Developmental Coaching: What’s “Right Action” all about?

The Mutual Goal of Effective Coaching

Every day is a new adventure. That’s a positive perspective to the realities of daily life. However, each adventure presents challenges, conflicts and struggles. As you face each adventure, is it better to tackle it alone? Or, would it go smoother with a professional guide?

If you’ve already been there and done that, you likely can handle things on your own just fine. However, all adventures are not created equal. Scenarios may appear similar, the combination of variables make for more complexity than a first impression would indicate.

When it comes to making the right decisions and acting on them, the guidance of a coach is an invaluable resource.

There is a Japanese proverb that applies to the outcomes of coaching: “Vision without action is a daydream. Action without vision is a nightmare”. Getting it right requires both clarity of vision combined with a plan of action that you can execute with confidence and commitment.

Getting It Right = Right Action

Your life’s adventures present an ongoing series of puzzles to be solved. Imagine the task of assembling the puzzle on the right if you had to select from multiple different options for each color piece. Imagine fitting hundreds of different shaped yellow People piece configurations with thousands of green Thing pieces with a myriad of different Reasons, many Ways and a complex amount of Time. For every misfit, there is a chance for a misstep and delay in your pursuit.

As you struggle to get each puzzle “right” and imagine trying to tackle the tough puzzles alone, can you appreciate the added value you can gain with experienced guidance?   Each of these puzzle pieces represents a critical component to getting it right in your ongoing live adventures. Let’s take a closer look at these puzzle pieces and how coaching can make a difference.

The Right Results

Let’s begin with the words of Steven Covey’s Habit #2 from his book The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People: “Begin with the end in mind”.

When you lack clarity about your desired outcome, how can you be truly effective? We all have different value systems, goals and challenges. If you’re going to get “IT” right, it’s really important to know what “IT” is. To help avoid that trap of confusing activity with achievement, your coach will help you to clarify the outcomes that are right for you and keep you on course.

The Right People

People are all pretty much the same, right? Since that isn’t a universal truth, a one size fits all approach to people will eventually misfire. There are times when YOU are the right person. Is that always true?

In times of perceived isolation, you are seldom as alone as you feel. Your coach can help you discover who is right to lend support or lighten your load.

The Right Time

We all know the axiom: “Timing is everything”. In your important decisions, determining the right time to take action can make or break your intentions. As with all of these other puzzle pieces, the right time needs to mesh and fit with the others. Your coach is valuable asset for helping you recognize when the time is right.

The Right Things

Your activities must align with the other components/ puzzle pieces. All too often we confuse activity with achievement. Sometimes simply being busy can be an unproductive trap. Your options for activities can be limitless. Sorting out and choosing the right thing is critical but can be daunting. You have surly heard and likely experienced paralysis by analysis.

A coach’s guidance will help you break through vacillation and procrastination. You sort through your options and even brainstorm through possibilities that you would not have thought of on your own.

The Right Reasons

Why is your action correct? What is your intent?   Will your actions serve your intent? Doing things right for the wrong reason doesn’t get it done right.   We are all too often too impatient, too overwhelmed or too conflicted to take time to properly gain clarity if intent. The right reason is often buried deep below the surface. A skilled coach help you to assure that your motives are pure and correct.

Right Action

The Right Action exists when the right people are doing the right things in the right way at the right time for the right reasons to achieve the right results.

With the guidance of effective coaching, you enhance your awareness, your purpose, your competence, your well-being and your results. Because coaching addresses you as a whole person, you are able to uncover blind spots that prevent you from getting it right. That in turn, leads to greater fulfillment, more balance, and more effective way to live.

Can you always get it right?

Let’s remember; we are discussing human behavior.   To err is human. But with each misstep, there are lessons learned that make for a more enlightened next step. With the guidance of your coach you will recognize the opportunities for improvement. You will also get better at recognizing mistakes. When things go wrong, you have someone in your corner whose sole agenda is facilitating your success. That is a unique benefit to the relationship. There are no hidden agendas or conflicts of interest that can occur with other relationships.

How do I know which coach is right for me?

Many seek to find a coach with whom they feel comfortable. Here is a caution about the pursuit of comfort. A good coach needs to be able to help you to step out of your comfort zone. Unless you do, no meaningful change will happen. That will require some uncomfortable moments.   A good coach will both create and help you navigate outside your comfort zone with strong connection ability. When selecting your coach, be aware of your level of connection. Is your prospective coach skilled enough and strong enough to be an effective personal change agent? If not, keep looking.

You might be asking…

How do I know the right time, place, reason and approach for engaging with a coach? The fair answer is “it depends”. There are multiple variables with your decision. But if you did have a coach, wouldn’t it be easier for you to answer this kind of question?