It seems a very obvious thing to know what you want but actually, a lot of people struggle with accessing their desire. This can often be a sign of depression but can relate to other issues going on in an individual’s world. Without knowing your destination, it is extremely difficult to get there.
In the days of maps, before satellite navigation, I found it very difficult to find my way somewhere, but it was not because I didn’t know where I was going, it was that I had difficulty geographically/spatially sorting out the best route. Fortunately, I do not suffer from this psychologically and it is not chance that Stephen Covey lists ‘Know your Outcome’ as one of the top habits of the ‘Seven Habits of Highly Effective People’.
When I am embarking on a coaching exercise with new coachees, I ask them to complete a preparation document which encourages individuals to think about where they want to go and what they want to achieve and, too, where they currently find themselves. We can then work on discussing the options as to the routes to get to the destination.
You need to know, first, your outcome, but you also need to know where you are and acknowledging this place from which you start your journey is often very painful. You are sometimes not in the place that you wish to be and may therefore not be in a position to start your journey so there is an additional piece of work or pre-journey even to arrive properly at the starting blocks.
I might well expand what my friend said to me last week and say that: if you have no direction, it is likely that you will go nowhere, but if you are really going to get somewhere, you need to know your starting point, as well as your end point. It is the role of a coach to help the individual work out these things.
If you’d like help with your journey and are in a place of transition, then do get in touch with the Integrated Resources team.
