| When John hired a coach, he felt like he was spinning | | | | action? One reason is the transient nature of the |
| his wheels – going nowhere. He hoped that | | | | position. With the average stay of a pastor being 4-5 |
| coaching would give him the objective assistance he | | | | years, we often find ourselves in the position of |
| needed to add traction to his ministry. | | | | leaving unfinished projects behind, of not getting to |
| John's story is not unusual. A common reason that | | | | experience the satisfaction and fulfillment of |
| people hire a coach is for the accountability that will | | | | completion. And that could explain why we like to |
| keep them in action, symbolically holding their feet to | | | | hang on to that planning phase. |
| the fire. And that's the focus John's coaching shortly | | | | When we're planning, we're in control. When we take |
| took. | | | | action, our plan takes on a life of its own and the |
| Week after week, John would create, revise and | | | | outcome is turned over to God's hands. There's the |
| recreate his plans, compiling mounds of documents, | | | | very real risk of disturbing the peace, and facing the |
| research and references along the way. And week | | | | reactions of disgruntled congregants who don't want |
| after week, his coach would gently ask, "What action | | | | anything to change. So we end up equating action |
| have you taken?" | | | | with stress. And nothing changes. |
| As a pastor, John is used to doing a lot of public | | | | If you notice yourself getting caught up in planning |
| speaking – talking about things, not necessarily | | | | but getting nowhere, challenge yourself to take one |
| doing things. So that's what he's doing – a lot of | | | | small action every day. If you're not working with a |
| talking and planning. On the one hand he feels stuck | | | | coach, find a buddy you can check in with about |
| and he knows he's not moving, but on the other he | | | | what you're going to do and again when you've done |
| feels like he's expending lots of energy (creating, | | | | it. |
| revising and recreating his plans). So it's confusing to | | | | Taking action can be messy and unpredictable. But it's |
| him why nothing is changing or moving forward. | | | | the only way to move forward. Are you ready to |
| Why is it so much easier to plan than it is to take | | | | stop planning and start doing? |