Can you coach “vision” with a stressed executive?
Posted by richard on 15 Feb 2007 at 11:21 am | Tagged as: "How to" coach tips
Can you coach ‘vision’ with a stressed executive?
Yes. Having a vision is important. It helps in at least four ways:
- Forces a choice – a definitive claim on the future
- Improves the clarity and strength of the signals sent
- Increases the desire to actually do something
- Forces ideas to take shape
In working with owners (executives) who are under pressure, it isn’t easy to have them create the vision of what they want. They’re usually absorbed by current conditions. Odd as it may seem, these owners are actually building more of what they DON’T want. They will continue on that track until you get them deciding on possibility - and exactly what it is they DO want.
Three “getting started” steps
- Make the distinction between what they now have and what is possible. Avoid collapsing into existing conditions as if they had the power. Conditions don’t have the power - and the client must acknowledge that ASAP.
- Build up a vision in one small area. Help the client conceptualize what they want. Have them describe it until the picture is so clear that they can feel the benefits of having it. The skill of conceptualizing is what you want to coach, teach, and develop. Many owners do not have this skill. The future happens with a concept and the concept must be internal. External conditions, no matter how troubling, can not be allowed to affect the concept.
- Increase the intention that the result will be achieved. Yes, this is all about self-confidence and self-trust. It is also about having faith that the changes will occur. This one step (leveraged intention) will call forth uncommon focus, awareness, single-mindedness, and mental discipline.
Two ends of a continuum:
My point is to work with your client on both ends of the continuum. Make it a condition of your coaching. On one end, the day-to-day “current realities” need to be handled. Handling them well builds strength. On the other end, “conceptualize the future,” must be addressed at the same time. .
This double-axis opportunity is a dynamic that creates tension and paradox. That is why you can do so much good as a business coach.
Please comment on your experiences. It is always good to hear other views and ideas.
Richard 310 394 0200
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Great to read this … it confirmed that my strategy isn’t far wrong.
The biggest hurdle for my small business clients is 3.
The day to day reality is “in their face” versus the future. The squeaky wheel gets the oil.
Hi Andrew,
I think that we all face that number 3 (in our own businesses)… it takes times to build up that muscle and you need to introduce it in small size chunks.
The good news is that 70 - 90 % of your clients KNOW they want that number three (and will pay you well for the help.
rr
All good of course. I find #2 particularly interesting and really worth my while applying, not only with clients but with my own business. Really focusing one, discrete area might also help the stressed executive stand aside from the sense of overwhelm that can come from trying to deal with everything at once.
Hi Des,
Hope all is still well for you “down under”. I agree with your point —knowing is easy, applying is not always so easy. Isn’t ait true that we all (as business coaches) really do “teach what we need to learn.”
Thanks Richard
Hi Richard, This is really good. I’m learning with my clients (and myself) that in order to really tap into what they want, they need to take a giant step back from current reality. I think about it as transcending the day to day grind or and whatever else is occupying their time and keeping them from seeing their bigger picture. I also see that when they get back to “current reality” it a bit easier to see what’s keeping them from seeing their vision and figuring out what to do next. A new client has a good feeling of what he wants and where he’s headed but has a hard time detailing it - I believe him and we’re looking at one area at a time to get the details down.
Cate,
Great…the whole idea is that we all need double vision i.e.
is now
and
could be
In a simplistic way, it is increasing the skill of being aware.
Thanks Cate,
Richard