

  • Members of the governing board
  • Members of the group that brought you to the church (if you had that system)
  • Friends you trust
  • Staff

 

2.  Tell them you are trying to improve your work as a pastor and you would value their suggestions.  This could be done either in person or by email.

 

3.  Make a request:  (for example)

 

How might I be a more effective preacher?  Please think about what I most need to hear and give me two suggestions for improvement.  I want you to be very candid in your suggestions; don't sugar coat your response.  Please get your suggestions back to me by next week at this time.

 

4.  Review the suggestions.  Identify the top two areas for improvement and two or three actions you might take to improve.

 

5.  Send an email thanking your respondents for their suggestions and telling them the specific actions you are taking in response to their feedback.

 

6.  Do what you have committed yourself to do.

 

7.  In a couple of months or so, check back with your respondents and ask "Here's what I have been trying.  How am I doing?" 

 

8.  Evaluate that feedback and make adjustments as necessary.

 

The idea is that people like to help out someone who genuinely wants to improve their work.  They like being consulted.  This in itself will cause them to see you more favorably.  You will receive candid suggestions.


One client asked this question about preaching and found a number of people wanted more stories and simpler sermon organization.  He tried it and found that people thought his sermons were a lot better!

 

Good luck!  Enjoy growing!


If you'd like to discuss this further, please get in touch.  I could coach you through the process.



Resources - books and other resources that have been helpful

Energy Leadership - Transforming Your Workplace and Your Life from the Core - by Bruce D. Schneider

This book tells a story about a consulting company that has fallen on hard times.  Morale is in the cellar.  Sales are tanking.  The founder and president thinks it's going bankrupt. An outside consultant comes in to help.  He leads the president through a process to manage his anxieties and identify positive energy that brings everyone up.

While this sounds a bit hackneyed, Schneider describes any number of churches I've seen where the pastor and leaders are burned out and can't seem to draw energy from their faith or anywhere else.  A cycle of blame and cynicism prevails. 

The Energy Leadership process presses the key leader(s) of an organization to find those resources necessary and take responsibility for simply radiating energy and hope.  Sounds like Easter or Pentecost!

Should you or your church feel caught in a depressive cycle, this approach very well might help.  Give me a call and we can explore it.

What books or resources have you found especially helpful?  I'd be glad (with available space) to share your suggestions.
Future Issues (monthly)
  • Discerning a Mission and Vision
  • Using a Coaching Approach in Leading

I hope you have found this newsletter informative and helpful.  Please subscribe to continue receiving it (or unsubscribe to stop).  If you'd like to explore coaching, please email or call me.

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Bob
Robert Harris
Harris Coaching and Consulting