Introduction

Welcome to Episode 1 of the Coaching Hive podcast. I am your host, Dr. Moira and it is great to be here with you today. We look at topics and concerns that impact health coaches along their journey to guiding clients to improved health and wellness. The Coaching Hive empowers coaches to be focused with their learning intentions while maintaining forward business momentum.

At the Coaching Hive, we strive to be effective, efficient, and have fun so that work becomes a joy and you still have time for the important things in life like your family, friends, and hobbies. Yes, I said hobbies. If you are thinking there isn’t time for hobbies, you might be right. There have been seasons of life where hobbies weren’t possible, and other seasons where I simply didn’t work efficiently, effectively, and in a way that prioritized self-care.

As an educator with over 15 years of experience and coach instructor for the past 6 years, my schedule is always packed, and I have become an expert in efficiency.

This podcast is rooted in learning and efficiency. In fact, to be more effective and efficient, each month we will focus on a new topic. That means 12 new learning topics a year AND time to dig in without feeling overwhelmed.

Let’s talk a little about how the process works. The first week of each month, we will concentrate on getting on the same page, talk briefly about the topic and where we are headed. We might even complete an action item to get you in the mindset for the month. Then, throughout the month we will zero in on the important concepts and details. We will wrap up each month with a “Put It In Action” challenge. This challenge gives you a chance to put into practice what we have been talking about throughout the month in a specific and detailed way.

Just like me, you might be busy and listening to this podcast as you take care of other tasks. These podcasts will always be child friendly, so go ahead and play it through your speaker while you fold clothes, prep your dinner, or make the bed.

Now that we have those details out of the way and you know where we are headed, on to this month’s topic!

The Topic

In the beginning of a new year, we often find ourselves setting new goals, setting intentions for this to be the year that everything goes smoothly, and choosing a word for the year (gosh, I see this all over my Facebook feed and no, before you ask, I have never come up with a word for the year because I worry it will lock me onto a path). What this all boils down to is the idea that you are finding your focus. Just like we use focusing tools such as agenda mapping with our coaching clients to help them find focus, we must also be intentional about finding focus.

This month, the Coaching Hive podcast will be all about focusing for efficiency. Being focused and efficient often allows you to accomplish what you set out to do AND without the feeling of overwhelm. What could be better?

Let me give you a quick example of what I mean before we jump into the details. I love to learn and read. In fact being a learner is my number 1 strength according to the Clifton Strengths Finder. This means that as a professor and instructor I am probably in the right career, but it also means that I am constantly piling up books, articles, websites, and podcasts to devour. The problem comes in that there is not time to go through EVERYTHING I pick out. I have to focus in on what is most important, set priorities, and then make some cuts. Not everything has to be read or listened to right now. Some items might go onto an “optional” list. Without finding focus for my learning goals, it can feel overwhelming.

Harvard