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Focus

In this blog, I will introduce the coaching community to a coaching tool, which I helped design, called “FOCUS.”

FOCUS is an acronym where F is Fallacy, O is Orientation, C is Confound, U is Unabated and S is Salvage.

While each of these words has different meanings, for the purpose of this tool, the definition of each of word is given below:

  • Fallacy: The use of invalid or otherwise faulty reasoning, or “wrong moves” in the construction of a word.
  • Orientation: Locus of control
  • Confound: To fail to distinguish or mix up.
  • Unabated: Sustaining an original intensity or maintaining full force with no decrease.
  • Salvage: Recovering.

The tool is designed based on Social Cognitive Neuroscience.

FALLACY INNER CRITICAL THOUGHT

  • The inner critical thought needed to focus in coaching.
  • The inner “Unconscious critical thought” sets the stage for wrong moves in choice of words.

ORIENTATION INTERNAL OR EXTERNAL LOCUS OF CONTROL

  • The inner critical talk leads to external locus of control and compounds it.

CONFOUND MIX UP

  • The Working memory is flooded with experiences that the client “consciously Focus on.”

UNABATED SUSTAINING THE THINKING

  • The Inner Critical thought and External locus of control forces the client to confound his thinking. The Thinking is driven by “Top Down Processing,” the background knowledge that influences perceptions.

SALVAGE RECOVERY

  • The client needs to be supported to bring “Self-directed Effort” to soar to new heights. Salvage work: Help the client focus on FOCUS and how it influences their perception. Show them the data. In effect, you are focusing the client on “Bottom Up Processing.”

TOOLS TOOLS THAT HELP IN THIS WORK

  • Fallacy: Fixed vs. Growth Mindset and Learner vs. Judger mode.
  • Orientation: Rotter’s Locus of Control Scale.
  • Confound: Mindfulness practice.
  • Unabated: Cognitive restructuring, Reframing—Changing minds, Cognitive Retuning.
  • Salvage: Experience—Dependent Plasticity using Neurobic Exercises.

The FOCUS tool can be of great use especially in life coaching!

R R Krishna

Ramamurthy Krishna, PCC & GPHR is the Director of Potential Genesis HR Services, LLP Coaching School. He runs a ACTP program. In addition to being an author, blogger and speaker, he is also an executive coach, trainer and coach mentor. He is presently working on coaching in Indian languages.

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