The document discusses how pastors often get caught up in endless planning rather than taking action. It notes that a common reason people hire coaches is for the accountability to keep them taking action instead of just planning. The pastor John had this issue, constantly revising plans but not implementing them. Taking action opens possibilities but also risks, which is why planning feels safer. The document encourages taking small, daily actions and finding an accountability partner to start achieving more through doing instead of just planning.

1. Stop planning and start doing!
Upcoming
Events Stop planning and start doing!
When John hired a coach, he felt like he was spinning his wheels –
going nowhere. He hoped that coaching would give him the
objective assistance he needed to add traction to his ministry.
John’s story is not unusual. A common reason that people hire a
coach is for the accountability that will keep them in action,
symbolically holding their feet to the fire. And that's the focus
John's coaching shortly took.
Week after week, John would create, revise and recreate his plans,
compiling mounds of documents, research and references along
the way. And week after week, his coach would gently ask, "What
action have you taken?"
Meet The
Coaches! As a pastor, John is used to doing a lot of public speaking – talking
about things, not necessarily doing things. So that's what he's
doing – a lot of talking and planning. On the one hand he feels
stuck and he knows he's not moving, but on the other he feels like
he's expending lots of energy (creating, revising and recreating his
plans). So it's confusing to him why nothing is changing or moving
forward.
Why is it so much easier to plan than it is to take action? One
reason is the transient nature of the position. With the average stay
of a pastor being 4-5 years, we often find ourselves in the position
of leaving unfinished projects behind, of not getting to experience
the satisfaction and fulfillment of completion. And that could explain
why we like to hang on to that planning phase.
When we're planning, we're in control. When we take action, our
plan takes on a life of its own and the outcome is turned over to
Val Hastings God's hands. There's the very real risk of disturbing the peace, and
facing the reactions of disgruntled congregants who don't want
Click here to meet all our anything to change. So we end up equating action with stress. And
coaches! nothing changes.
If you notice yourself getting caught up in planning but getting
Contact nowhere, challenge yourself to take one small action every day. If
Info you're not working with a coach, find a buddy you can check in with
about what you're going to do and again when you've done it.
Ph: 610-385-8034

2. Fax: 484-944-1520 Taking action can be messy and unpredictable. But it's the only
val@coaching4clergy.com way to move forward. Are you ready to stop planning and start
www.coaching4clergy.com doing?
Add Val as a friend When pastors get caught up primarily in talking and planning, they
on Facebook may achieve a fleeting sense of excellence, but while doing that
they lose their effectiveness. That shift from excellence to
Connect with Val on effectiveness is something I've expanded on in my upcoming e-
LinkedIn book. If you're ready to stop planning and start doing, stay tuned
for more news and be one of the first to read it.