How to Coach Yourself and Others Essential Knowledge For Coaching | Página 378

Working together to develop a plan builds stronger relationships and a
deeper shared understanding of what needs to be done, so if unexpected
things
happen
individuals
can
make
good
decisions.
The best return occurs when just one percent of the time taken to carry
out a task is spent on planning. Too much planning can be
procrastination: delaying actually getting down to taking action.
"In preparing for battle I have always found that plans are useless, but
planning is indispensable" President Eisenhower (overlord of D-Day
landings)
The cycle begins again with a redefinition of your goals........
The main steps in preparing an action plan are as follows:


Have a clear objective. (‘‘Where do I want to be?’’). To be motivating a
goal needs to be challenging enough to stimulate us, but not too
difficult enough to be demoralising. It should be just outside your
comfort zone: stretching but not highly stressful. Be precise about
what you want to achieve,



List the benefits you would gain by achieving your goal.



Start with what you will do NOW. There is no point in having an
action plan that will start in six months time.



Define clearly the steps you will take. ("How do I get there?’’) Think
of all the possible things you could do to take you closer to achieving
your goal, no matter how small. Break down any large steps into
smaller components, so it doesn’t seem so difficult to achieve. What is
the biggest obstacle? What could go wrong?



Identify the end point for each step and give yourself a small reward
for achieving it! This could be sweets, clothes, a gadget, book or CD or
meal out with friends.



Arrange the steps in a logical, chronological order and put a date by
which you will start each step. Put these dates into your diary or onto
a calendar. Try to set yourself weekly goals: what research you will
do into jobs, what skills you will concentrate on learning etc. It’s also
a good idea to get into the habit of planning a timetable each evening
listing your tasks for the next day or two.

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