How to Coach Yourself and Others Popular Models for Coaching | Page 284

2.36 THE FORREST COACHING PATH
The Forrest Coaching Path™ is a series of signposts to guide the
coaching engagement. The Path is the culmination of extensive
research and over 20 years of effectiveness coaching.
Visualize the End Goal
The End Goal is the future, enhanced state of effectiveness to
which the organization and the coachee aspire as a function of
both organizational strategy and personal development. End
Goals are as diverse as organizations and coachees, but can
include increased effectiveness in specific or general work
capacity, future status or position, or communication and
interpersonal abilities.
After the End Goal has been identified, attention turns to the
Current State. It is important that the End Goal be identified
prior to the Current State; otherwise, the coachee’s aspirations
may be artificially constrained.
Identify the Current State
The Current State reflects the self-awareness of the coachee. It is
directly linked to the End Goal because if there is too large a gap
between the two, the resulting tension can either compromise
the reach of the goal or make it unattainable. The Current State
examination will require honesty and forthrightness on the part
of the coach and the coachee.
No coaching session can keep the two elements of End Goal and
Current State separate – it is a continuously iterative process.
However, the coach needs to always bear in mind the natural
tendency for a coachee to overly dwell on and react to the
Current State. This can distort the coachee’s natural energy – it
may seem overwhelmingly difficult to escape their current
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