Power Tool: FOCUS

A Coaching Power Tool Created by Beng Lai Tan
(Business Coach, SINGAPORE)

Follow One Course Until Successful

Focus

People think focus means saying yes to the thing you’ve got to focus on. But that’s not what it means at all. It means saying “no” to the hundred other good ideas that there are. You have to pick carefully. I’m actually as proud of the things we haven’t done as the things I have done. Innovation is saying “no” to 1000 things. Apple Worldwide Developer Conference, 13-16 May 1997.

Priorities

Your time is limited, so don’t waste it living someone else’s life. Don’t be trapped by dogma – which is living with the results of other people’s thinking. Don’t let the noise of others’ opinions drown out your own inner voice. And most important, have the courage to follow your heart and intuition. Commencement Address, Stanford University, 12 June 2005.

Steve Jobs mantras are Focus with Simplicity.  Our time is limited and we need to prioritize our focus.  What is focus?

Definition of focus

noun

1. a central point, as of attraction, attention, or activity:

The need to prevent a nuclear war became the focus of all diplomatic efforts.

2. Physics. a point at which rays of light, heat, or other radiation, meet after being refracted or reflected.
3. Optics.

• the focal point of a lens, on which rays converge or from which they deviate.
• the focal length of a lens; the distance from a focal point to a corresponding principal plane.
• the clear and sharply defined condition of an image.
• the position of a viewed object or the adjustment of an optical device necessary to produce a clear image: in focus; out of focus.

4. Geometry. (of a conic section) a point having the property that the distances from any point on a curve to it and to a fixed line have a constant ratio for all points on the curve.
5. Geology. the point of origin of an earthquake.
6. Pathology. the primary center from which a disease develops or in which it localizes.

verb (used with object), focused.

7. to bring to a focus or into focus: to focus the lens of a camera.
8. to concentrate: to focus one’s thoughts.

verb (used without object), focused, focusing.

9. to become focused.

There is only one Focus point for an optical lens to produce a clear image.  In focus is to adjust the optical device necessary to produce a clear image. A camera will take a clear picture if it is in focus. Same in our life we must focus our priorities one at the time in order to achieve clarity for our action.

Self-Application

We need to prioritize before we focus. Without prioritization we cannot focus. In our life we play different roles and each have their objectives. We are living in the present moment of 24 hours per day and this is what we have.  At 00:00 hour a new day begin. To live in the present moment we need to focus on our 24 hours to the fullness.

What is your value of your 24 hours?
Sleeping = 8 hours
3 meals + rest = 3 hours
Effective time per day is 13 hours.
Everyone have only 24 hours!

Since our time is priceless we must focus on time on our priority.

What are our priorities?

Coaching Application

In our coaching practice we must recognize time and priorities are our main FOCUS. When the client identifies their list of priorities, they need to prioritize them on the most important to the least important.

Once the client establishes their top 3 priorities to focus, they need to allocate their time slot to focus on their priorities. FOCUS become ineffective once we have more than 3 priorities, preferably one priority will leverage your 100% focus point in your life. Not easy but the clients must establish their priorities and time to focus. The lens achieves clarity on one focus point!

The 12 Week Year: Get More Done in 12 Weeks Than Others Do in 12 Months by Brian P. Moran, Michael Lennington.

This book focus on how to maximize 12 weeks by prioritizes your goal is getting thing done within 12 weeks. Planning for 12 weeks is within our focus length but to focus on 52 week we will be out of focus.

Using 12 weeks to achieve effective FOCUS Coaching.

As a Coach we need to FOCUS on:

1. Listening
2. Powerful Question
3. 12 weeks Action Plan

Reflection

1. When have you experience focus in your life?
2. What did it take for you to focus?
3. How do you help your client to prioritize?
4. How do you get your client to develop a focus strategy?

Follow One Course Until Successful