NID Refocus

Coaching - Reality

Remember ... GROW stands for:

Goal — what’s our goal?
Realities — what’s your reality?
Options — let’s explore some options
Will — what will you do?

The second step in the GROW Model is to explore the realities in the person's life and ministry.  You may spend a lot of time in this area as help them unpack and understand what's going on.  Ask questions like:

• What’s your reality?
• Tell me more about ...
• What’s going on?
• What’s been challenging?
• Why? … Why? … Why?

The key in this step is asking questions.  In fact, you may spend more time in this step unpacking the reality than in any other.  It's important to help the person clearly understand the reality of the situation before moving forward.  Jim Collins, author of Good to Great, would call this "confronting the brutal facts."

Watch for more on the GROW Model!

Coaching - Goal

Groups Ablaze! and Refocus have both adapted a coaching model from “Coaching for Performance” by John Whitmore titled the “GROW Model.”  One reason coaching is built around the GROW model is because it is highly reproducible. You can be up and running in no time.

GROW stands for:

Goal — what’s our goal?
Realities — what’s your reality?
Options — let’s explore some options
Will — what will you do?

The first step is to determine the goal or the coaching session.  Ask questions like:

• What’s our goal?
• What do you need to talk about today?
• What’s a good outcome out of our time together?
• Here are a couple of items I’d like to talk about …

Watch for more on the GROW Model!

10:2b -- Ask the Lord of the Harvest

Phil Ressler, pastor at Lord of Life Church in LaFox, IL, recently wrote a very interesting post on his blog.  He's been reading a book titled, "Comeback Churches."   He says, "It has given me some good insights. It has reinforced a number of things."  After reading his post I may just get that book! 

For the 10:2b reference, check out Luke 10:2b! 

Read Entire Post

FLR Prayers

 

Congregational Focused Living Retreats continue.  This weekend Trinity, Burr Ridge, will gather for their congregational Focused Living Retreat.  Please pray for Trinity, their team as they lead the retreat and all those who participate. We look forward to hearing how the weekend went!

Personal Summit in the Rear View Mirror

Today's personal summit was well worth the time and effort ... at least for me!  Five of us gathered at Walcamp's Thiel Center for a day of meditation and reflection.  I was especially moved by the "connecting with God" time.  During this portion of the summit I listened to some songs on my mp3 player.  I was particularly moved by "Great Is Thy Faithfulness" and "In Christ Alone."  WOW!!!  Two wonderful songs!!

I should also say the fellowship and conversation with the other participants over lunch was great, too!!

Coaching

“Good coaching isn’t the art of giving good answers. It’s the art of asking good questions.”   — Bob Logan

Coaches ...

• Come along side you as an encourager.
• Draw out insight based on your past experience.
• Facilitate change, so there is a focus on action. 
• Ask the question ... “What do you need?”

Coaching isn't about an expert coming in to diagnose a problem, then telling you what to do and giving you prescriptions.  Coaching is about asking the right questions, offering a fresh perspective and then helping you develop a plan to move forward.

Personal Summit

Refocus Personal Summits provide a scheduled time away for time alone with God, reflection and recreation.  Join other Refocus participants at Walcamp!

Mon, May 5, 2008
9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.
Thiel Center at Walcamp

... open to all past and present Refocus participants!

Click Here for Summit Outline (pdf) 

Click Here for Summit Journal Template (doc)

Update on Focused Living Retreats

 

Three churches in the current Refocus group had Focused Living Retreats this weekend.  Here they are ...

• Christ Our Savior, Winfield
• King of Glory, Elgin
• St. Paul, Matteson

How about some reports on how the weekend went?? 

Refocus Tune Up Workshop

You're invited to the first ever Refocus Tune Up Workshop! This day-long event is designed for all past and present Refocus congregations. It will be a chance to reengage with Refocus network participants and hear what's happening in each congregation.

Wed, May 28, 2008
9:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.
Word of Life Lutheran Church
879 Tudor Drive
Naperville, IL 60563

8:30 a.m.	Registration & Coffee
9:00 a.m.	Welcome & Opening Devotion
9:30 a.m.	Presentation: Congregational Life Cycle & Vision (new topic) Learn about congregational life cycle and how it naturally impacts your congregations.  This will be a very practical presentation with application to your congregation.
11:30 a.m.	Lunch
12:15 p.m.	Network Reconnect A chance to reconnect with your Refocus network. Please bring a copy of your congregation's Biblical purpose and strategic initiatives.
1:30 p.m.	Closing
2:00 p.m.	Head for Home!

 

Click Here to Register

Phase II Strategic Initiatives

At this week's alumni network meeting we had two primary agenda items ...

• To work through Patrick Lencioni's very insightful material on the "Five Dysfunctions of a Team."
• To review the strategic initiatives developed in Phase II of Refocus.

Our Savior, Carol Stream, has actually created a special Website to share not only their strategic initiatives, but their progress as well.  Check it out as a way to effectively keep your congregation informed.

Our Savior's Strategic Initiatives