Slides: Making a Plan

Steve Elzinga

Remember— Coaching is about getting your client to some form of …

Three things coaches do to accomplish this:

- Help client figure out what they want to do (decision)

- Help client figure out how to do what they want to do (plan)

- Help client do what they plan to do (management)

Planning is about …

Figuring out a progression of steps that lead to a desired accomplishment or outcome over time.

Why do people need help planning what they decided to do?

- Lack of patience. 

- Many are not gifted at breaking down an outcome into logical, sequential steps necessary to accomplish a desired goal.

- Many are too optimistic about how much time it takes to accomplish a desired goal.

- No disciplined process to figure it out.

How does coaching help people plan out what they have decided to do?

- Slows the planning process down.

- With the help of planning models the coach can help the client figure out the steps involved in trying to reach a goal.

The 3 basic model categories

- Pre-planning

- Brainstorm/Breakdown

- Commitment

Pre-planning

- Cold Resources – equipment, facilities

- Warm Resources – people by connection; people by skill or trade; people by support; people by experience

- Intellectual resources – information and research

Brainstorm plans of action

- Linear sequence (Step 1, step 2, step 3)

- Shotgun approach

- Mud on the wall approach

- Solo vs. team

- Consensus  approach

- Mining vs. hunting

- Research vs. learn as you go

Commitment to action items

- Try it for a season

- Throw mud on the wall and see what sticks

- Make a commitment of time and energy