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In a recent coaching training workshop, the central focus was on “setting the agenda” – of a single coaching session, of a coaching engagement, and even of a client’s career progression.  The session highlighted something that may sound obvious, but often gets demoted below seemingly more urgent priorities:  When the agenda of a coaching conversation – or any business meeting – is not established up front, it is extremely difficult to ascertain if the discussion is valuable, if it is even complete.  Many false starts, divergent topics, and even major misunderstandings emerge unless all parties are clear on the presented issue and the desired outcomes.

When managing resources and making business decisions, substance of course always matters – what are the facts, what are the considerations and desired outcomes? But more often than we realize, people experience setbacks and disappointments that have nothing to do with substance. Before we even understand the facts, we misunderstand and underestimate each other, because we bring different thought processes, assumptions, priorities and communication styles to the table. For example, someone may be presenting a recommendation or solution to you, but if they walk through things in a way that is not aligned with your thinking and your emerging questions, they may lose your interest quite quickly.

I love the idea of directional progress.

SMART goals (Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant andTime-bound) can focus attention, prioritize efforts, and align team members quite well.  Yet, in a VUCA world (Volatile,Uncertain, Complex and Ambiguous), SMART goals convey a level of simplicity and precision that doesn’t match reality.  So also pay attention to directional progress.  Its more flexible nature empowers individuals and teams in specific ways.

I plan to share with you observations, insights and questions that can improve your professional life in any of a number of ways — enriching your work and making it more meaningful, focusing your efforts to lead you to desired results more effectively, lightening the weight of your work and making it more manageable, expanding your views to bring out their best in yourself and others, and balancing the inevitable trade-offs we all must make, so that you feel confident about and comfortable with your choices. …  We may cover other terrain as well, with your valuable input.