Short Attention Spans-Dealing with attention deficit leaders
Speaking of short attention spans, I began working with a new coaching client recently. He's a very motivated CEO of a 5 year old company. During our first meeting he got up and left the room a couple of times. I didn't mind. But when he left the room his number one employee and I continued the discusssion. Then he'd return and we'd bring him up to date. No big deal. Just an indication that as a business coach I need to adjust my strategy a bit. This client has a super short attention span and I'm going to need to deal with it.
His number one is strong in the admin arena. She seems to be empowered, candid and motivated to help. Motivated to grow too. That's always a plus. I will work directly with her on most projects.
I knew I would have to fine tune my approach to this client when he'd keep asking "So what can you do for us?" And he said it in a way that implied by yesterday. This was pretty much from the beginning and it happened a few times during our first hour and a half meeting.
From a coaching perspective this kind of disposition can present a challenge. Clients with short attention spans can be coachable for sure. Lack of attention does not always imply lack of coachablity or interest. But the key for coaching is ensuring the client is highly coachable and will do what they say they will do.
As coaches, do we compromise our standards to the extent we take on clients who aren't coachable or who have a tough time doing what they need to do? I won't. If I can't keep the client on task, and they won't do what they say they will do, the relationship will be short lived for sure.
It will be interesting to see how the client will respond to his "assignments." I am thinking that he will stay in a strategic mode and rely heavily on his capable team to execute. Time will tell.
How do you handle those with short attention spans?
Warm regards.
Cliff Jones
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