The Circles concept was developed by Stephen Covey (‘7 Habits of Highly Effective People’ and  the ‘7 Habits of Highly Effective Families’ 

The wider circle is the Circle of Concern - which represents everything that matters to a person

In the centre we have the Circle of Control: where we can place things like our actions, how we management our time or finances, what you read/learn, what you eat and who you engage with. These are the things that we can directly impact and do something about.

The middle circle is the Circle of influence.: where we don’t have direct control but we have some ability to effect outcomes. This might include getting other people onboard to achieve your goals, changing the environment to encourage certain behaviour in others or planning ahead so that optimum outcomes may occur. This is where we achieve our aims by getting other people to support us.

The circle of concern ae about those things we have no control over. These include things like the weather, bad drivers, services closing down or who the American’s elect as their president. This is where we spend time worrying, ruminating, complaining and comparing ourselves to others.

Covey explains that reactive people spend their energy focused in the circle of concern space where they get very little reward or gain. Proactive people on the other hand are more likely to spend time in the circle of control and circle of influence. Here they can concentrate their effort and energy in ways that contribute to better outcomes.

In this session, we discuss some common questions that we ask ourselves, as they relate to these circles. 

Instructions Coach and Be Coached (CBC Model) 

INDIVIDUALLY (5 minutes) 

1. Review your goal and prepare to describe it to another parent 

2. Identify the strengths that will help you progress your goal

IN PAIRS - Coaching Discussion (10 minutes per person)

You will interview each other about your next goal, your strengths and how to achieve your next step right after the discussion.. 

Decide: Who will be the first interviewer and who will be interviewed

Interviewers: fill your peer’s goal details  on the other side of this sheet

1. Write in what their long term goal is. Discuss how the goal supports the interviewee’s life and wishes.

2. Reflect on the interviewee’s strengths.

3. Discuss which strength(s)  they will use to work on their goal and how.       Ask in what way will a particular strength help them achieve this goal.

4. Clarify what is the first achievable step that they can work on right now. Note: It can be to do some research, to make a list of options or register for something that will bring them closer to their goal.

Change roles and repeat

INDIVIDUALLY (5 minutes) 

3. ACHIEVE YOUR FIRST STEP 

IF YOU FINISH EARLY

4.  STRENGTHS SPOTTING DISCUSSION

Ideas for possible discussion questions:

• What did you find out? How did it feel to achieve your first step?

• What were you feeling? 

• Did you feel it anywhere in your body? 

• How might you feel when you achieve the long term goal? 

• What did you enjoy most about interviewing?”

• What was it like to hear your strengths named?

• How did linking strengths to a goal shift your thinking?

Self care and wellbeing are a cornerstone of your actions. Let's learn how next.